BOXING
How much money did Mike Tyson make from his comeback fight?
Mike Tyson returned to the ring for the first time since 2005 to fight fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition bout in California, one that paid rather nicely.
After hanging up his gloves years ago, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson decided to come out of retirement at the age of 54 and fight fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Junior (51), with everything lined up in California for Saturday 28 November. Here's what happened.
The fight naturally drew massive interest, with Tyson sharing plenty of footage of his training regime and body transformation over the last few months – whetting the appetite of boxing fans around the globe. It was ‘Iron’ Mike’s first fight since 2005, when he fought Irishman Kevin McBride and one that came with a very sizeable payout.
Tyson pocketed around $10 million for this comeback fight, a handy payday for the boxing star who famously blew most of his career earnings, which Forbes estimated could have been as much as $685 million. Roy Jones Jr, meanwhile, reportedly made around $3 million for his appearance.
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What happened to Tyson’s fortune?
It’s hard to believe that a man who made an estimated $685 million could end up filing for bankruptcy, but that is exactly what Tyson did in 2003, when he had reported debts of around $23 million.
Tyson has since recovered financially and now oversees a cannabis company that reportedly makes around $1 million a month. The business also includes a 418-acre cannabis-themed resort known as Tyson Ranch.
Tyson said he will give earnings to charity
Having himself become a proud cannabis smoker in recent years, Tyson has subsequently mellowed out (if his latest appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast is anything to go by) since his high-tempered heyday in the ring, during which time he spent three years in prison after being convicted of rape in 1992 and later bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear in a boxing match in 1997. (Although he did tell Rogan that he had quit cannabis temporarily while preparing for Saturday’s fight).
The Brooklyn native has already promised to give his earnings from Saturday’s fight to charity, stressing that this highly anticipated comeback is not about making money.
"It's going to be for various charities," he told TMZ Sports.
"Nobody has to ever worry about me getting rich, or getting jealous, or saying I'm doing [the comeback] for money. I'm not getting anything. I just feel good doing this because I can."