Roy Jones Jr. (left) and Mike Tyson pose for the cameras after their exhibition bout in Los Angeles was declared a draw. USA TODAY SPORTS
LOS ANGELES－Mike Tyson showed glimpses of his destructive prime on Saturday night during the 54-year-old icon's return to the ring for a lively exhibition bout with 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr.
Both fighters had impressive moments during a fight that was unofficially ruled a draw by the WBC judges at ringside. Tyson and Jones fought eight two-minute rounds, and both emerged smiling and apparently healthy from a highly unusual event at Staples Center.
"This is better than fighting for championships," Tyson said of the heavyweight exhibition, which raised money for various charities. "We're humanitarians now. We can do something good for the world. We've got to do this again."
The former heavyweight champion of the world's return to the ring after a 15-year absence attracted international attention, and Iron Mike did his best to show the form that made him a legend to a generation of boxing fans. Tyson tagged Jones with body shots and a handful of head punches during a bout that was required to be a fairly safe glorified sparring session by the California State Athletic Commission.
"The body shots definitely took a toll," said Jones, the former four-division world champion. "It's something to take the punches that Mike throws. I'm cool with a draw. Maybe we can do it again."
Jones walked to the ring with gloves and trunks honoring Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, while Tyson wore his signature all-black trunks. The 50-somethings both came out throwing punches that evoked echoes of their glorious primes.
They also tied up frequently on the inside, and their occasionally labored breathing could be heard on microphones in the empty arena.
Hip-hop star Snoop Dogg's witty television commentary was among the loudest noises inside Staples, and his one-liners added a sprinkling of comedy: "This is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbecue!"
Tyson and Jones were the headliners in the most improbable pay-per-view boxing event in years, engineered by social-networking app Triller and featuring fights interspersed with hip-hop performances in an empty arena.
The event was derided as an anti-sporting spectacle by some critics, yet both Tyson and Jones appeared to handle themselves capably and safely. Fans were clearly enamored, with the show getting enormous traction on social media.
