Mike Tyson/Floyd Mayweather, a scheduled fight that boxing fans didn’t ask for but that we’ve all been watching, won’t happen. At least for now. Veteran boxing insider Dan Rafael reported last night that the latest fusion of sport and circus will “definitely” not take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo on April 25 as originally announced. No specific reason was given for pulling the fight from the calendar.
Half a century ago, when it was called Zaire, the same country hosted perhaps the biggest fight in boxing history, the Rumble in the Jungle between Ali and Foreman.
Don’t confuse Tyson with Mayweather. This is definitely a terrible thing. Tyson, a heavyweight from his first fight to his last, is 59 years old. Mayweather, who enjoyed his best years as a welterweight, is now 49 years old and in a ring. Both men had long since retired from real competition, and both were competing in sanctioned sideshows for the first time. Mayweather’s 50th and final official fight took place in Las Vegas in 2017. He knocked out MMA blowhard Conor McGregor, a boxing novice making his professional debut, in nine rounds. Mike Tyson’s vaguely actual last fight took place 21 years ago in DC. Once the baddest man on the planet, he was humiliated and stopped by unconventional Irish fellow Kevin McBride six rounds later. Each of these failures resulted in massive live gate and pay-per-view revenue. Mayweather/McGregor grossed a reported $600 million, making it the second-biggest PPV of all time.
Of course, Tyson will lace up the gloves again in 2024. The terrible Jake Paul “fight” showed the 58-year-old’s ass, first literally outside the ring and then figuratively inside it. The butt crack reveal was fun, to say the least. But the match, much like Paul’s spectacular showcase, proved that name recognition now trumps everything else in the formerly sweet science. The 16-minute waltz, which spans over eight two-minute rounds, reportedly reached 65 million concurrent viewers, enough to break Netflix streaming. According to CompuBox statistics, Tyson went several rounds without attempting a single jab or power punch. However, his take-home pay was estimated at $20 million.
Mayweather, who nicknames himself “Don” but is suspected of being in debt, naturally wants a taste. Even after his date with Tyson, he already signed kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens in June. He also signed a deal to fight Manny Pacquiao at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, which was billed as a rematch of their 2015 bout. The match is remembered for being a snooze-fest between two all-time greats already past their prime, and drawing the biggest PPV crowd in boxing history.
When I was a kid, baseball was a regular fixture for older players. I attended a few and even covered one. The ballpark’s live-action nostalgia is sweet. In the square circle, it’s potentially cruel and always boring. (See CompuBox stats above for confirmation.)
Financial terms for Tyson vs. Mayweather were not announced prior to being put on hold. However, Rafael said the contractual agreement between the two fighters meant it was still very likely that Tyson and Mayweather would strike a deal that was somehow close to a blowout at some point. Maybe even early May in Kinshasa. While you wait for the boondoggle, watch the last big fight to hit the village. They don’t get any better.
