There is widespread confusion about whether or not Saturday’s Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition is an exhibition. For the record, it’s an exhibition.
Tyson is 54 and Jones 51. As California State Athletic Commission Executive Director Andy Foster, who will be regulating the card, explained recently to Boxing Scene, the exhibition rules include:
•8×2 min rounds (3 mins would be normal for a pro bout);
•12 oz gloves (10 oz would be normal for a pro heavyweight bout);
•Referee Ray Corona will make sure the exhibition is an exhibition, not an actual bout; and,
•No winner will be declared and there are no judges.
However, Triller co-owner Ryan Kavanaugh muddied the waters when he recently issued this statement, via Brent Brookhouse.
Know there have been some false rumors swirling, so to be crystal clear–The WBC is scoring the fight,” said Kavanaugh. “There could be a knockout and there will be one winner. Anyone who says there is going to be no judging or no winner either does not understand the rules or has their own agenda. Unquestionably. 100%. DraftKings is the betting partner and is taking bets on the fight in New Jersey, New Hampshire and Illinois. The only difference in this fight is the gloves are 12 ounces, there are eight rounds and the rounds are two minutes rather than three. That is it.
Then Kavanaugh walked it back some in a statement to Damon Martin and Steven Marrocco for MMA Fighting.
We at Triller have no issues with the commission or Mr. Foster and did not mean to contradict anything that may have been said by them. We enjoy a strong almost two-decade relationship with the Governor and mayor’s office and the state of California and would appreciate if the record could be set straight.
Specifically, we never meant to imply that CSAC was scoring this or deciding on a winner. We are 100 percent clear that is not correct. CSAC has provided a referee, and that ref is there to make sure the fighters are safe and to make sure they fight under the rules. He will not be scoring the fight nor deciding a winner. Rather the WBC has been engaged to both score and elect a winner. They have three judges who will judge remotely (due to COVID and like other fights have been provided recently) on behalf of the WBC, and not on behalf of CSAC, who will be deciding the winner and judging the fight.
In another statement, Triller said WBC judges are scoring and a winner will be determined using those scores as a basis.
Foster offered further clarification.
There’s no winner going to be announced, he said. I do think that’s very important to get out there. The unofficial scores are for entertainment only and that’s done by the WBC remotely. Not by the commission cause the commission didn’t credential those judges because of COVID. It’s for entertainment purposes only. There’s no official winner at the end of this.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman confirmed CSAC’s position.
The only authority is the California State Athletic Commission, wrote Sulaiman in a statement to Yahoo Sports. The WBC is celebrating this great event and providing a special award of honor to both Tyson and Jones Jr. with a unique WBC belt. For added entertainment and technology demonstration, there will be three celebrity judges in an unofficial capacity.
To be clear, both Tyson and Jones Jr. will get a title belt after the exhibition. There will be no winner. There will be no knockout, as the referee will not be doing a 10 count. Foster has long been clear that this is an opportunity for both athletes to showcase their skills and hopefully make good money, while entertaining the fans.
It’s going to be fun, said Foster. It is what it is and it’s not more than it is but it’s going to be fun. They’re both wonderful champions. These are legends of the sport.
The rest of the card will be actual bouts. YouTube celebrity Jake Paul vs. former NBA star Nate Robinson serves as the co-main. Former WBA and WBC Champion Badou Jack will box Blake McKernan. And Hasim Rahman Jr, the son of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman Sr, will box former UFC fighter Rashad Coulter.
Main Card (10:00 p.m. ET)
Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. — (8 round exhibition)
Jake Paul vs. Nate Robinson (6 round cruiserweights bout)
Badou Jack vs. Blake McKernan (8 round light heavyweight bout)
Hasim Rahman Jr vs. Rashad Coulter (6 rounds cruiserweight)
Prelim Card
Jamaine Ortiz vs. Nahir Albright (lightweight)
Irvin Gonzalez Jr. vs. Edward Vasquez (featherweight)
Juiseppe Cusumano vs. Nick Jones (heavyweight)
The event will live stream on TysonOnTriller.com and FITE TV for $49.99.
