Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. Odds and Betting Pick

Nov 28, 2020 - 11:58 AM

After nearly a year of hype followed by a two-month delay for disputed reasons, former world champions Mike Tyson (-230) and Roy Jones Jr. (+176) will face off at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in what will likely be one of the most-watched boxing events of the year.

While the California Athletic Commission has officially deemed this as a “sparring match”, Tyson and Jones Jr., at least publicly, have promised it to be a legitimate slugfest with each looking for a knockout.

Does the most feared combat athlete of a generation in Tyson have one final punch in his repertoire? Or does the younger Jones Jr., who has been in the ring much more recently, have the edge?

Let’s take a closer look.

Mike Tyson (50-6) vs. Roy Jones Jr. (66-9)

These odds were taken from FanDuel Sportsbook on November 27, 2020.

On the way to a 37-0 record that saw him become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time in the 1980s, Mike Tyson was no stranger to controversy, which since his retirement, has mostly faded. Now, in addition to a successful podcast and largely loveable personality portrayed by the media, Tyson has become an advocate for marijuana and largely credited it for his more docile approach to life in his later years.

Now reportedly completely sober in the camp leading up to this one, make no mistake about it, “The Baddest Man on the Planet”, though a shell of his younger self, could very well make an appearance Saturday night in LA.

For Roy Jones Jr., an unmatched run through the 1990s earned him the Best Boxer of the 90s’ according to Ring Magazine, the defacto publication of the sport at the time. Winning world titles in four separate weight classes, including heavyweight, Jones Jr. relied on his pure athleticism edge in many of his bouts, which when started to fade, so did his career.

When it comes to speed and technique, there’s no doubt the younger and more nimble Jones Jr. has a significant edge, especially with having fought professionally much more recently.

From a power standpoint, however, Tyson’s ability to do damage could very well be a bigger advantage than Jones Jr.’s speed or technique.

Bottom Line

When Jones Jr. was asked on the Joe Rogan Experience about the two-month delay in this fight, he gave an answer that surprised many fight fans. He noted that when he accepted the fight, he did it with what was a short lead-up in mind, and thus less time for Tyson to get in fighting shape.

While Tyson had long said publicly the delay was due to maximizing revenue over the holiday weekend, Jones Jr. wondered allowed if the two month lead up would give Tyson more time to get in that fighting shape, which with the naked eye online, it certainly has.

In this one, I like Tyson’s power to largely net out even against Jones Jr.’s fading speed and technique, but his defense to give him the edge in this one. With Jones Jr.’s game so heavily relying on his athletic ability, I think with enough time and fairly recent film on his opponent, Tyson can do what it takes to earn enough points* to secure the win.

Pick: Mike Tyson -230

*Due to restrictions put forth by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), there will be no judges on-site to score the fight, but instead, the World Boxing Council will have Christy Martin, Vinny Pazienza, and Chad Dawson viewing remotely to decide the winner of the fight.

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 TJ Perun is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from TJ, check out his archive and follow him @JohnnyCovers.

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