Floyd Mayweather appears set to face off against “Iron Mike.” Only, it’s “Iron Mike” Mike Zambidis and not “Iron” Mike Tyson. But weren’t Mayweather and Tyson in talks for an exhibition? What happened to that? As of now, there are no clear answers.

Mounting legal and financial challenges surrounding Floyd Mayweather have cast doubt over the much-anticipated friendly bout between him and Mike Tyson. Both sides, however, continue to project confidence.

“There is a contract in place,” Tyson’s advisor told Boxing News recently. “Details will come out soon. But I believe the fight will happen.”

The concerns line up with the timeline previously set for the duo’s exhibition. After initial reports indicated Mayweather and Tyson would meet in spring 2026, it later emerged that a tentative date – April 25 – had been discussed, with Congo mentioned as a potential venue.

But even at that stage, doubts had begun to surface.

“(There’s) been much discussion about the Mike Tyson-Floyd Mayweather exhibition taking place April 25 in Congo, but, per (a) source with knowledge of the plans, it definitely won’t be that date. It will move to a later date, & while it might be in Congo, no site is set,” veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael wrote last month.

So where did things start to unravel?

Floyd Mayweather: Trouble inside the ring and beyond

First, confusion grew as it appeared Mayweather had multiple projects in play. The calendar of the 50-0 star, who announced a comeback this February after 8 years of retirement, featured three potential fights.

It included the Mike Tyson showdown, a face-off with Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June, and a rematch with old rival Manny Pacquiao. But as it stands, he appears to have only one fight lined up. Several outlets now confirm Mayweather will face Zambidis on June 27 in Athens, Greece.

Around the same time, the Tyson matchup went quiet. Separately, a controversy picked up after Mayweather described the Pacquiao fight as an exhibition rather than a real fight.

As for Tyson, the exhibition itself drew limited interest. A matchup between a 59-year-old former heavyweight champion and an unbeaten multi-division titlist nearing 50 generated only modest buzz. Still, the idea of watching two boxing greats trade shots drew some attention.

Another factor behind the uncertainty centers on legal and financial issues surrounding Mayweather.

Early this month, Business Insider reported that Mayweather is facing a $7.3 million lien from the IRS.

“The IRS has filed a $7.3 million lien against famed boxer and entrepreneur Floyd Mayweather Jr. for unpaid taxes in 2018 and 2023,” the piece read. “The lien was filed last month in Las Vegas, where Mayweather has property. The notice shows the balance was unpaid as of March 26. An attorney for Mayweather declined to comment on it. The lien—through which the government can lay claim to Mayweather’s property until the bill is paid—is the latest in a series of debts the 49-year-old fighter has accumulated.”

A few days later, another report added to the situation.

“Floyd Mayweather sued for allegedly not paying $105K for jet services,” an X-post from Complex read.

In a detailed report, they explained how a private jet company named Jet Set Aircraft Inc. claimed Mayweather and his team booked and used a flight but failed to pay all the charges.

That, however, may not be the full picture. Several reports suggest Mayweather has been selling off properties and possessions to cover the debts.

Taken together, these developments bring the focus back to the bigger question: if he is dealing with mounting financial pressure, would stepping into high-profile fights like the one against Tyson make sense? Even exhibition bouts could still be lucrative enough to offer some financial relief.