Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson announced on Thursday he was coming out of retirement at the age of 54 to fight Roy Jones Jr.

The eight-round exhibition bout will take place on September 12 in Los Angeles.

American-born Jones, who himself is 51, also briefly held a heavyweight title after moving up through the categories from middleweight.

"It's just going to be amazing," Tyson told sports broadcaster ESPN.

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Aging fears

Tyson dismissed any notion of danger of serious injury for the two fighters, despite concerns over their age. California rules will require they both wear headgear for the fight.

"We're both accomplished fighters," Tyson said. "We know how to protect ourselves. We'll be alright."

Despite the exhibition nature of the fight, Tyson promised it would be a competitive event as "we're showing our skills and fighting" while saying he wants to recapture the fearsome form he once displayed.

"It's 100% of it looking to be Mike Tyson in the ring," Tyson said. "I've got one speed — forward."

Tyson: Youngest champ, shock defeat, prison and biting

A heavyweight champion aged just 20, Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world until he lost his titles in a shock defeat to Buster Douglas in 1990.

Two years later, Tyson was convicted for rape and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released on parole after serving three years.

He then made a comeback to the ring, including an infamous fight with Evander Holyfield in 1997 when Tyson was disqualified for biting a chunk out of his opponent's ear, earning him an 18-month suspension from the sport.

He had one last chance at heavyweight glory, losing to Britain's Lennox Lewis in 2002. 

Tyson last lifted a glove in anger 15 years ago, when he lost to Kevin McBride, just days before his 39th birthday.

Jones, meanwhile, last fought in February 2018, when he beat Scott Sigmon in what at the time appeared to be the last bout of his career.

jsi/msh (dpa, AFP, Reuters)