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The way I see it is ultimately a way to promote boxing to new and old audiences, ones who've strayed, and one's who weren't old enough to remember Tyson in his prime.
I was initially very much against two 50+ worn out prizefighters going at it even in an exhibition match, but with the right match for Tyson (someone who will be willing to actually put on a show instead of RJJ's shameful clinch fest), there could be some interesting fights.
Firstly I think Tyson may need an opponent with whom he has a history, in order to make the build-up easier and more intense, and Buster, Holyfield, and possibly guys that fans desperately wanted Mike to fight in his prime like Bowe, Witherspoon, Tua are all great candidates. No one who is over 6"2 would be preferable, as then we will just see Mike getting either picked off or slipping into clinches all night.
The lessons learned from this past exhibition is I think it needs to make a little more competitive in terms of allowing the guys to exchange. 2min rounds are fine, but I think 10oz gloves, a 20-second recovery from a knockdown, with 3 knockdown rule in effect, and a referee who is willing to impose his will on the fight.
Mike has fought in these matches before and they've, compared to this recent one been highly entertaining with Mike bobbing and weaving etc...
Despite the many negative effects on boxing that might result from a revived 'legends exhibition' series, with a little creativity, good matchmaking, there are still so many fighters that never fought each other that could be finally bought together in a world series of legends boxing type box-off at different weights.
Sugar Ray and Hearns III? SRL and Marvelous Marvin II? Pretty much essentially all the fights that got dashed in the late '80s, then '90s could be realised again. Fenech and Nelson did it again and it wasn't pretty but that's boxing. 1/3 of fights are going to disappoint, 1/3 will be ok, and 1/3 will be great.
Many of these guys only retired 10 years ago so it might not be that hard to construct...
I was initially very much against two 50+ worn out prizefighters going at it even in an exhibition match, but with the right match for Tyson (someone who will be willing to actually put on a show instead of RJJ's shameful clinch fest), there could be some interesting fights.
Firstly I think Tyson may need an opponent with whom he has a history, in order to make the build-up easier and more intense, and Buster, Holyfield, and possibly guys that fans desperately wanted Mike to fight in his prime like Bowe, Witherspoon, Tua are all great candidates. No one who is over 6"2 would be preferable, as then we will just see Mike getting either picked off or slipping into clinches all night.
The lessons learned from this past exhibition is I think it needs to make a little more competitive in terms of allowing the guys to exchange. 2min rounds are fine, but I think 10oz gloves, a 20-second recovery from a knockdown, with 3 knockdown rule in effect, and a referee who is willing to impose his will on the fight.
Mike has fought in these matches before and they've, compared to this recent one been highly entertaining with Mike bobbing and weaving etc...
Despite the many negative effects on boxing that might result from a revived 'legends exhibition' series, with a little creativity, good matchmaking, there are still so many fighters that never fought each other that could be finally bought together in a world series of legends boxing type box-off at different weights.
Sugar Ray and Hearns III? SRL and Marvelous Marvin II? Pretty much essentially all the fights that got dashed in the late '80s, then '90s could be realised again. Fenech and Nelson did it again and it wasn't pretty but that's boxing. 1/3 of fights are going to disappoint, 1/3 will be ok, and 1/3 will be great.
Many of these guys only retired 10 years ago so it might not be that hard to construct...
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