DraftKings recently became the official sports betting partner of the soon to be held boxing match between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones. The fight between Tyson, who is the former undisputed heavyweight world champion, and Jones Jr.’s former four-division world champion was one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr did an excellent job of proving that they still had the magic when they battled to a draw in the exhibition match that was held in Los Angeles. The pair battled it out over 8, 2-minute rounds in the Main Event of a pay per view fight that generated record numbers.
During the event, DraftKings’ branding appeared prominently throughout the event in the media, weigh-in, as well as boxing ring sessions. The fight, which took place on November 28th, 2020 marked Tyson’s and Jones’ return to the ring since his retirement.
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The takeaways from the Mike Tyson VS. Roy Jones boxing match
The pay-per-view exhibition match held recently between boxing greats Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. couldn’t have come at a better time. With the world still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, this live boxing event was just what was needed by boxing fans. The pair gave fans at the Staple Center their all even though it concluded in an unofficial split draw on the selected judges’ scorecards.
Tyson was a clear betting favorite from the word go and he far exceeded the expectations of everyone that had tuned in with his charisma and stamina. Not bad for a 54-year-old that has been through the wringer in his many years as a boxer. You must keep in mind that Tyson’s last huge boxing match was held in 2005 while Jones, who is also in his 50s, retired only in 2018.
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This was a cathartic experience for not just Tyson and Jones but all their fans and supporters through the years. What made things even better is that Tyson even donated his winnings worth a cool $1 million to charity, which is pretty commendable. Bearing in mind that the last few years of his career were often characterized by scandals, it was great to see the champ back in his element again.
In addition to the fight between the 2 legends, fans also enjoyed the undercard featuring a bout between Youtube personality Jake Paul and formed Knicks plater Nate Paul. Former WBC super-middleweight champion Badou Jack also battled it out against Blake McKernan while Hasim Rahman Jr faced Rashad Coulter.
Aside from all the intense boxing action, attendees were also treated to an array of live performances. Rappers including French Montana, Lil Wayne, YG, DaBaby, and Snoop Dogg were in attendance. Singer Ne-Yo belted the national anthem.
The main card betting was only available to punters in New Jersey, Illinois, and New Hampshire. The undercard fights were open to bettors in several more states including Iowa, Colorado, Tenessee, Indiana, and New Hampshire.
Boxing matches have been few and far in between
Like almost all live sporting events, boxing was also severely impacted by the pandemic. Live boxing was on the sideline for a while after the pandemic triggered the shutdown of the sports world as we knew it. However, with the return of big-time boxing events, the industry is well on its way to recovery.
When the industry re-opened, any fights hosted remained closed off to the public and media for obvious concerns. Only the necessary fight camp members and their event staff were allowed for events that took place. As you can expect, it was a lot for boxing fans and the fighters themselves to get used to, especially during those early days.
The world hasn’t really encountered any huge pay per view boxing events featuring stars such as Mike Tyson and Roy Jones for some time now. Such fights have always required large crowds in packed venues, but that cannot be the case any longer. Plus, huge pay per view events relies on revenue generated from the gate to work so it hasn’t made any sense to host ant until now when the world has gotten accustomed to the restrictions.
Although the world isn’t going to experience another momentous fight like Mike Tyson and Roy Jones’ pay per view fight again this year, there are still some decent events taking place for boxing fans to sink their teeth into. Case in point, Errol Spence will soon face Danny Garcia for the unified welterweight title to be held on December 5th. Unified heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua will also face challenged Kubrat Pulev in a fight to be held in London.
More great news for DraftKings
As the year comes to wind, DraftKings has a lot more to be thankful for as we’ve talked about here despite the growing infection cases. Just recently, it also became the official betting and iGaming partner of the Detroit Pistons. Thanks to this deal, DraftKings which is still very well-reviewed as covered here will now benefit from branded courtside signage, as well as have their branding appear at the in-game basket.
It will be interesting to see how this partnership folds out since DraftKings’ bitter rivals FanDuel also recently became a betting partner for the Pistons. This partnership came just in time as the two rivals prepare to launch operations in Michigan. The state is currently in the process of finalizing the sports wagering rules but the official launch is scheduled for the last weeks of December or early months of January 2021.
Are you a New Jersey resident interested in playing online in our state and taking advantage of the best offers? Check out our curated list of NJ casinos, NJ sportsbooks, and online bonuses. And if you are a poker player, please check our list of Best Poker Sites in New Jersey.
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Welcome Package
$25 free bonus + deposit match, first deposit up to $500.
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Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based
on first deposit of up yo $600.
$500
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based
on first deposit of up to $500.
