Strange how so many know nothing about this. :nut Tyson was coming off a brutal damaging loss to Lewis at the time and after all saw how Jones handled Ruiz MANY were picking Jones to beat him. At the time Jones was looked at as invincible.
Not sure if you are reffering to me or not... But I defo knew this fight was a possibility on paper. But Considering what happened to him against Tarver & Johnson around that same time. (I am defo glad Tyson didn't get the chance to do the same against him)
That's what made the fight so huge. Jones was larger then life. Tyson still had his name and power. But damage enough to make the fight look interesting. Plus nobody knew just how weak, roy's chin was. It probably would have been a circus. Undercard would look worse then Hoya/pac undercard for the amount of money they want. I can picture a lot of nonboxing fan buying that PPV. I wish roy went for it, instead of losing a peice legacy to tarver. Sorta makes you think if Pac/Cotto is a mistake. Floyd/pac is the best fight that could be made in terms of bring in non boxing fans. I would still pay for a tua/tyson fight if they have a good undercard.
I doubt Tyson himself didn't want this fight. What would he have to lose other than a decision? Jones couldn't hurt him and I don't think Tyson was too worried about losing a decision at that point (which i don't think would be a certainty either with jones/tyson in 03 or so depending on mike's condition) as his mystique was already gone and he was about the money. if u say mike's handlers didn't want it than maybe i could see that. but again with roy you never know what to believe, he also said he wanted the klitchkos and everyone else. if he really wanted tyson and klitchkos for example why even mess around with tarver again as there would be tons of money staying at hw.
In other words, Tyson's people turned down the fight to fight RJ after Ruiz because they thought they needed a few tunes ups. Right?
Exactly! Jones may have looked brilliant in beating Ruiz, but that's just it - it was Ruiz whom he beat! Tyson, in 2003, was still in shape, hit hard & fast, although was by no means anywhere near the figther he once was! Jones would not have been able to hurt Tyson who had a solid chin. Anyone who thinks Jones could have taken a a solid shot from Tyson is dreaming. Jones did a lot to hype the bout, but that's all it was from Jones - just hype! He was the centre of attention! Tyson by KO within three rounds!
Serisouly now isn't that just another way of saying you don't want to fight? Tyson knew that he didn't have it anymore but still had a name that could draw fans and make him tons of money. He wanted to keep fighting tomato cans and making millions knowing that a loss would derail all of that. Obviously he would make a ton of money in a mega fight win lose or draw but if he could put it off as long as possible it would allow him to pad his pockets a little more. Lewis ended up having to take him to court to get a fight. Saying you are already signed to fight someone is ok. Saying you need an undetermined number of tune ups first is just another way of saying you don't want to fight.
Get real. Lewis and Tyson are two completely different monsters. So don't even try to compare the two. Tyson was shot. Lewis, while over his prime, was still a formidable HW to say the least. Lewis would've probably KOed RJ but not Tyson.
Tyson would knock Roy out with the wind from his punches. Even the Tyson that fought Lennox or Danny Williams would have smoked the fragile Glass Jawed Jones. Just like a lot of Jones fights it was nothing but 'talk'. Jones was never going to fight Tyson and his money demands prove it.
Tyson in 2003 was done, didnt train, didnt want to, didnt want to fight, but had to make some money. Jones would have boxed his ears off, but it would only have taken one beauty for Jones to have been laid flat out, and for the first 3 rounds, Tyson would have been favourite. If Jones survived that, he'd beat that Tyson easily. Botha totally outboxed Tyson, 1 shot, job done. Ettienne, 1 punch, job done. Even a shell of the once mighty Tyson, would have been by far the biggest danger of Roys career, at least for a few rounds.
Team Tyson had plans to fight the winner of Jones/Tarver, of course they were hoping it's Jones for the big money but whoever won they were planning to go for. Tyson losing to Williams is what ruined a possible fight with Tarver, that's when Tarver set his sights on a third fight with Jones and that was ruined by Johnson so they fought Johnson instead.
