So this weekend we got our first taste of the “Legends only league.” The inaugural event’s big draw featured Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition match. That’s why I purchased the pay per view; I didn’t even know there were other fights or musical performances.
I’ve seen many people say that this event was geared towards longtime fans looking to relive some nostalgia. I’m not entirely sure if I agree with that or not, I just wanted to see a fight.
So let’s hash this thing out, both the good and the bad.
The Musical Performances.
First and foremost, I am a fan of hip hop and rap music. I have enjoyed it throughout my life. However, I did not pay $50 to watch artists I wasn’t familiar with perform.
If I want to discover new artists, I can do that on my own on platforms like YouTube or Spotify without a cost. It was disappointing to spend $50 only to have portions of the event dedicated to things I wasn’t interested in. This isn’t about the artists themselves, it’s just not what I signed up for.
The only performance I really enjoyed was Snoop Dogg’s. I was engaged and liked his set. I also enjoy Wiz Khalifa, but again, I can watch his hits anytime I want online without paying extra. I could appreciate having one musical act. If it was only Snoop, that would have been perfect for me.
Even if it was just Wiz, I’d be okay with that. But having several acts I don’t know performing several songs was not for me. If this is the format moving forward, I’d like to know the lineup in advance. If that doesn’t happen, or if the event isn’t reformatted, I likely won’t pay for this again.
Commentary.
I think the commentators did a decent job overall. I don’t have any major complaints. One thing I would strongly suggest is bringing back Snoop Dogg as a full-time commentator. His commentary was entertaining and fun. Pairing him with Sugar Ray would bring a nice balance, the serious boxing expertise and the casual fan’s perspective with some lively side chat from Snoop. It really lifted the experience for me, especially after being a bit disappointed by the musical performances.
The main fight.
I’m not sure what I expected going in, but I did want a genuine competition. From what I saw, Mike Tyson was more active, landed more shots, and seemed more committed during the fight.
Yes, I understand it was an exhibition with rules like no knockouts. Still, I was curious whether it would feel like a real fight or just going through the motions.
Calling the fight a draw felt like an easy way out. I get that they didn’t want to harm either boxer’s legacy, and I respect that. But many would agree Tyson appeared to have the edge. Tyson says he’s okay with the result, but that doesn’t change how it played out.
Roy Jones Jr. seemed a bit off during the bout. It looked to me like he might have been dealing with a leg or hip issue, though I’m not certain. What do you think?
Tyson looked healthy and strong throughout. He didn’t seem hurt and may have held back.
For next time, I’d like to see 3 minute rounds instead of 2. The shorter rounds left little time for the action to develop. The fight felt too brief, even for an exhibition with older fighters.
The other fights.
I respect anyone who steps into the ring to fight. This felt a bit like my old MMA event experience, where some fighters were mismatched.
I won’t go in depth on every fight, nor am I an expert, but I’ll share some thoughts.
I don’t think Nate Robinson was ready for a seasoned boxer. Although he trained, nerves and aggression seemed to get the better of him. Rushing in with your head exposed is never a good idea. Still, I respect that he got in there and fought. I don’t know much about Jake Paul, but it seems he’s serious about boxing. He landed the knockout, so that fight wasn’t close.
Badou Jack and Blake McKernan had a good fight, though it seemed a bit uneven. Blake showed great heart and determination. Badou did what he needed to do and took the win, but you have to respect Blake’s effort.
Jamaine Ortiz and Sulaiman Segawa put on a decent fight. It was competitive at first, but Ortiz took control as the fight went on while Segawa appeared to be more defensive. Still, a solid contest overall.
Conclusion.
If they reduce the musical portions and focus more on fights, I would definitely sign up again. But if it stays the same, with multiple musical acts and 2 minute rounds, I probably won’t pay for it again. Bringing Snoop back as commentator would boost the appeal, since everyone seems to enjoy him. Overall, the event was entertaining for me, a decent way to spend a Saturday night in quarantine.
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