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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Martin Domin

Mike Tyson vows to ignore KO rule in violent warning to Roy Jones Jr

Mike Tyson is set to throw the rule book out of the window after vowing to KO Roy Jones Jr.

The two faded ring legends will clash in an eight-round exhibition bout on September 12 - but have been banned from hurting each other.

The rivals have been told to treat the bout as a sparring session with the referee ready to jump in if violence breaks out.

There will also be no ringside judges and therefore no winner of a bout which will cost $50 to watch for American fans.

But Tyson insists he is ready to ignore the rules and look to add another knockout to his impressive record.

"If the opportunity comes, I'm always looking for it," he told TMZ.

Mike Tyson was a KO machine in his prime (Getty Images)

"This is search and destroy and I'm looking forward to recapturing my glory."

Although the California State Athletic Commission has sanctioned the bout, the green light came with caveats.

"The (CSAC) is licensing the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr match scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in September as an eight-round exhibition match," the commission told Sky Sports.

"In this match, the referee will have the authority to stop the fight if it strays outside the boundaries of a competitive boxing exhibition.

Roy Jones expects a dangerous Tyson (Reuters)

"Mr. Tyson and Mr. Jones Jr will have to submit all CSAC medical tests for fighters over 40 as well as CSAC's emergency regulations that have been put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19."

But despite the warning, Jones, who is 51 to Tyson's 54, expects to be facing a dangerous man in the opposite corner.

"I understand because Mike doesn't just look like a killer he is a killer," he said.

"If Mike doesn't kill quick he's fighting one of the smartest savviest guys to ever do the thing, if he don't kill quick he's in trouble. 'If you don't kill right away what are you going to do? I seen all those smoking videos don't think I don't know what's going on, I'm not stupid."

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