Legendary American duo Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather were reported to share the ring with each other in 2026.
It was announced on a social media post at the beginning of September that former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson will be facing five-weight world champion Mayweather in an exhibition bout next year, although Mayweather is now being linked with another legend.
Nonetheless, Tyson, who is approaching his 60th birthday, made a sensational comeback to the sport in November 2024 when he was beaten by former YouTube star Jake Paul when they fought over eight rounds at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Mayweather announced his retirement from the sport after his crossover clash with Conor McGregor back in 2017, but the 48-year-old from Michigan has had a number of exhibition bouts since then, facing the likes of Aaron Chalmers, Logan Paul and Tenshin Nasukawa.
In an interview with OLBG.com, Tyson’s former trainer Teddy Atlas shared his verdict on the controversial match-up between ‘Iron Mike’ and Mayweather, suggesting that his mentor Cus D’Amato would not be happy if it was to indeed go ahead.
“I think Cus would have said, ‘You better not be doing it because you figure you don’t have enough money.’ I think that’s the first thing he would have said, because I think that’s probably what I would say.
“Cus might have reminded Tyson that he used to look up to the old fighters and he read about them and watched their films. Tyson always admired the old fighters, it was a big part of his education in boxing, and his thirst for boxing, his love for it, his passion for it. Looking up to these guys, Jack Dempsey Henry Armstrong.
“Cus would say, probably, ‘This would not be part of what they represent it? Why would you want it to be what you represent?’ There’s nothing wrong with what Tyson and Floyd are doing, it’s making money, it’s entertainment, but it’s not the entertainment Cus would have understood.
Although Cus always had an eye for innovation, he did. But this one, he might say, ‘Are you sure that you want some kids that have never seen you fight, to remember you for this, rather than going to film and remembering you for what you are?'”
Tyson looked a shadow of his once formidable self when he faced Paul last year, just under 20 years on from the shock defeat that he suffered to tough Irishman Kevin McBride in Washington.
