Boxing fans around the world are bracing for one of the most unexpected spectacles in sports history as two of the sport’s biggest icons—Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr.—have agreed to face off in an exhibition bout set for 2026.
Promoters confirmed on Friday that preliminary agreements are in place for the clash, which is expected to take place in Las Vegas, the boxing capital of the world.
While contracts are still being finalised, both Tyson’s and Mayweather’s camps have reportedly signed off on the framework for what is already being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime event.
Mike Tyson, known globally as “Iron Mike,” remains one of the most feared heavyweights of all time. At 59, when the fight takes place, Tyson will bring his trademark aggression and aura back into the ring, nearly four decades after becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20. He last fought in 2020 during an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr., which drew millions of viewers worldwide.
On the other side stands Floyd “Money” Mayweather, the undefeated 49-year-old who retired from professional boxing with a perfect 50-0 record. Since retirement, Mayweather has stayed active in the exhibition circuit, squaring off against YouTubers, MMA fighters, and entertainers, always drawing headlines and lucrative pay-per-view numbers.
The proposed bout will not count towards either fighter’s professional record, but fans are already intrigued by the contrasting styles: Tyson’s ferocious, all-out power against Mayweather’s unmatched defensive mastery and technical brilliance.
“When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’” Tyson said in a statement released by CSI.
“But Floyd said yes. 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.”
