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Andreas Hale
Multiple Authors
Just ahead of his 49th birthday, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has revealed plans to come out of retirement and restart his professional boxing career following his exhibition match with Mike Tyson in spring 2026.
Mayweather has entered into an exclusive promotional agreement with CSI Sports/Fight Sports for this new chapter in his career.
“I still possess the skills necessary to set additional records in boxing,” Mayweather declared in a written statement to ESPN. “From my upcoming match with Mike Tyson to my next professional fight, nobody else will draw a bigger crowd, reach a larger global audience, or generate as much revenue per event as I will. And I intend to continue this with my global media partner, CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS.”
Mayweather stepped away from boxing at the age of 40 following his knockout victory over MMA fighter Conor McGregor in August 2017, finishing his career with an immaculate 50-0 record, including 27 wins by knockout. Since then, he has participated in several exhibition matches against individuals like Logan Paul, Mikuru Asakura, and John Gotti III.
Last September, it was announced that Mayweather and Tyson would square off in an exhibition match in spring 2026. Reports suggest that the fight may occur on April 25 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, though ESPN has not confirmed this date, and no broadcasting arrangements have been finalized.
Mayweather has been in the headlines recently due to his multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Showtime, filed earlier this month. He asserts that he is owed “at least” $340 million from his reported $1.2 billion in career fight earnings.
Mayweather will be re-entering a sport filled with a new generation of competitors, many of whom are nearly half his age. Still, with Manny Pacquiao’s recent return to professional boxing, there are discussions about a highly anticipated rematch between the two, following their 2015 encounter.
“Floyd Mayweather’s decision to come out of retirement after he attracts another global audience with his Mike Tyson matchup emphasizes our dedication to delivering the most high-profile fighters to our international audience,” said Richard and Craig Miele, co-founders of CSI Sports/Fight Sports, in a written statement. “Floyd will again dominate boxing, achieving the largest audiences and most lucrative events in history, and we are honored to partner with our global team at CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS to make this happen. We anticipate further announcements that will excite fans and help expand the sport in 2026!”
