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A16 sports
Saturday 31 OctOber 2020
Mike Tyson, Roy Jones promise a fight in "exhibition" return

By GREG BEACHAM years old, you were con-
AP Sports Writer sidered an old guy," Jones
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike said. "But we're freaks.
Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. got That's why this is such a big
permission from California's thing."
athletic commission to re- Tyson, who is down to 215
turn to the boxing ring next pounds for the first time
month because their fight since he was a teenager,
would be strictly an exhibi- put it even more succinctly:
tion of their once-unparal- "Time isn't anything."
leled skills. Tyson is even using the bout
These 50-something former to kick off his still-nebulous
champions still say they're venture called the Legends
taking this showdown far Only League, which aims to
more seriously than any ex- offer competitive outlets to
hibition. athletes in many sports past
"Not a real fight? We got what was once considered
Mike Tyson versus Roy their athletic primes. Tyson
Jones," Tyson said Thursday said he probably won't be
in an online press confer- done competing after this
ence. "I'm coming to fight, showcase with Jones, ei-
and I hope he's coming ther.
to fight, and that's all you "I'm going to go as long as
need to know." the league is working," Ty-
Promoters of the pay- son said. "I'm going to do
per-view spectacle an- this, and I'm going to help
nounced that Los Angeles' In this Aug. 2, 2019, file photo, Mike Tyson, left, attends a celebrity golf tournament in Dana Point, a lot of people, and my
Staples Center will be the Calif, and in this Oct. 28, 2015, file photo, former world boxing champion Roy Jones Jr., right, legend is going to be that
shows off his Russian passport during a news conference in Moscow, Russia.
site of the 54-year-old Ty- Associated Press I gave a lot more than I
son's return to boxing on took."
Nov. 28 for an eight-round idea that any time spent in- Tyson and thinks it's an year. Jones eagerly ac- The fight's designation as
main event against the side a boxing ring with Tyson exhibition?" Jones said. cepted the opportunity for an exhibition didn't stop the
51-year-old Jones. could ever be a mere exhi- "Twelve-ounce gloves? No his highest-profile fight in a World Boxing Council from
Tyson's last official bout bition, even though Cali- headgear? Really? This is decade. jumping in to offer a green
was in June 2005, and the fornia commission officials an exhibition? Come on, Tyson and Jones believe championship belt to the
former undisputed heavy- have made it clear that Ty- bruh. Be real." they'll be able to put on a winner, calling it the "Front-
weight champion hasn't son and Jones shouldn't be In short, Tyson and Jones show worthy of their leg- line Battle Belt."
held a title since 1996. attempting to seriously hurt said everything one might ends. Fans won't be allowed in-
Jones fought steadily each other during a fight expect from two cagey They're also eager to be side Staples on Thanksgiv-
through his 40s, long af- with two-minute rounds. veterans of the fight game the latest in the growing ing weekend for a show
ter his super middleweight Officials say they plan to to promote real sporting line of athletes competing that will also feature three-
and light heavyweight title stop the bout if either fight- interest in this endeavor, at elite levels into their 40s time NBA slam dunk cham-
reigns had ended, with his er is cut or significantly in- which came to life after the and beyond with improve- pion Nate Robinson mak-
most recent bout in Febru- jured. online world saw footage ments in sports science, nu- ing his professional boxing
ary 2018. "Who goes in the ring with of Tyson looking impressive trition and training. debut against YouTube star
Jones also laughs at the the great, legendary Mike while sparring earlier this "When I came along, at 32 Jake Paul.q

Nash hires D'Antoni, Stoudemire for his

Nets coaching staff

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike demire. They piled up ton, leading the Rockets to
D'Antoni and Amare Stou- points and 3-pointers with the playoffs each season
demire are joining Steve a small-ball style that was and winning his second
Nash's coaching staff, unusual then but the norm Coach of the Year award
bringing a glimpse of the in the NBA now. in 2017. He and the team
old Phoenix Suns to Brook- Ime Udoka was also hired parted ways after the
lyn. as an assistant Friday fol- Rockets lost to the Los An-
Nash hired his old coach lowing one season in Phila- geles Lakers in the Western
and pick-and-roll partner delphia and seven in San Conference semifinals.
as assistants Friday, filling Antonio. The new assistants He is 672-527 in 16 seasons
out his staff for his rookie join holdovers Jacque as an NBA coach.
season as an NBA coach. Vaughn, who finished last Stoudemire will be coach-
D'Antoni won the first season as the interim head ing for the first time after
of his two Coach of the coach, Adam Harrington, averaging 18.9 points in 14
Year awards in 2005 while Jordan Ott, Tiago Splitter seasons as an NBA player.
In this Feb. 6, 2008, file photo, Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash, leading the potent Suns and Ryan Forehan-Kelly The 2003 Rookie of the
left, talks with head coach Mike D'Antoni during the third to 62 victories behind the on Nash's staff. Year finished his playing
quarter of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans play of point guard Nash D'Antoni spent the last four career with stints in Israel
Hornets in Phoenix.
Associated Press and power forward Stou- seasons coaching Hous- and China.q