‘Iron Mike’ myth fuels outrageous Mayweather prophecy

“Floyd is the one boxer who Tyson doesn’t seem to like as much. We might get a glimpse of Iron Mike again.”

That was a comment made by a fan on social media after it was revealed Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. agreed on a tentative location and date for an exhibition bout.

To the sceptics, that comment could very well have come from someone associated with staging the fight because the claims hold no weight at all.

READ MORE: ‘Confronting’ doco to shed light on explosive AFL sacking

READ MORE: Washout knocks Aussies out of World Cup in embarrassing low

READ MORE: Teammate’s awkward slip-up after $10m offer rejected

By the time both men take to the ring in Kinshasa, Congo (formerly Zaire), well known for the “Rumble in the Jungle” event, which featured Muhammad Ali and George Foreman for the heavyweight championship in 1974, they’ll be a combined 108 years old.

Tyson will be months shy of his 60th birthday in June and Mayweather will be 49 after his birthday on February 26.

They say first impressions last and that is particularly true with the sport of boxing.

Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion ever and his sheer brutality for his size gained a legion of fans across multiple generations.

His knockouts are tattooed on the brains of fight fans, making his dominance difficult to forget, yet his latest fight against Jake Paul told everybody what they needed to know.

If the polarising Jake Paul can duck and dodge punishment from a Mike Tyson reaching official retirement age, then Floyd Mayweather will have no problem.

But what happens in the ring holds less significance than how the fight is perceived.

While there’ll always be a section of commentary that will say both fighters are too old, there’s still healthy interest in the level of combatance between the pair, which proves the mystique of the “Iron Mike” days will forever have a grip on the imagination of fans.

And in turn that creates a myth about what sort of performance you’ll see from Tyson, who will gladly take the criticism and compliments all the way to the bank.

Never in a million years would the champions of yesteryear believe their services would still be in command long past their prime.

Paul’s controversial boxing career changed all that, giving greats of the sport a chance to shine once more for a pretty penny.

If there was ever a group of athletes that deserved such an opportunity – it’s those who have spilled blood inside the ring or cage.

They sacrifice more of themselves for the sake of entertainment than most, in their quest for a belt.

But lets not dive into the event like the level of competition will be anything like their championship days.

This is a bit of fun and a chance to capitalise on the blood they spilt decades ago.

Reports indicate the bout will take place over eight two-minute rounds with heavier gloves – likely 14 or 16 ounce – with no official weight limit set.

Tyson weighed just under 229 pounds for his 2024 fight with Paul.

Mayweather was at his career-heaviest against John Gotti III in August 2024 and still only came in at just under 161 pounds.

Perhaps, Tyson said it best in the first two sentences of his statement to TMZ, before going into salesman mode, when asked about the bout with Mayweather.

“This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen. However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable,” he said. .

“This fight is as unpredictable as it gets.

“I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening.”

The bout will be broadcast by CSI Sports, the live boxing production company which will launch a media streaming and broadcast partnership with the event.