Floyd Mayweather to come out of retirement

Floyd Mayweather is popping out of retirement and can return to skilled boxing after his exhibition battle with Mike Tyson this spring, the 48-year-old introduced Friday (February 20, 2026).

Former multi-weight world champion Mayweather retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 bouts, although he has appeared in a number of exhibition fights since.

“I nonetheless have what it takes to set extra data within the sport of boxing,” Mr. Mayweather, mentioned in an announcement to AFP.

“From my upcoming Mike Tyson occasion to my subsequent skilled battle afterwards — nobody will generate an even bigger gate, have a bigger international broadcast viewers and generate more cash with every occasion — then (sic) my occasions.”

A primary skilled battle is tentatively scheduled for this summer season, towards an opponent to be introduced.

Particulars can be revealed “within the coming weeks,” mentioned the assertion.

Nicknamed “Cash”, Mr. Mayweather was as soon as the world’s highest-paid athlete, with earnings of $300 million in 2015, in response to Forbes.

At his peak he was extensively thought-about boxing’s pound-for-pound king, dominating the welterweight division for greater than a decade.

Regardless of his success, Mr. Mayweather has lengthy been a controversial determine.

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He was usually criticised for an excessively defensive model, and accused by a few of dodging essentially the most harmful opponents merely to brighten his report.

Mr. Mayweather has additionally frolicked in jail for one among a string of home violence incidents.

However his supreme health, work ethic, athleticism and boxing mind earnt him the respect of his friends within the ring.

Mr. Mayweather’s final skilled bout was in 2017 towards UFC star Conor McGregor.

He has continued to seem in exhibitions, together with a victory over John Gotti III in Mexico in August 2024, in addition to bouts with actuality tv stars and YouTube fighters.

Mr. Mayweather has signed an unique settlement with promoter CSI Sports activities/Battle Sports activities, to start following his Tyson bout.

Boxing outlet Ring Journal not too long ago reported that Mr. Mayweather’s exhibition battle with Mr. Tyson will happen on April twenty fifth within the Congo, although neither date nor location has been formally confirmed.

“Iron Mike” Tyson, 59, final appeared within the ring in a lopsided loss to YouTuber-turned prizefighter Jake Paul in November 2024 in Texas.

Mr. Tyson barely landed a punch in that Netflix-backed bout, which was watched by a stay crowd of round 70,000 spectators with an estimated tens of millions extra tuning in around the globe.