- Mike Tyson continues to tell the media he wants to fight again.
- Jon Jones only seems interested in taking big fights right now.
- Is Jon Jones vs. Mike Tyson really possible?
The news that Mike Tyson plans to fight again quickly spread through the media. Not long ago, the former boxing heavyweight champion seemed to challenge Jon Jones to a boxing match. It didn’t take long for fans to begin discussing how Jon Jones vs. Mike Tyson would play out.
The likelihood of this fight coming together is slim, at best. Now is the perfect time to look at what exactly might lead to this bout being made.
Let’s get into it!
Mike Tyson Calls Out Jon Jones
Back in his prime, Mike Tyson was one of the scariest boxers to ever compete. Despite being a small heavyweight, he recorded knockout after knockout against top-level competition. Tyson eventually retired in 2005 after a disappointing loss to Kevin McBride.
Things weren’t easy for Mike immediately after retirement. Fortunately, he seems to be in a great place now. He runs a successful podcast, has a lucrative cannabis business, and continues to make appearances on major television and film productions.
Perhaps this is why Tyson’s new desire to fight again confused fans and analysts. If he was broke and desperate for a paycheck, people would understand. It’s somewhat unusual to see him back in training at a time when things seem to be going so well for the former champ.
Fans around the world have speculated about who Mike will compete against. For a time, it seemed likely that he’d take on Evander Holyfield in a charity bout. Recently, Tyson took part in a live chat and seemed to challenge UFC light-heavyweight Jon Jones to a fight.
“A UFC [fighter] will never be richer than a first class [boxer],” Tyson said. “To make a hundred million dollars, Conor [McGregor] had to fight Floyd [Mayweather]! Even if he fights Jon Jones, he’s not going to get that. Jon Jones gotta fight me if he wants to make some super money.”
Jones quickly accepted the bout, with a notable caveat. Jones is willing to box Mike, as long as he agrees to an MMA fight afterward. What are the chances of a fight between these two legendary fighters coming together?
Here’s Why Jon Jones vs. Mike Tyson Will Never Happen
MMA and boxing are two incredibly difficult sports. Fans love to speculate how the top fighters in these respective sports would fare against one another. No one ever expected that a fight between Jon Jones and Mike Tyson would actually be possible, though.
Jones is considered by most to be the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter on the planet. He’s 26-1-1 in his professional career and holds the record for most title defenses in the sport. In recent weeks, Jones has been in a quarrel with the UFC over his fight purses.
The idea of Jon Jones vs. Mike Tyson is fun. Officials within the UFC would never approve this bout, though. Imagine how it would look if their top fighter was knocked unconscious by a 53-year-old.
And then there’s the issue with Jones’ request. No one really believes that Mike Tyson would agree to an MMA fight. Tyson also happens to be good friends with UFC President Dana White. There’s no chance White would put Mike inside the cage with Jon Jones.
It’s fun to discuss this bout. If both were 30 years old, this would probably be the biggest combat sporting event of all time. Considering where both men are in their careers, however, this is probably nothing more than a fun way to attract media attention.
Jones still has some intriguing matchups on the horizon. Here’s who we might see him take on next.
Here’s Who Jon Jones is Likely to Fight Next
This is a very interesting time for the sport of MMA. Some of the best fighters in the sport are currently in public feuds with the UFC over scheduling issues and fight purses. Even Conor McGregor, the most popular fighter in the world, seems to have retired due to his frustration of not competing.
Jones took to Twitter a few weeks ago and announced he was retiring from MMA, as well. Most feel this is only a negotiation tactic. If the UFC is willing to increase his payments, it’s very likely we’ll see him back in the cage again soon.
Dana White recently told the media that Dominick Reyes is likely next for Jon Jones. These two fought back in February of 2020 in an incredibly close bout. Many actually believe that Reyes did enough to earn the decision win.
There’s also a chance that we finally see Jones move up to heavyweight to take on Francis Ngannou. Jones accepted a fight with the knockout artist earlier this month. Many are now pleading with the UFC to pay these fighters enough to make this bout come together.
No one really expects Jon Jones vs. Mike Tyson to come together. As we’ve seen before, however, anything is possible in the fight game. We’ll be sure to report on which opponents these men agree to take on next.
Do you want to see Mike Tyson box again? Who do you think Jon Jones should take on next? Let us know in the comments section below!
