‘I’m not going to be Fat Mike anymore’: Mike Tyson vows to stay in fighting shape after Roy Jones Jr draw

Boxing legend said he intends to fight every two months after his recent contest

Mike Tyson has said he will stay in fighting shape following his draw against Roy Jones Jr at the weekend.

The 54-year-old competed for the first time in 15 years at the weekend when he took on his 51-year-old opponent in an exhibition bout at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.

And that match-up was just the start of the latest chapter in Tyson’s career, the former heavyweight champion said, expressing his intention to fight “every two months” from here on out. 

“I’m going to work out,” Tyson said in his post-fight press conference, per MMA Fighting. 

READ MORE: Tyson targeting trilogy bout with Holyfield

“It’s become my lifestyle now. I’m never going to be that guy: ‘Fat Mike’ and stuff, ‘Cokehead Mike’ – I ain’t going to be that guy no more.

“I [once] had 15 fights in one year, let’s just try to work closer to that. It has to be competitive where it’s constant, nobody can get out of shape because everyone’s fighting. 

“It would be consistent. I would like to have [a fight] once every two months, my personal opinion. I’d like to fight every two months.”

Tyson admitted, however, that one hurdle will kicking his smoking habit.

“Listen, I can’t stop smoking,” he is reported by USA Today as saying.

“I smoked during fights. I just have to smoke, I’m sorry. I’m a smoker… I smoke every day. I never stopped smoking.”

Old rival Evander Holyfield is Tyson’s preferred opponent for his next fight. American Tyson lost twice to his compatriot during his career, and is keen on a trilogy bout.