The much-anticipated exhibition boxing match between legendary fighters Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson has been cast into serious doubt, following a surprising social media announcement from former kickboxing champion Mike Zambidis.
From Tyson to Zambidis: A Sudden Shift in Opponents
Initial plans, announced in September of last year, detailed a spring 2026 showdown between the American boxing icons. The bout was set to be another lucrative exhibition for Mayweather, following his retirement from professional boxing in 2017. Tyson, aged 59, had later suggested the event would occur in Africa during March, though no official date or venue was ever formally confirmed by the promoters.
Greek Kickboxer Throws His Hat in the Ring
The landscape changed dramatically when Mike Zambidis, a 45-year-old former multiple-time kickboxing champion from Greece, took to Instagram to share a promotional poster. The graphic boldly listed a fight date of 27 June 2026 and the Oaka Arena in Athens, Greece, as the proposed venue.
The poster indicated the event would be a "live worldwide broadcast" and listed the organising parties as Mayweather Promotions, Zambidis Club, and Front Row Fight Series. Zambidis captioned the post with the assertive statement, "History is about to be made." Notably, Floyd Mayweather has not yet commented on or shared this poster, leaving the legitimacy of the proposed bout unverified.
Timing and History Add Intrigue to Potential Bout
The proposed date holds particular significance for Zambidis. It falls exactly eleven years to the day since his last professional kickboxing match on 27 June 2015. For Mayweather, aged 48, it would mark a return to the exhibition circuit after his last bout in August 2024 against John Gotti III, a contest that famously ended in a chaotic brawl.
Uncertain Future for Mayweather vs. Tyson
This new development throws the previously scheduled Mayweather-Tyson fight into complete uncertainty. That bout was intended to take place roughly eighteen months after Tyson's professional loss to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The emergence of Zambidis as a potential opponent directly conflicts with the earlier announced plans.
Furthermore, Mayweather has also been the subject of persistent rumours regarding a high-profile rematch with his historic rival, Manny Pacquiao. Their 2015 encounter remains the most financially successful boxing match in history. The potential clash with Zambidis adds another layer of complexity to Mayweather's future fight calendar.
As it stands, the boxing world is left waiting for official confirmation from Mayweather's camp. Will the legendary "Money" Mayweather proceed with the iconic Mike Tyson, or has a new "Iron Mike" from the kickboxing world successfully called him out for a summer spectacle in Athens?
