NEW YORK (BN24) — Boxing icons Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to square off in a blockbuster exhibition fight in 2026, with contracts for the long-rumored showdown already signed.
Tyson, who will be 59 when he steps into the ring, confirmed the bout Thursday night on Instagram, calling it “unpredictable” and a fight he never believed would materialize. The former heavyweight champion last fought in 2024 against Jake Paul, a match that raised concerns about his health after he visibly struggled against the younger opponent.
Mayweather, 48, enters the clash unbeaten after a 19-year professional career that ended in 2017 with a high-profile victory over UFC star Conor McGregor. Boasting a 50-0 record, Mayweather has since participated in occasional exhibition bouts, including one against YouTube star Logan Paul, and has kept himself in peak condition during retirement.
The fight is being organized by CSI Sports/Fight Sports, though an exact date and location have not yet been announced. While it will not affect either fighter’s professional record, promoters expect the event to break global television viewing records. Tyson’s bout against Paul reportedly drew more than 100 million viewers worldwide.
“This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen,” Tyson said. “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.”
Mayweather, who has often been described as the greatest fighter of the century, echoed the sentiment while dismissing any threat to his legacy. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” he said. “If I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.”
With two of the most recognizable names in boxing history finally sharing the same ring, the fight is being billed as one of the sport’s most improbable yet highly anticipated spectacles.
