Tyson vs. Mayweather Fight Canceled as Floyd “Money” Mayweather Books New Bout in Athens
The much-hyped exhibition between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather has officially fallen apart.
Originally promoted as a generational showdown between two of boxing’s most recognizable names, the event has been canceled just days before its scheduled April 26 date.
While the Mayweather vs. Tyson matchup won’t happen as planned, Mayweather is still going to remain active throughout 2026, with several appearances lined up, including a match with Manny Pacquiao. To prepare for this fight, Mayweather will be fighting kickboxing star Mike Zambidis.
The year’s fight schedule is already generating strong buzz and is expected to drive significant betting activity across top offshore sportsbooks.
Why Tyson vs. Mayweather Collapsed
The Tyson-Mayweather exhibition was first introduced in September 2025, with an initial target set for Spring 2026. Eventually, April 26 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was identified as the likely date and venue.
As time went on, several issues began to surface. No official broadcast agreement was secured. Tyson reportedly sustained a hand injury during preparation. At the same time, Mayweather appeared to shift his attention toward other opportunities. As the scheduled date approached, details remained vague, and confidence in the event steadily declined.
Although insiders suggest the fight hasn’t been permanently scrapped, there’s still little clarity around its future. What is confirmed is that it won’t take place this weekend, and the original location is no longer guaranteed. Until an official update is released, the bout remains in flux.
Giacomo led one of the all-time great comebacks in his shocking win at the 2005 Kentucky Derby. He was slow out of the gate and remained near the back of the field for more than half of the race, and by the time the leaders reached three-quarters of a mile, he was still in 18th place.
Mayweather vs. Zambidis
With the Tyson fight on hold, Mayweather has announced a new exhibition against Greek kickboxing star “Iron” Mike Zambidis, set for June 27. The bout will be held at the Athens Olympic Sports Complex in Greece.
Zambidis, 45, built a remarkable career with 158 wins and 87 knockouts across 180 fights. A former 18-time world champion, he competed professionally from 2000 through 2015.
This exhibition gives Mayweather a chance to stay active and prepare for the fight against Pacquiao later in the year. You can already place wagers on the fight with Mayweather vs. Pacquaio betting odds.
What’s Next for Floyd Mayweather
While the Tyson matchup is no longer on the immediate schedule, Mayweather still has a major fight ahead.
On September 19, he is slated to face Pacquiao in a rematch of their iconic 2015 clash. The event is currently slated for The Sphere in Las Vegas, marking more than a decade since their first encounter.
However, it’s worth noting that uncertainty surrounds this fight as well.
Netflix promoted the fight as one where Mayweather was making his return to professional competition, which was echoed by Pacquiao’s team. However, Mayweather recently suggested that it was an exhibition. Here’s his exact quote from a recent ESPN piece:
“As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” Mayweather said. “We don’t know the location of the fight. The Sphere is one of the places that they talked about. So we don’t know if it’s a hundred percent going to be there. And this is not actually a fight. It’s an exhibition.”
That has us shaking our heads, uncertain of what this fight may look like.
A fully sanctioned rematch would create far more intrigue, particularly with the possibility of Mayweather suffering his first professional loss. The lack of confirmation from Mayweather is puzzling to say the least. Is he scared of losing his undefeated record?
Regardless, the Zambidis exhibition is expected to serve as a tune-up as Mayweather prepares for what could be his first professional fight in nearly a decade.
