“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!” That’s what Mike Tyson said after the announcement of an exhibition fight between him and Floyd Mayweather. The two have had a long-standing feud, stemming from Mayweather’s past claim that he was better than the legendary Muhammad Ali.
Still, nobody expected the news to drop, especially considering Mike Tyson’s lackluster performance against Jake Paul in November last year. Regardless, with the contracts signed by both men, the legendary boxing pair is officially set to collide in an unusual ‘post-retirement, cross-divisional’ exhibition boxing match in 2026. Tyson, in the meantime, appeared on 104.3 WQAM, where glimpses of his darker side began to surface.
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This should worry Floyd Mayweather
Speaking on the show, host Brendan Tobin pressed Mike Tyson about Floyd Mayweather’s decision to sign the fight contract, suggesting it might be a dangerous move. Tyson explained, “Well, listen, I was minding my business. I’m flying my birds, tending to my children, and he’s the one… His name was on the contract—signed already.” He admitted that a fight hadn’t even crossed his mind until Mayweather provoked him, adding, “he [was] talking really bad and nasty to me. So, god damn, I thought we were friends…”
When asked if the upcoming exhibition would resemble his 2020 clash with Roy Jones Jr., Tyson’s tone shifted sharply. “Nah, man. We want to get him, man. Like kicking a—… Yeah, I thought the exhibition. He [is] talking crazy.” The host noted that taking on a 59-year-old Tyson could be a serious mistake, but Tyson suggested Mayweather was motivated by money. “Hey, he made a good money choice, though,” Tyson said during the interview. While official figures remain undisclosed, both men are expected to walk away with massive paydays.
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Floyd Mayweather boasts a net worth of around $450 million, having accumulated a staggering $1.2 billion over the course of his legendary boxing career. Since retiring, he has diversified into various business ventures while continuing to step back into the ring for high-profile exhibition bouts. That said, there’s more to why Tyson decided to accept the challenge.
Mike Tyson reveals the real reason for accepting the fight
At 59 years old, with businesses and enough money, why would Mike Tyson risk his life? Well, Tyson himself has revealed the real reason behind his decision while appearing in an interview with TODAY. Recalling a conversation with his son, Tyson said, “Something happened, me and my boy were talking about the fight, and my son said, ‘Why? Why are you doing it?’”
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“For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. … I felt sad and said, ‘Wow, it’s because I am the best that ever did it, that’s why.’” However, that wasn’t the real reason. He added, “I made more money in my fifties than I did in my twenties from fighting. … Now I’m 60 years old, the money doesn’t mean nothing [to me, but] the people I love I can take care of.”
As it turns out, Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson have both decided to fight each other in an exhibition purely for money. While Tyson might really want to beat up Floyd Mayweather because of their past feud, the reality is starkly different. What do you think about their motivations for the fight?