Mike Tyson Reveals Rules for Floyd Mayweather Jr. Fight, Addresses Injury Concerns

Boxing legend Mike Tyson revealed the basic ground rules for his planned fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Tyson told Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani the two are scheduled to square off on April 25 despite the fact that he's nursing a hand injury. The former heavyweight champion said the bout will be an eight-round catchweight affair:

Mayweather confirmed to ESPN's Andreas Hale in February he not only will take on Iron Mike this spring but also end his retirement from the sport. His last official fight was back in 2017 against UFC star Conor McGregor.

An exhibition with Tyson will help the unbeaten Hall of Famer shake off the rust a bit before he pivots to a more serious challenge. A rematch with Manny Pacquiao is tentatively set for September.

Mayweather and Tyson both remain big stars with drawing power despite being well past their prime. The former carved out a lucrative niche with his series of exhibitions, while Netflix said the latter's 2024 encounter with Jake Paul had 108 million total viewers.

The two combatants may have a hard time selling this on its sporting merits, though.

Even in his prime, Mayweather wasn't the most thrilling fighter to watch. His defensive, methodical style was incredibly effective but didn't have fans on the edge of their seats. It's hard to envision him changing his approach when he's 49 years old.

Tyson, meanwhile, was thoroughly outclassed by Paul. He attempted 97 total punches over eight rounds and landed just six blows from the fourth round on. The action was so one-sided that Paul had to address claims the whole thing was rigged.

Tyson's hand injury will raise more questions about how much he can pose a threat to Mayweather.