Boxing fans can finally mark their calendars for the blockbuster exhibition between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr., set for April 25 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Tyson had teased a March showdown somewhere in Africa, but this confirmed date and location ramps up the hype for a fight decade in the making.
Two of the sport’s most influential figures from the past four decades will square off in this battle, which was first hinted at last year with no details regarding date or turf. Because few details have been released thus far, fans are speculating about the rules or weight class that will control this show. Choosing DR. Congo, once known as Zaire, nods to boxing immortality. The site famously staged the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle,” Muhammad Ali’s masterful rope-a-dope upset over George Foreman. That Don King-promoted epic drew the world to Kinshasa, and promoters hope to recapture that thunder for Tyson-Mayweather.
Despite retiring years ago, Tyson, now 59, continues to be a titan of pop culture. More than 100 million people saw his brutal November 2024 fight with Jake Paul, demonstrating the former heavyweight champion’s continued appeal. Mayweather, turning 49 soon, closed his pro career with a TKO win over Conor McGregor in 2017, capping a flawless 50-0 run across five divisions, up to 154 pounds. The defensive maestro has excelled in exhibitions since, setting the stage for this intriguing generational tilt.
