The superstar exhibition between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather is no more.
It was positioned to be a clash between boxing giants from different generations. Now – just three days before the event was slated to take place on April 26 – it’s become clear that it isn’t happening.
Organizing fights and getting them to happen as planned is one thing. Doing that for a bout featuring a 59-year-old and a 49-year-old is exponentially more complicated. Still, while we won’t see Mayweather take on Tyson just yet, he’s expected to have a few more fights in store for 2026, including his third return to professional boxing. The upcoming boxing slate is sure to draw massive interest and heavy betting action across the best offshore sportsbooks for boxing fanatics.
Why Tyson vs. Mayweather Fell Through
The Tyson-Mayweather matchup was announced in September 2025 and originally had a timeframe of Spring 2026. It was later expected to take place on April 26 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A number of factors began piling up that put the fight in jeopardy. A broadcast partner was never secured. Tyson suffered a hand injury in training. Mayweather was supposedly focusing on other fights and priorities. Eventually, we came up on the date of the proposed fight without much concrete information surrounding it.
The fight is reportedly still in the works, but the finer details remain unclear. We know, at this point, that it won’t be happening this weekend. It also might not be in the DR Congo. But until we get a formal cancellation or postponement, the event will remain in limbo. er
Mayweather vs. Zambidis
In the meantime, Mayweather has announced a new bout with “Iron” Mike Zambidis, a Greek kickboxing legend, scheduled for June 27. The fight will take place in Athens, Greece at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex.
Zambidis, 45, has amassed 158 wins and 87 knockouts over 180 career fights. He’s an 18-time world champion who was active in a professional capacity from 2000 to 2015.
This is merely an exhibition fight, and it grants Mayweather the opportunity to gear up for a high-profile fight later this year.
What’s Ahead for Floyd Mayweather
It’s disappointing that we won’t be able to watch Mayweather step into the ring opposite Tyson, but there’s still a massive bout ahead on his schedule.
On September 19, Mayweather will take on Manny Pacquiao in a rematch of one of the most iconic fights in recent history. The first edition took place in May 2015 – over 10 years ago – and this time, they’ll meet at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
There’s conflicting information on whether it’s merely an exhibition or a true, fully sanctioned fight. Netflix’s announcement of the event claimed Mayweather would be coming out of retirement and putting his perfect 50-0 record on the line. Pacquiao’s team has also said the fight will only happen in a professional capacity. However, Mayweather recently referred to it as an exhibition and claimed that it may not even be happening at The Sphere.
A high-stakes rematch would obviously be the ideal scenario. An exhibition would still draw big numbers, but Mayweather potentially suffering his first professional defeat is a much more enticing storyline. Pacquiao claimed that Mayweather has since agreed to a fully sanctioned fight, but that’s yet to be confirmed on Mayweather’s end.
In any case, we can expect to see Mayweather use the bout with Zambidis as a chance to ramp up and prepare for his first professional fight in nearly 10 years.
Final Thoughts on Tyson vs. Mayweather
While Tyson vs. Mayweather isn’t happening as planned, it seems as though we may still see these two legends fight each other at some point in the near future. Until the fight is called off for good, rescheduling should remain the expectation.
Until that happens, we have a pair of good fights on the schedule. Mayweather vs. Zambidis is an appetizer, but Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II is shaping up to deliver on the hype.
