Mayweather Eyes Professional Comeback After Mike Tyson Exhibition

Floyd Mayweather is set to emerge from retirement and return to professional boxing after his upcoming exhibition bout with Mike Tyson this spring, the 48-year-old has announced.

The former multi-weight world champion last fought professionally in 2017, retiring with an unbeaten record of 50 bouts. However, he has participated in several exhibition contests since.

“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather declared in a statement to AFP. “From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards – no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event – than my events.”

A first professional fight is provisionally scheduled for this summer, with the opponent yet to be revealed. Further details are expected “in the coming weeks.”

Nicknamed “Money,” Mayweather was once the world’s highest-paid athlete, earning an estimated $300 million in 2015, according to Forbes. At his peak, he was widely regarded as boxing’s pound-for-pound king, dominating the welterweight division for over a decade.

Despite his remarkable success, Mayweather has often been a controversial figure, criticised for an overly defensive style and accused by some of avoiding dangerous opponents to protect his record. He has also served time in prison following domestic violence incidents.

Nevertheless, his supreme fitness, work ethic, athleticism, and boxing intelligence earned him the respect of his peers. Mayweather’s last professional contest was against UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017. His exhibition appearances have included a victory over John Gotti III in Mexico in August 2024, as well as bouts with reality television personalities and YouTube boxers.

Mayweather has signed an exclusive agreement with promoter CSI Sports/Fight Sports, which will commence after his fight with Tyson. Ring Magazine recently reported that the exhibition with Tyson will take place on April 25th in the Congo, though neither the date nor location has been officially confirmed.

“Iron Mike” Tyson, 59, last stepped into the ring in a comprehensive defeat to YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Jake Paul in November 2024 in Texas. Tyson barely landed a punch in that Netflix-backed bout, which drew a live crowd of around 70,000 spectators and millions more watching globally