Boxers say a lot of things in the lead-up to the fight. It often involves trash-talking and going to the lengths of ridiculing the fighter.

Mike Tyson has been involved with several of these heated face-offs in his illustrious boxing career. Needless to say, Tyson has passed comments in order to hype up the fight. Now, after almost 15 years, he will be back inside the boxing ring this weekend inside Staples Center, but something has changed in his time away.

Both Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. have been quite respectful towards each other in the lead-up to the fight. Both the boxers have praised each other for rising above the obstacles of age and fitness in order to get ready for the much-awaited exhibition bout. Needless to say, Tyson realized this now and opened up on how he will never ridicule any fighter.

Tyson said, “Listen, I am never calling another fighter a bum again. You know, the process of getting in shape to fight somebody is just psychologically overwhelming if you are not an experienced fighter.”

Acknowledging the mental fitness required in order to get ready for a fight, Tyson credited fighters for physically getting in shape to step inside the ring.

Mike Tyson and his struggles ahead of Roy Jones Jr. fight

Mike Tyson underwent a stringent training course ahead of the exhibition bout. Needless to say, the 54-year-old former boxer has never looked in a better shape after he called retirement from the sport almost 15 years ago.

Tyson said, “I became a vegan. My wife told me to get on a treadmill. I went from 15 minutes on the treadmill and ended at two hours. I had to lose 100 pounds.”

Iron Mike has looked incredible in the photos that have been doing the rounds on the internet. On the other side, Roy Jones Jr. has also looked lean ahead of the bout. The former four-division champion is 51 years old and deserves equal credit for getting himself ready to step inside the boxing ring against someone as dangerous as Mike Tyson.

Who will you be backing on Saturday night?

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