FLOYD MAYWEATHER announces return to professional boxing

Sunday, February 22 2026 - Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced he is coming out of retirement and will return to professional boxing following his upcoming exhibition bout with Mike Tyson.

The 48-year-old former multi-weight world champion retired in 2017 with an unbeaten record of 50 fights, though he has continued to participate in exhibition contests. “I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing,” Mayweather said in a statement to AFP.

From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards, no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event, then (sic) my events.”

Mayweather confirmed that his first professional fight since 2017 is tentatively scheduled for this summer, with the opponent yet to be announced. Further details are expected “in the coming weeks,” according to the statement.

Nicknamed “Money,” Mayweather was once the world’s highest-paid athlete, earning $300 million in 2015, according to Forbes. At his peak, he was widely regarded as boxing’s pound-for-pound king, dominating the welterweight division for over a decade.

His last professional fight came in 2017 against former UFC champion Conor McGregor, a crossover bout that drew global attention.

Since retiring, Mayweather has remained active in exhibition fights, including a victory over John Gotti III in Mexico in August 2024, as well as appearances against reality television personalities and YouTube fighters.

He has signed an exclusive agreement with promoter CSI Sports/Fight Sports to launch his professional return following the Tyson exhibition.

Boxing outlet Ring Magazine has reported that Mayweather’s exhibition fight with Tyson is scheduled for April 25 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, although neither the date nor venue has been officially confirmed.

Tyson, 59, last fought in November 2024 in Texas, losing decisively to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a Netflix-backed event attended by approximately 70,000 spectators, with millions more watching worldwide.

Mayweather’s career has been marked by both sporting success and controversy. While praised for his fitness, technical skill and ring intelligence, he has faced criticism over his defensive style and past legal issues. His return to professional competition is expected to draw significant global attention.