Mike Tyson has always been asked about a fantasy fight with Floyd Mayweather, but now it is set to become a reality.
The former heavyweight world champion is scheduled to take on the former five-division champion Mayweather in a 2026 exhibition fight, rumoured to take place in spring.
Their bout follows the pair’s recent history of crossover fights, which has drawn criticism from boxing fans.
Tyson was most recently at the centre of controversy for his bout against influencer Jake Paul in 2024, where the ex-professional returned to the ring at 58 years old to fight a novice 20 years his junior.
Mike Tyson commented 12 years ago on a Floyd Mayweather fight, and the one condition under which he would fight him
However, fights like the Paul clash would not have been possible without ‘Money May’ taking on Conor McGregor in 2017, where he stopped the UFC fighter in the tenth round of their crossover contest.
Both former world champions have also competed in exhibitions in recent times, with ‘Iron’ Mike facing legend Roy Jones Jr, and Floyd opting to take on YouTuber-turned-WWE superstar Logan Paul.
However, while the undefeated great Mayweather was still competing professionally in the sport, the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ had long retired, but was still one of the most famous fighters alive.
Speaking to the media for his HBO Special ‘Undisputed Truth’ in 2013, an interviewer had asked him how he would take on the pound-for-pound legend in a fantasy fight.
He responded: “It’d be tough to beat him, he’s a really great fighter, it’d be tough for anybody to beat him in his own weight division. I don’t know.”
Interestingly, the former heavyweight did indicate the weight at which he would like to fight the younger man, and it may come to fruition.
“I (would) like to fight him as long as he’s 140 lbs and I’m 240 lbs,” he laughed.
“He’s not really fast; he is really agile. You have to have experience to beat this guy, you have to be determined and hungry with desire.”
One rule change for the Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather exhibition fight
This contest will not be fought under professional rules, and as it is an exhibition, no formal winner will be announced.
However, according to reports from Fight Hub, the one rule change rumoured to be in place for this bout will be eight two-minute rounds.
This change will not be new for Tyson, who fought ‘The Problem Child’ under the same conditions.
The bout’s rules will likely look similar to the sanctioned fight with Paul, which included heavier gloves due to the age of ‘Iron’ Mike.