Floyd Mayweather Announces His Return to Professional Boxing
Floyd Mayweather Jr. to End Retirement for Professional Comeback
American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. has announced his intention to come out of retirement and return to the professional boxing ring following his exhibition match against Mike Tyson, scheduled for this spring.
At 48 years old, the former multi-division world champion retired from boxing in 2017 with an impeccable record of 50 wins in 50 fights. Since then, he has participated in several exhibition matches.
“I Can Still Break Records”
In a statement to AFP, Mayweather said, “I still have what it takes to break more records in boxing.” He asserted that from his upcoming event with Mike Tyson to his future professional fight, no other boxer would generate more revenue or attract a larger global audience than he could.
His first professional fight since returning is tentatively scheduled for the summer, with details about his opponent to be announced later. According to the statement, more details will be revealed “in the coming weeks.”
A Career Marked by Success and Controversy
Nicknamed “Money” due to his vast earnings, Mayweather was regarded as the highest-paid athlete in the world in 2015, with earnings of $300 million according to Forbes magazine. At the height of his career, he dominated the super welterweight division for over a decade.
Despite his athletic accomplishments, he has often stirred controversy, particularly for his perceived overly defensive style and accusations that he avoided the most dangerous opponents to maintain his unbeaten status. He also served time in prison related to a domestic violence case.
Nonetheless, his exceptional physical condition, discipline, and tactical intelligence in the ring have earned him the respect of many observers and opponents alike.
Highly Publicized Exhibitions
His last professional fight took place in 2017 against MMA star Conor McGregor. Since then, he has taken part in several exhibition matches, including a victory over John Gotti III in Mexico in August 2024, as well as bouts against reality TV personalities and YouTube celebrities.
Mayweather has also signed an exclusive agreement with CSI Sports / Fight Sports, which will go into effect following his bout against Tyson.
The specialized magazine The Ring recently reported that the exhibition match between Mayweather and Tyson could take place on April 25 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, although both the date and the venue have not been officially confirmed.
As for Tyson, at 59 years old, he last appeared in November 2024 in Texas, where he suffered a clear defeat against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in an event sponsored by Netflix, which attracted around 70,000 live spectators and millions more watching from around the globe.
