No Pacquiao, No Tyson — but Mayweather Linked to ‘Iron Mike’ Exhibition

Floyd Mayweather is not fighting Manny Pacquiao next. He is not fighting Mike Tyson next, either.

Instead, Mayweather has been linked to an exhibition against another “Iron Mike,” with Greek kickboxing icon Michalis Zambidis announcing plans for a summer event in Athens.

No Pacquiao, No Tyson As Zambidis Posts Athens Date

Zambidis shared a promotional poster on Instagram billing the matchup as “Battle of the Legends” and listing Saturday, June 27, 2026, at the OAKA Arena (Telekom Center) in Athens, Greece.

The poster lists Mayweather Promotions, Zambidis Club, and Front Row Fight Series as promoters and teases a live global broadcast, although no broadcaster has been confirmed.

As of publication, Mayweather has not publicly confirmed his participation.

Two Long-Talked Exhibitions Never Became Reality

The Zambidis announcement arrives after two Mayweather exhibition ideas that generated noise but never reached a finished deal.

Mayweather was previously expected to face Mike Tyson in March in Africa, but the bout failed to materialize, and discussion around it has since gone quiet.

Pacquiao also announced talks in 2025. World Boxing News exclusively obtained details at the time from a company claiming to be promoting the event, but no agreement was finalized.

Another Kickboxer Link Fits Mayweather’s Exhibition Lane

If it goes ahead, the Zambidis bout would mark at least the second time Mayweather has been linked to a kickboxer in an exhibition setting, following his 2018 contest with Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan.

No rules or format have been confirmed for the proposed Athens event. However, Mayweather’s exhibition career has consistently leaned toward controlled, made-for-event matchups rather than sanctioned returns.

For now, the story is simple: Pacquiao and Tyson did not happen, and Zambidis has put a new date on the table. Whether it becomes real depends on Mayweather’s confirmation and the remaining details being finalized, including the broadcast plan.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.