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SPORTS Monday 30 noveMber 2020
Mike Tyson returns to ring, draws in exhibition with Jones

By GREG BEACHAM AP center of the sports world,
Sports Writer and they reveled in it.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike "I'm happy to scratch that
Tyson stepped through the off my bucket list and move
ropes in his signature black on with my life," said Jones,
trunks and heard the open- the former four-division
ing bell in a boxing ring for world champion widely
the first time in 15 years. considered the most skilled
The former heavyweight boxer of his generation. "He
champion of the world hit harder than I thought.
traded lively punches with Everything hurt. His hands
Roy Jones Jr. for eight en- hurt. His head hurts. Every-
tertaining rounds that end- thing hurt when I made
ed with two middle-aged contact. He's an excep-
legends wearily hugging tional puncher still. He can
each other in mutual admi- do anything he wants next."
ration. Neither fighter was de-
Their fight was only an ex- ceived by the quality of
hibition, and it ended in the bout. While both came
a draw. But for Tyson, the out throwing punches that
experience evoked the evoked echoes of their glo-
joy and excitement he felt rious primes, they also tied
so long ago at the start of up frequently on the inside,
his boxing career — and it and their occasionally la-
was likely the start of a new bored breathing could be
chapter in his epic life. In a photo provided by Triller, Mike Tyson throws a punch during the third round against Roy Jones heard on the microphones
"I'm happy I'm not knocked Jr. in an exhibition boxing bout Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, in Los Angeles. Associated Press. in the empty arena.
out," Tyson said. "I'll look and apparently healthy. legend to a generation of ed," Tyson said. "This event Hip hop star Snoop Dogg's
better in the next one." "This is better than fighting boxing fans. made me find out what I witty television commen-
Tyson showed glimpses of for championships," Tyson Tyson tagged Jones with was really made of. ... My tary was among the loud-
his destructive prime Sat- said of the heavyweight body shots, head shots and body feels splendid. I want est noises inside Staples,
urday night during the exhibition, which raised a particularly nasty upper- to beat it up some more." and he had a handful of
54-year-old boxing icon's money for various charities. cut during a bout that was Tyson intends to fight in zingers: "This is like two of
return to the ring against "We're humanitarians now. required by the California more exhibitions next year, my uncles fighting at the
the 51-year-old Jones. We can do something State Athletic Commission perhaps heading to Monte barbecue!"
Tyson had the most im- good for the world. We've to be a reasonably safe, Carlo next to challenge a But Tyson and Jones were
pactful punches, showing got to do this again." glorified sparring session. European fighter. He didn't the headliners in the most
off versions of the footwork Tyson's return to the ring for Tyson was exhausted two close the door on the pos- improbable pay-per-view
and combinations that this show attracted interna- hours afterward, but also sibility of a full-fledged boxing event in years, engi-
made him the world's most tional attention, and Iron clearly energized as he re- comeback, although that neered by social network-
feared fighter. After eight Mike did his best to dem- counted his emotions with would be many fights in the ing app Triller and featuring
two-minute rounds, both onstrate his months of work his wife and team looking future. fights interspersed with hip
Tyson and Jones emerged to recapture a measure of on. For one night, Tyson and hop performances in an
from Staples Center smiling the form that made him a "I took my youth for grant- Jones were back at the empty arena.q

AP source: NFL fines Saints $500,000, Patriots $350,000

By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Payton previously was a mini-outbreak of CO- tles were deemed high-risk had close contact with an
Football Writer docked $150,000 and the VID-19 earlier this season close contacts with No. 3 infected person. Baltimore
The NFL has fined the New team $250,000 because that included positive quarterback Jeff Driskel on had already disciplined
Orleans Saints $500,000 the head coach failed tests for quarterback Cam Wednesday, the day be- an unidentified staff mem-
and stripped them of a to properly wear a face Newton and cornerback fore Driskel tested positive ber for violating COVID-19
2021 seventh-round draft covering during a Week Stephon Gilmore, was for COVID-19. protocols, and the out-
pick for violating league 2 game against the Raid- fined for not following pro- A person with direct break — the worst on any
COVID-19 protocols, a ers. The more recent issue tocols at that time. knowledge of the situation team this season — left
person with direct knowl- with the Saints came after Meanwhile, the COVID-19 said the four quarterbacks the Ravens with three de-
edge of the discipline told a Week 9 win over Tampa pandemic caused major weren't wearing their fensive linemen and one
The Associated Press on Bay when the team's cel- disruptions around the NFL masks the whole time they quarterback available for
Sunday. ebrations included players all week, again calling into were together as required Tuesday night's game at
The New England Patriots not wearing masks while question the league's plan by the league's pandemic Pittsburgh.
were fined $350,000 for in close proximity to one to play a full schedule af- protocols. That person also That game originally was
similar violations, the per- another. The celebrations ter several weeks that spoke on condition of an- scheduled for Thanksgiv-
son said, speaking to the were captured on video went relatively smoothly. onymity because neither ing night, then moved to
AP on condition of ano- by some players and post- The Denver Broncos will the league nor the Bron- Sunday and moved again
nymity because neither ed to social media. be without their four quar- cos revealed that informa- to Tuesday. It's uncertain
the league nor the teams The Saints are expected terbacks when they host tion. The Baltimore Ravens if it will be played then as
have announced the fines to appeal the discipline, the Saints on Sunday. have 20 players on the well. The Steelers placed
or loss of draft pick. which ESPN first reported Starter Drew Lock, backup COVID-19 list, which is for starting running back
New Orleans was fined as Sunday morning. Brett Rypien and practice players who've either test- James Conner on the CO-
a repeat offender; Sean New England, which had squad veteran Blake Bor- ed positive for the virus or VID-19 list Saturday.q