Mike Tyson isn’t done fighting, or making promises. Nearly four decades after first becoming the most feared man in boxing, the former heavyweight champion has issued a direct warning to Floyd Mayweather ahead of their planned 2026 exhibition bout.
The 59-year-old legend insists he’ll step into the ring sharper, stronger, and more focused than he was during his loss to Jake Paul last year.
“It’s going to be really interesting,” Tyson told People. “I can’t believe, since the last time I did this, I’ve fought… what? Two times, going on three times. I’ll do better in the next one.”
It’s a statement that carries both conviction and defiance. For Tyson, the fight against Mayweather represents more than another payday or spectacle, it’s an opportunity to remind the world of who he is.
Even as time and age have dulled his reflexes, his competitive spirit remains untouched. “This moment’s going to be over,” he said. “Just enjoy it, it doesn’t last forever.”
The announcement of the Tyson-Mayweather exhibition immediately sent shockwaves through the boxing world. Both men defined different eras and styles,Tyson’s ferocious power against Mayweather’s defensive brilliance.
One dominated the heavyweight division, the other perfected the art of not getting hit. Now, in 2026, fans will finally get to see two of the sport’s most iconic names share a ring for the first time.
Two legends, one final act
The bout is expected to take place next spring under the SCI Sports and Fight Sports banner, according to ESPN and the BBC. It will mark Tyson’s first appearance since his November 2024 loss to Jake Paul, a fight that exposed the limits of his conditioning but also reignited his hunger to compete.
“I couldn’t believe it until he signed the card,” Tyson said of Mayweather. “He signed it, so I believe it.”
Mayweather, now 48, hasn’t fought professionally since defeating Conor McGregor in 2017 but has remained active through exhibitions against the likes of Logan Paul and Deji. True to form, he was quick to frame the event as another testament to his unmatched legacy.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years, and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy,” Mayweather said in a statement. “If I’m going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary.”
For Tyson, it’s a different kind of motivation. He’s less concerned with legacy and more focused on redemption. After losing to Paul, Tyson admitted he “blanked out” during the fight and struggled with focus.
“The day after I woke up and said to my wife, ‘Why did I do that?'” he told Fox Sports earlier this year. “I just don’t know what the hell was going on.”
Now, as he gears up for another high-profile bout, Tyson says he’s channeling that experience into a more deliberate approach. “I’m just preparing and looking forward,” he told People. “It’s just a wonderful thing that could happen.”
Lessons from defeat
The former heavyweight champion plans to discuss his loss to Paul and his mindset heading into the Mayweather fight during his upcoming one-man stage show, Return of the Mike, which debuts in November. “I’ll talk about things that happened during my first fight with Jake and my ideology about all that,” Tyson said.
It’s a rare glimpse of introspection from a man once defined by volatility. Tyson‘s transformation from fearsome knockout artist to reflective elder statesman has been one of boxing’s most compelling evolutions. Yet, despite his calm demeanor outside the ring, his promise to be “better” against Mayweather hints at the fire that still burns within.
For fans, this is more than nostalgia, it’s an event. A collision of personalities, legacies, and styles that span generations. Tyson‘s brute force meets Mayweather’s precision. The two never crossed paths in their primes, but their names have long existed at opposite poles of boxing’s cultural influence.
Mayweather called the fight “a chance to give fans what they want.” Tyson called it “something neither the world nor I ever thought could happen.” Together, they’ll create a spectacle that, while unlikely to settle any debates, will captivate audiences worldwide.
Even at 59, Tyson isn’t showing signs of surrender. He’s older, yes, but still dangerous, still defiant, and still determined to make his presence felt. And if history has taught boxing fans anything, it’s that when Mike Tyson makes a promise, you’d be wise to listen.
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