Written By: Charron Monaye
As a boxing fan, I still can’t quite believe it. Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have signed
on to fight each other in an exhibition next year. Two legends, two different eras, two totally
different styles. If you grew up with boxing in the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s like I did, this matchup
feels surreal like someone hit the rewind button on history and decided to mash greatness
together.
For me, Mike Tyson will always be “Iron Mike,” the youngest heavyweight champion in history
at just 20 years old back in 1986. I remember watching him dismantle Trevor Berbick in two
rounds to claim the WBC belt. It was raw, it was ferocious, it was Tyson. He went on to unify the
heavyweight division, racking up 37 straight wins with 33 knockouts. Tyson didn’t just fight, he
was terrified. That famous 91-second demolition of Michael Spinks in 1988 still echoes as one of
the most dominant statements in sports history. Then there’s Floyd “Money” Mayweather, the
complete opposite in style but just as devastating in results. Precision. Defense. Brilliance. A
perfect 50–0 record across five weight divisions. I still remember him outclassing Oscar De La
Hoya in 2007 to become a superstar beyond boxing. His chess match with Canelo Alvarez in
2013 showed just how far ahead he was even against the best of the next generation. And who
could forget 2015, when he finally met Manny Pacquiao in the so-called “Fight of the Century”
and controlled every round like only Floyd could?
Now, we’re here, with 2026 looming, Tyson at 59 and Mayweather at 48. Sure, it’s an exhibition.
Sure, it won’t change any records. But as a fan, I don’t care. The nostalgia of seeing Tyson’s
thunder against Mayweather’s artistry, even in a showcase, is enough to send chills down my
spine. Details such as the number of rounds, weight requirements, and venue remain under
wraps, but CSI SPORTS and FIGHT SPORTS are promising an unprecedented event that blends
spectacle, nostalgia, and innovative broadcasting.
Tyson himself said in the press release, “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever
thought would or could happen… 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.”
Mayweather, ever confident, fired back with his trademark swagger: “I’ve been doing this for 30
years and there hasn’t been a single fighter that can tarnish my legacy… This exhibition will give
the fans what they want.”
– ADVERTISEMENT –
He’s right. For fans like me, this fight isn’t about wins, losses, or rankings. It’s about revisiting
the magic of two men who defined boxing greatness in completely different ways. Tyson gave us
chaos, power, and fear. Mayweather gave us perfection, patience, and strategy. Together, even for
one night, they’re giving us history. I know it won’t be the Tyson of 1988 or the Mayweather of
2015, but when those two step into the ring and watching legends remind us why we fell in love
with boxing in the first place.