Mike Tyson v Floyd Mayweather: Former world champions to compete in exhibition bout

They are two of the biggest names boxing has known: Tyson, the youngest heavyweight champion in history, and Mayweather, the unbeaten five-weight king.

On paper, a match-up between the pair sounds like the stuff of fantasy. But in reality it’s a very different story.

Mayweather says he is giving the fans what they want. But is this really it? One man is pushing 60, the other was competing several divisions below Tyson’s heavyweight frame.

Yes, Tyson-Mayweather isn’t a pro fight. Yes, there won’t be an official winner. But does that justify the spectacle?

These exhibitions, like Jake Paul v Gervonta Davis or Tyson v Mayweather, continue to blur the lines between competition and entertainment.

The last time Tyson stepped into a ring, he was beaten by Paul – a former Disney Channel star turned YouTuber turned boxer. That was billed as a professional contest and left many wondering if this is how one of the sport’s most feared champions should be remembered.

Tyson-Paul was streamed on Netflix and did huge numbers – the main event peaked at 65 million concurrent streams – so it’s obvious what is driving this.

Mayweather’s words say it all – “business”, not boxing, is the key term here. And if there’s one thing he knows how to do, it is make money.