Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather have announced they’ll be fighting next year – and fans are worried about ‘Iron Mike’s safety if the bout really does go ahead.
Tyson, 59, was forced to postpone his fight with Jake Paul last year due to an ulcer, and was hardly able to lay a finger on the YouTuber as he lost by unanimous decision.
Now, as reported by TMZ, contracts have been signed for Tyson and Mayweather to stage an exhibition next year – and fans have expressed their fears for Tyson’s health.
‘Mike Tyson is gonna die in there,’ one fan claimed.
‘Who the f*** watched Mike Tyson look half dead fighting Jake Paul and thought this was a good idea??,’ another asked.
‘Mike should sit this one out,’ a third added.
Mike Tyson will be looking to get the upper hand on Floyd Mayweather when they fight
But Mayweather said ‘there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy’
And a fourth warned: ‘They must cancel it. Tyson won’t survive.’
Mayweather is 48 himself – and will be 49 by the time he steps back in the ring – though he is still in incredible shape and of course holds a 50-0 professional record in his glittering career.
Even Tyson himself expressed shock at the fight going ahead – but said it was Floyd, not him, who was in danger.
‘This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen,’ Tyson told TMZ in a statement.
‘However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable – and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets.
‘I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!’
Tyson drew a huge viewing audience – and plenty of health fears – when he faced Jake Paul
Mayweather, though 48 himself, is still in incredible shape and fought in an exhibition last year
Mayweather, meanwhile, said: ‘I’ve been doing this for 30 years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy.
‘You already know that if I am going to do something, it’s going to be big and it’s going to be legendary. I’m the best in the business of boxing. This exhibition will give the fans what they want.’
The match between the legendary figures will be put on by CSI Sports and Fight Sports, though an exact date and location are yet to be decided.
Mayweather last fought professionally in 2017 against Conor McGregor in one of the most-watched fights in history, though he has stepped back into the ring multiple times since on an exhibition basis.
His last fight was an exhibition against John Gotti III in August 2024.
Tyson and Paul fought last November at the Dallas Cowboys ‘ AT&T Stadium, with 108 million people tuning in to watch what turned out to be a rather drab fight.
