Floyd Mayweather Jr. unretiring after Mike Tyson exhibition

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. is coming out of retirement after his spring exhibition bout with Mike Tyson.

Mayweather, who turns 49 on Tuesday, retired with a perfect 50-0 record after beating MMA star Conor McGregor in August 2017. The fight against Tyson will be his ninth exhibition match since his retirement at age 40.

"I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing," Mayweather said Friday in a written statement to ESPN. "From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards -- no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event -- then my events. And I plan to keep doing it with my global media partner, CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS."

The April 25 exhibition with Tyson reportedly will take place in Africa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tyson (50-7), 59, last fought against Jake Paul on Netflix in a global phenomenon on Nov. 15, 2024. Tyson lost the eight-round bout by unanimous decision and hasn't won a fight since Feb. 22, 2003, against Clifford Etienne.

Mayweather won 15 major world championships across five weight classes, with 27 of his 50 wins by knockout.

Richard and Craig Miele, co-founders of promoter CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS, released a written statement on the return of "Money" Mayweather.

"Signing Floyd Mayweather to un-retire after he captures another world-wide audience with his Mike Tyson match-up, highlights our commitment to providing our global audience with the most high-profile fighters in the sport," they said.

"Floyd will once again continue to dominate boxing with the biggest audience and highest gross events of all time, and we are proud and privileged to be able to do with our global team at CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS. We look forward to even more announcements that will excite fans and continue to build the sport in 2026!"

--Field Level Media