• Mayweather signed with CSI Sports to resume his pro career after a Tyson exhibition this spring
• He filed a $340 million fraud lawsuit against Showtime weeks before announcing the comeback
• Court filings reveal foreclosure risks, a $54 million loan and creditors pursuing his car collection

LAS VEGAS, NV (TDR) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced Friday that he will end his retirement and return to professional boxing, putting his historic 50-0 record on the line at age 48. The five-division world champion signed an exclusive deal with CSI Sports/Fight Sports as his promoter, with a professional bout targeted for summer 2026 following his exhibition against Mike Tyson this spring.

The announcement landed two and a half weeks after Mayweather filed a $340 million fraud lawsuit against Showtime — and amid a cascade of financial troubles that complicate the narrative of a champion returning for glory.

“I still have what it takes to set more records in the sport of boxing. From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards — no one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event — then my events.”

The Comeback Details

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Mayweather last fought professionally in August 2017, defeating UFC star Conor McGregor via 10th-round TKO to cap a perfect 50-0 career. He has since competed in eight exhibition bouts — including an unscored affair with Logan Paul in 2021 and two fights against John Gotti III — none of which counted on his professional record.

The Tyson exhibition is tentatively set for April 25 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, though ESPN reported it could not confirm the date and no broadcast partner has been announced. Tyson, 59, has expressed surprise at Mayweather’s willingness to face him given the significant size difference between the former heavyweight champion and the career welterweight.

“There has been talks — it is possible. I feel good, and working hard each and every day.”

That was Mayweather speaking to TMZ Sports earlier this year about the prospect of returning to sanctioned competition.

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No opponent, venue or broadcast deal for the professional comeback fight has been revealed.

The $340 Million Question

On Feb. 3, Mayweather filed a lawsuit in California accusing Showtime Networks and former Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza of participating in a yearslong fraud scheme orchestrated by his former manager, Al Haymon. The suit alleges that revenue from Mayweather’s biggest fights — including the mega-events against Manny Pacquiao and McGregor — was diverted into accounts controlled by Haymon without Mayweather’s knowledge.

“Floyd is one of boxing’s biggest pay-per-view draws. He generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for Showtime. Mr. Mayweather now takes this fight to the courtroom to recover what he rightfully earned.”

That was Mayweather’s attorney, Bobby Samini, in a statement to ESPN. Haymon is not named as a defendant despite being central to the allegations. When Mayweather’s new management team requested financial records from Showtime in 2024, they were told the documents had been “lost due to a flood” in a storage facility.

A Paramount spokesperson rejected the accusations.

“These baseless claims lack legal or factual merit. We strongly reject them and will respond accordingly through the court process.”

Financial Pressure Points

The lawsuit exists alongside a broader pattern of financial strain that undercuts the “Money” persona Mayweather has cultivated for decades. Despite career earnings reportedly exceeding $1.2 billion, multiple legal and financial disputes have surfaced:

A $3 million debt to a Nigerian media company remains unresolved. Two properties face foreclosure risk. His Las Vegas strip club, “Girl Collection,” faces potential seizure over unpaid taxes. Courts in early 2026 authorized creditors to pursue his car collection — including a Bugatti Veyron — to settle debts. And he reportedly secured a $54 million loan at 9% interest, using personal assets as collateral.

Mayweather has consistently denied financial difficulties, insisting he is building “generational wealth.”

“I cannot wait until 2026.”

Legacy Or Liquidity?

The timing raises a question the boxing world is debating openly: Is Mayweather risking a perfect record that stands alongside Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 because he genuinely wants to compete — or because he needs the payday?

Professional fights generate substantially more revenue than exhibitions. A sanctioned bout carries legitimate purse guarantees, broadcast rights fees and pay-per-view revenue splits that exhibition bouts — which typically involve flat appearance fees — cannot match.

CSI Sports co-founders Richard and Craig Miele framed the deal in purely commercial terms.

“Floyd will once again continue to dominate boxing with the biggest audience and highest gross events of all time.”

The precedent for aging champions returning is mixed at best. Manny Pacquiao came back at 46 in 2025 and fought WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw — a credible result but not the victory his legacy demanded.

Mayweather turns 49 on Feb. 24. The opponent, date and venue for his professional return remain unannounced. The $340 million lawsuit against Showtime is in its earliest stages. And the fighter who made wealth central to his identity is asking the public to believe this comeback is about setting records — not settling debts.

When a fighter who built his brand on being “Money” announces a comeback amid a $340 million fraud lawsuit and mounting financial pressures, what determines whether the return is about legacy or liquidity — and does the distinction matter to fans paying for the ticket?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from ESPN’s exclusive on the un-retirement announcement, ESPN’s reporting on the Showtime lawsuit, Yahoo Sports’ coverage of the comeback, TMZ Sports’ reporting on the lawsuit filing, The Hollywood Reporter’s analysis of the fraud allegations, Deadline’s coverage of the legal dispute, Boxing News 24’s report on the CSI Sports deal, Boxing News Online’s announcement coverage, Bloody Elbow’s analysis of the professional return, Yahoo Sports’ explainer on the Showtime lawsuit and financial troubles, and beIN Sports’ coverage of the fraud allegations.

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