In July, when it was announced that Mike Tyson’s exhibition would be with Roy Jones Jr, I published the rules that confirmed what this column has been saying practically in a lonely way. The presentation approved by the CSAC California State Athletic Commission would be for an exhibition, as Mike Tyson had announced months before. Less severely, since after posting, most bloggers and Internet users stopped saying that a real fight was foreseen – despite some slippages.
However, two facts call attention when one goes deep in the subject. Mike Tyson’s contract with Roy Jones Jr had been signed since June. While the press released names of possible opponents for this first exhibition by Mike Tyson – in Brazil, bloggers, in addition to foreigners, did not tire of informing names of Brazilian opponents for a real fight – the exhibition with Jones Jr was settled more than 30 days. The amount of fake news was large enough for many people to “pay mico” when trying to guess.
Another issue that may become relevant concerns doping control. I still cannot understand why the VADA Voluntary Anti-Doping Association could be involved. First, because VADA, unlike others, is a voluntary random testing agency for athletes, not mandatory controls. Second, an exhibition should not have a necessary doping test. However, the CSAC is present, and there is a great deal of suspicion that may lead to the decision.
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The point is that Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr are trying to sell the match in the best possible way. One day the information is released that Tyson will want to take Roy’s head off, the next that Mike is afraid of not making an excellent presentation, and 24 hours later that Jones Jr will be well prepared if the fight is for real.
Nobody will assert that a more forceful blow will not bring about a change in planning, but what was agreed with CSAC and obtained the consent of the two former boxers was that of a presentation and not a real fight.
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