In September, boxing fans will have a fight between the real legends of this sport. The two former undisputed champions, Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., will face an eight-round duel. Although both are in their 50s, this meeting could be one of the top sporting events of 2020.

These athletes are boxing icons. Tyson was the youngest world heavyweight champion and the first to combine the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. He fought many high-profile battles in the 1980s and 1990s, scoring 50 victories, including 44 by knockout. The second fight with Evander Holyfield brought him wide popularity outside the ring, during which Tyson bit off a piece of his opponent's ear.

Jones also owned the championship belts of all major boxing organizations, but in light heavyweight. At the same time, he became a champion in other categories. In terms of the number of victories and knockouts, Jones even surpasses Tyson - the vice-champion of the Olympic Games had 66 and 47, respectively.

Both boxers have already completed their careers. Tyson had his last fight in 2005, losing to the little-known Irishman Kevin McBride. After that, he entered the ring only in exhibition fights, which were not included in the official statistics. Jones, on the other hand, continued to compete until 2018, when he defeated Scott Sigmon and won the WBU championship title, after which he officially announced his retirement from boxing after 29 years of active performances at the professional level.

But now both are returning to the ring and will meet on September 12, as Tyson announced on his social networks. The fight will take place in the Los Angeles suburb of Carsone. Jones compared the upcoming fight to the fight between David and Goliath.

“People are not destined to be humble. Humility is not given to us from birth, but from birth we acquire it. Everyone knows that ... Boxing is a brutal sport. Tyson dominated, dominated! He has immense legs, huge hips, giant arms, a gigantic neck. Yes, meeting him is risky, but everything is in the hands of God. In whatever weight category I was, I won everyone. This is similar to the story of David and Goliath, where he is a huge monster, everyone understands that ... And I am little David, on whose side God is. I don’t need anything else, ”Jones said in the fight promo video.

I. AM. BACK. #legendsonlyleague. September 12th vs @RealRoyJonesJr on #Triller and PPV #frontlinebattle@TysonLeaguepic.twitter.com/eksSfdjDzK

- Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) July 23, 2020

The fact that Tyson is preparing to return, he himself has unequivocally hinted at in recent months. On his social networks, the athlete posted videos from training, in which he showed that he was in good shape. Fans of "Iron Mike" wondered why he began to study so hard at 54, and now the answer has been found. In training, he was assisted by the famous mixed martial arts specialist Rafael Cordeiro. According to ESPN, it will be he who will prepare Tyson for the fight with Jones and enter the ring with him.

However, boxing fans need to be prepared for the fact that the fight between Tyson and Jones will not be official. According to Yahoo Sports, the fight will receive exhibition status, and boxers will not set themselves the goal of knocking each other out. They will fight with 12-pound gloves instead of the usual lighter ones. The executive director of the California State Athletic Commission Andy Foster told about it.

“In this fight, they will not try to take off each other's heads. They will simply move around the ring, allowing fans to watch the legends, ”Foster explained.

It remains unclear in what weight category the fight will take place. Tyson fought all his life in the heaviest weight over 90.7 kg, while Jones had only one fight in it. In 2003, he took the WBA belt from John Ruiz, after which he returned to the more familiar light heavyweight category. At the same time, boxing fans speculated that Tyson and Jones would still meet, however, due to problems with the law, “Iron Mike” did not go any further.