Recently, legendary boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. stunned the sports world by announcing he will come out of retirement and return to professional boxing in 2026, nearly nine years after his last official fight. Mayweather, who built a perfect 50-0 record before retiring in 2017, said he still has what it takes to make history again in the sport.
The announcement comes as part of a deal with CSI Sports/Fight Sports and follows a planned exhibition match against fellow legend Mike Tyson this spring. After that bout, reportedly slated for April Mayweather intends to compete in a sanctioned professional fight later in the summer, although details about his opponent and event location are still pending.
At nearly 49 years old, the five-division world champion remains confident he can draw massive global audiences and break additional records in terms of viewership, attendance, and revenue. Fans and analysts alike are buzzing about the potential of this high-profile comeback and the possibility of marquee matchups in the near future.
What does his return mean for boxing?
It signals a major moment for the sport — bringing back one of its biggest stars while renewing interest in possible big-time matchups and historic rivalries.