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The rumours are true. Two of the most electrifying athletes in boxing history are set to step into the ring for one final bout. Former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson has agreed to an exhibition fight against undefeated Welterweight World Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. The upcoming match, which was first reported by TMZ last week, is being described as “one of the most significant and compelling boxing events in history”. So, what do we know about Tyson vs Mayweather so far?
Tyson vs Mayweather Jr.
Rumours of the Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight first broke on Thursday last week, when TMZ Sports reported that the pair were set to face off in an exhibition match. The reports were later confirmed, with Tyson taking to social media to share the official fight poster. Described as a ‘Special Exhibition’, the poster reveals that the ‘Legend vs Legend’ event is set to be broadcast live around the globe, but just when and where remains a mystery.
“When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’ but Floyd said yes,” Tyson said in a press release. “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable—and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets. I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”
As Tyson noted, CSI Sports/Fight Sports will organise the exhibition match. Co-founders Richard and Craig Miele also confirmed that a multi-event global media streaming and broadcast partnership that will launch with this event will be announced soon. The company currently controls the global rights to HBO World Championship Boxing events and is the exclusive owner of the USA Tuesday Night Fights series, which houses classic boxing content from both Mayweather and Tyson.
“Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are two of the most compelling names and personalities with lasting legacies in all of sports. They are 21st-century icons,” Richard and Craig Miele said. “Tyson vs. Mayweather will break every broadcast, streaming and economic record set by Mike Tyson in 2024. We are planning a robust promotional campaign complete with weekly premium storytelling and worldwide marketing reach. The event itself will be in a world-class venue and be presented to a global audience with new in-ring technology elements that will reshape how boxing is presented and scoring is achieved for years to come.”
Tale of the Tape
For both fighters, the upcoming bout marks a somewhat unexpected return to the ring. Tyson, 59, most recently fought in November 2024, when he took on YouTuber-turned-athlete Jake Paul in a professional bout that he lost by unanimous decision. Despite looking remarkable for his age, Tyson appeared to struggle through the eight-round bout, failing to land a significant blow or keep up with his much younger opponent. Paul, 31 years Tyson’s junior, danced his way around the former Heavyweight Champion with ease, managing to secure a famous victory.
In the aftermath, social media was flooded with posts criticising the event. Former UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland took to X to label Paul a ‘clown’, stating “this should be illegal”, while YouTuber-turned-boxer KSI described the bout on Instagram as “elderly abuse”.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has kept himself fighting fit. Despite retiring from professional boxing in August 2017, the star athlete has competed in a series of exhibition matches, most recently against John Gotti III. That eight-round, un-scored bout, which took place in August of last year, went the distance with Mayweather dominating from the second round onwards. More than a year since that unqiue fight, Mayweather is putting his reputation on the line, stating that his upcmong match against Tyson will be ‘legendary’.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” Mayweather said. “You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”
When is Mike Tyson vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
At the time of publication, details surrounding the Mike Tyson vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight are scarce. TMZ Sports is reporting that the bout will take place in Spring 2026, giving both fighters around six months to get in fighting shape.
Where is Tyson vs Mayweather Jr.?
Similar to the official date, no location has been confirmed for the Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather fight. Tyson’s last bout against Jake Paul took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, while Floyd Mayweather’s 2024 non-scored bout against John Gotti III was held in Mexico City Arena.
It goes without saying, but landmark events such as this represent the potential for enormous tourism spending. As a result, the fight could likely take place outside of the United States, with the United Arab Emirates the most probable location. In recent years, Dubai has emerged as a popular location for the combat sports entertainment industry, hosting UFC events and even Mayweather’s 2022 fight against Deji Olatunji. While nothing has been confirmed, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to suggest that the Tyson vs Mayweather bout will take place on foreign soil.
Expected Rules
As CSI Sports/Fight Sports co-founders Richard and Craig Miele alluded to, it’s likely that the Tyson vs Mayweather bout will include some heavily modified rules. Tyson’s last professional fight against Jake Paul was sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations and largely followed the rules of master boxing for amateur participants over the age of 35.
As per the agreement, that bout was eight rounds of two minutes each with 14-ounce gloves (slightly lighter than the masters boxing rule of 16 ounces). Knockouts and knockdowns were permitted, however, unlike masters boxing, no headgear was required.
Mayweather’s most recent fights have followed familiar regulations, however, his battles against john Gotti III have all taken place wihtout scorers, meaning they are exhibition bouts in every sense of the word. At present, there has been no confirmation of the preospective rules fro the Tyson vs Mayweather fight, but with the official poster labelling it an ‘exhbition’, it’s unlikely that the ageing legends will need to adhere to specific sports-sanctioned rules.
Does Anyone Care?
Perhaps the biggest unasnwered question surrounding the upcoming bout, however, is simply if anyone cares. Tyson’s recent bout againt Jake Paul proved that he isnt the ‘Iron Mike’ of the past and Mayweather has all but accepted no-result fights so as to not tarnish his legacy, so there is a high liklihood that this exhibition will go the distance but satisfy few.
More interseting still, is the concerns around weight class. Tyson tipped the scales at 228.4 pounds in his fight against Paul while Mayweather weighed just 160.8 pounds when he stepped into the ring against Gotti in 2024. The massive disparity makes for intersting fight fodder, but its left many fans a little perturbed.
Mike Coppinger, senior insider for Ring Magazine, took to social media to denounce the fight, writing “Absolutely no one asked to see this “fight.” When is enough enough?”. The boxing expert’s comments echo recent thoughts around the state of the indsutry, which has seen the once-proud sport of boxing descend into a sideshow attraction. Ageing gladiators battling influencers under the bright lights of Netflix is a painful reminder of how far sports entertainment has fallen. Tyson vs Mayweather might just be the final straw.
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