UFC champion Jon Jones is ready to tempt "Iron" Mike Tyson out of retirement
Mike Tyson could make a return to the boxing ring
Jon Jones has teased fans by calling out Mike Tyson for a two-fight deal in MMA and boxing...
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones teased fans recently by calling out Mike Tyson for a two-fight deal in boxing and MMA.
This came after new training footage of the 54-year-old Tyson circulated online, prior to a potential exhibition bout with 57-year-old Evander Holyfield.
In a recent interview, Tyson said: “A UFC fighter will never be richer than a first-class fighter. To make $100 million, Conor McGregor had to fight Floyd Mayweather. Jon Jones got to fight me if he wants to make some super money.”
Jones later replied on Instagram. He said: “I’ll box you in the ring if you promise to give me a real fight in the octagon afterwards. And because I respect you so much, I promise I won’t break anything on you.”
Could Tyson vs Jones happen?
In an interview with Sky Sports, MMA referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy said: “I think Jon has nothing but respect for Mike. I don’t think Jon truly wants to fight Mike Tyson.
“To say that I’ll fight you in boxing if you fight me in MMA, I don’t want to see that, Mike’s 54-years-old, if Mike wants to go back and fight an older fighter, I’m all for it.
“I think Jon is looking for a way to get people talking, and he’s looking for a way to build up interest in him having a big money fight.”
In a time when fighters are progressively crossing over between sports for better paid fights, many have accused the UFC of not paying fighters enough.
Jones is currently locked in a money dispute with UFC president Dana White after a denied request of $24 million to fight Francis Ngannou in the heavyweight division, instead of his usual $4 million title defence purse.
On Steve-O’s podcast ‘Wild Ride’, Jones said: “I don’t want to fight soon. I have no interest in fighting in the UFC until I get paid what I believe I’m worth.
“I know so many fighters who are living in the Jackson Wink MMA gym because they can’t afford to have their own apartment, and they’re UFC fighters. This is sad.
“If I have to have a bad relationship with Dana, sit out for two years, three years, to bring light to what’s happening, then these are the things people remember you for more than winning belts. I stood for the younger fighters.”
UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal has also gone public with his pay disputes, telling ESPN: “Basically, it’s not that I’m asking for more money. I’m asking for a bigger revenue share for what we bring in.
“I’ve got a lot of questions and one of them is that the NBA, NHL, baseball players, they make 50 percent of what the organization brings in, I think it’s 47 percent. Mine is 18 percent.”
Speaking on the matter, McCarthy said: “In the end you’ve got to say if I don’t think I’m being compensated fairly, then I’ve got to do things to change my situation.
“If you’re a fighter that will put buts in seats, that’s who the promotions [are] going to give more money to… it’s just business.
“Dana’s job is to get Jon for as little as he can, and Jon’s job is to get as much out of that promotion as he can.
“[Jones] is the most talented fighter I’ve ever seen. Does he deserve a lot of money? Yes he does.”
