The spiritual predecessor for this spectacle between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson was a surprisingly enjoyable entry in the long pantheon of circus boxing, when Tyson headlined a card four years ago against Roy Jones Jr.

Paul, of course, was on that card, and turned plenty of heads when he knocked out the former NBA star Nate Robinson in a pummeling mismatch known mostly for the finish but that included several knockdowns.

Of course, that messy finish was a clear appetizer for fans — who were largely cooped up in 2020 by the global pandemic — hoping that Tyson and Jones could recapture even a morsel of what had made them so entertaining in the ring for so long.

So as we’re wondering how Tyson might look tonight at 58, there’s actually a lot to take away from how he fought then, even with reasonably different circumstances against Jones.

That Tyson-Jones bout was a true exhibition, and ended in a highly suspect draw and with each fighter standing with a belt (two belts, really?). Still, it was clear then that Tyson was going for timing and power and Jones was going for speed and finesse. And neither wanted to get hurt.

They both had flurries of action, and long moments of clinching while they tried to gather themselves and feel each other out. Jones tried to tire Tyson and make him feel his weight. Tyson connected some good shots to the body and probably won the fight (had a decisive outcome been more important).

By the end of eight rounds, it was something of a relief that they had gone the distance. And clearly, it planted a seed that future fights were possible — Tyson seemed eager to go again and Paul clearly was going to progress in the sport, too.