GREATS RELISH DRAW

MIKE Tyson looked and sounded bat crazy before his waltz with Roy Jones Jr.

He promised to “throw punches with bad intentions at all times”. There was something properly frightening about the hobbling Jones getting in the ring with him. Perhaps Tyson would ignore the lame safety rules of their exhibition bout and to try to kill him anyway.

Perhaps rediscover his fondness for ramming an opponent’s nose bone up through his brain. You know, just for old time’s sake.

Iron Mike and Jones walked down the sort of walkway once frequented by Linda Evangelista and here’s a quick question: was that really the Staples Center? It looked a back room of a cheap hotel. The Legends Only League had never looked more LOL but right when the whole thing seemed certain to be a joke … it wasn’t.

Who among us didn’t suspect we were being robbed blind upon paying $ 59.99 on pay- per- view?

But I thought it was bloody great. Worth every cent from when Jones said: “It’s still Mike

Tyson, who can basically take you out with one punch.”

Tyson was a shadow of his former physical self but there was still the aura of ever- present danger. He pounded Jones’ body, staying away from his head, lest he do him in for good. Tyson won all eight rounds. Comically, it was declared a draw.

Jones, 51, was out on his feet from the start, huffing and puffing, copping a pounding while wearing LA Lakers-coloured gloves in memory of Kobe Bryant.

“Balls to the wall, bro,” Jones said. “I feared the shots. I knew they were going to hurt. I knew he could take me out.

“The dude is so strong, man. His head, his punches, his body shots, don’t matter. Everything hurts. I’m cool with a draw.”