Tyson and Mayweather set for exhibition fight in Congo
Boxing icons Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are reportedly set to face each other in an exhibition contest on 25 April in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reports BritPanorama.
The two retired legends finalised their agreement to step into the ring together back in September. Originally, organisers had been aiming for a March date before settling on the Central African nation as the venue for late April, according to Ring Magazine.
The bout brings together two of the sport’s most celebrated figures, with the former undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson meeting the undefeated Mayweather, who finished his professional career with a perfect 50-0 record. However, concerns have been raised about Tyson’s wellbeing given that the former champion is approaching his 60th birthday.
These worries intensified following Tyson’s disappointing performance against Jake Paul in November 2024, where the YouTuber-turned-boxer comfortably defeated him at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. The contest was widely described as a difficult spectacle to watch, with Tyson appearing far removed from the fearsome fighter who once dominated the heavyweight division.
Despite having last competed professionally nearly nine years ago against UFC star Conor McGregor in August 2017, Mayweather has maintained exceptional physical condition and continued participating in exhibition bouts, including one against Logan Paul. The choice of the Democratic Republic of Congo carries profound historical resonance for the sport of boxing.
The Central African nation hosted the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in 1974, a contest that remains among the most celebrated in boxing history. By staging the Tyson-Mayweather exhibition at this iconic location, organisers appear to be drawing a deliberate connection to that storied past.
The venue selection adds a layer of significance to what is already generating considerable anticipation, with early signs suggesting the clash between these two boxing greats could attract even more interest than Tyson’s previous outing, which drew a remarkable 108 million viewers on Netflix.
Speaking to TMZ in September when the deal was announced, Tyson expressed his astonishment at the matchup materialising. “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen,” he said. “However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable – and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets.”
Mayweather responded with characteristic self-assurance, stating: “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.”
As both fighters prepare to enter the ring once more, the narrative surrounding this clash is as much about legacy as it is about the sport itself. The anticipation is palpable, reflecting how boxing icons continually find new ways to engage with their fans, even in realms that venture well outside traditional competition.
