Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather have been told to cancel their fight just hours after the showdown was announced. The duo will go head-to-head next year, with the date and location yet to be confirmed.
Tyson, who was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world from 1987 to 1990, won 50 of his 58 professional fights before retiring in 2005. He returned to the ring last November at the age of 58 for an exhibition bout with Jake Paul, who was 27 at the time. Unsurprisingly, the fight – which was shown live on Netflix – was a subdued affair, with Paul coming out on top. Meanwhile, Mayweather, 48, won all 50 of his fights as a professional boxer and claimed 15 major world championship titles throughout his career. He retired from the sport in 2017.
The clash between Tyson and Mayweather was announced late on Thursday night, with the 59-year-old taking to X (formerly Twitter) to promote the event.
“Coming soon,” Tyson wrote on the platform as he unveiled a promotional poster that featured a split image of the two men.
But a host of boxing fans were quick to warn the duo, with @1_2_question replying: “Nooooooooo. Mike stay retired man. Don’t make a mockery of the sport that you put on the map.”
Tyson was then sent a health warning, with @Cl6ne writing: “Mike you ain’t got nothing to prove anymore, we respect the hunger for money but your health is more important.”
And @InkItright added: “Come on man your knees were not there last time, why we doing this.”
Meanwhile, @KettlebellDan exclaimed: “Zero people asked for this.” And @eyecubed85 remarked: “However much it costs, I’d pay double to cancel the event.”
After the fight was announced, Tyson told TMZ: “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen.
“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.”
And Mayweather added: “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.”