Mike Tyson is heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo. And by all accounts, he’s savoring every moment of the trip. The 59-year-old spent weeks teasing a potential exhibition clash with rival Floyd Mayweather. While early details about the matchup had already surfaced, fresh reports have now revealed both a date and a venue.

According to Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, Tyson and Mayweather have agreed to an unofficial venue in the Democratic Republic of Congo on April 25, 2026. In the lead-up to the event, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ has been exploring the country as part of his popular video series.

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“Travel with Mike across the river to meet his new neighbors in the Congo on next episode of Behind the Mike,” Tyson wrote on Instagram while sharing a promo video.

In the video, Mike Tyson visits the Congo River, which left him stunned by its natural beauty. According to the promo, the locals even built Tyson a house to live in, which was located on 50 acres of land. As Tyson reached the place on a ferry, a massive crowd was awaiting the former heavyweight champion’s arrival and broke into loud cheering and celebrations once he did.

Tyson was immediately curious about his neighbors, who turned out to be the President of the country. He was also handed an honorable key by the President, and later joined the locals in celebration. ‘Behind the Mike’ is a video series capturing a behind-the-scenes look at his life, travels, reflections, and ongoing activities.

Each episode is typically 4 to 5 minutes long, which Tyson announced back in September 2024. Since then, the youngest heavyweight champion has released 15 episodes in the series. As for his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in Congo, it’s unclear whether he plans to train there till the fight. He last fought back in November 2024 against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional bout. 

Despite making bold claims in the build-up, he gassed out after the first round, handing an easy unanimous decision to Paul. Mayweather, on the other hand, hasn’t seen action since August 24, 2024, when he defeated John Gotti III in an exhibition bout. Recently, he sued Showtime, claiming he had been defrauded out of $340 million by his former broadcast partner. 

Meanwhile, several lawsuits have been filed against Mayweather, seeking payments for unpaid bills. Coming back to Tyson, however, this wasn’t his first visit to the country.

Genetic test reveals Mike Tyson is from Congo

According to an October 2025 report from KMB Media, Tyson visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo after discovering his ancestry traced back to the country. 

“Today, I have stepped on the land of my ancestors,” Tyson told local reporters after arriving in Kinshasa. 

Tyson was joined by the country’s local dignitaries, artists, and members of the Congolese Boxing Federation, who viewed his visit as symbolic and historic.

“My trip to Congo was a life-changing experience. The people there are beautiful! I look forward to returning. Very thankful to have met the president Felix Tshisekedi.”

Despite his roots in Congo, ‘Iron Mike’ was born in Brooklyn, New York, where he grew up and saw his difficult early life turn into a blossoming boxing career. Mike Tyson will be surrounded by his home crowd when he fights Floyd Mayweather later this year. However, will this advantage help him beat the slickest boxer ever?