As the Mike Tyson versus Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match inches closer, new specifics around the event are surfacing ahead of the Nov. 28 showdown at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
BoxingScene.com spoke with several sources and has been informed that although the California State Athletic Commission approved the meeting to take place between the two all-time greats, the match will not be scored by any of the state’s judges, nor will the commission be announcing a winner after the fight.
The WBC will be handling remote scoring for the bout from Christy Martin, Vinny Pazienza and Chad Dawson, a trio of former champions from the sanctioning body.
The WBC previously announced that “each round will be scored and announced to the public with scoring criteria taking into consideration.” The WBC also created a “Frontline Battle Belt” with the inscription “Black Lives Matter” so that it can be awarded to one of the veterans after the eight-round match unfolds with 12-ounce gloves over two-minute rounds.
Although VADA will be performing the Clean Boxing Program out of competition anti-doping testing for both fighters, out of competition drug testing for marijuana won’t be included. In-competition testing for marijuana will be conducted, as it's standard in WADA's competition panel.
Tyson is the founder of the cannabis company Tyson Ranch and is known to still indulge in marijuana, most notably on his Hotboxin’ podcast. Tyson tested positive for marijuana in 2000 and his two-round stoppage of Andrew Golata was changed to a No Contest.
Although social media platform Triller is producing the fight in partnership with Tyson’s recently launched Legends Only League, the promoter of record of the event will be CES Boxing head Jimmy Burchfield.
The Tyson vs Jones PPV can be purchased on cable and satellite, as well as digitally on TysonOnTriller.com for $49.99 in the United States and Canada. The undercard will feature fights between YouTuber Jake Paul vs. former NBA star Nate Robinson, former champion Badou Jack vs. Blake McKernan and Mayweather Promotions prospect Viddal Riley vs. Rashad Coulter.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the LA Times, Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com.
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