Larry Holmes delivers honest verdict on Mike Tyson vs Floyd Mayweather: “Be ready for him”

An exhibition bout between Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather has been expected for some time, and legendary heavyweight champion Larry Holmes has offered his thoughts on the scrap.

At the end of 2025, heavyweight icon Mike Tyson announced that he would be partaking in an exhibition against Mayweather, with an April fight date pencilled in for their battle in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, the show did not go ahead and it is unclear when it will, due to Mayweather’s planned exhibition against Mike Zambidis on Saturday night and then professional comeback against former foe Manny Pacquiao in September. 

Still, it has been reported that Mayweather has taken a $2 million advance on his reported $14 million purse for the Tyson fight, so there remains an expectation for the event to happen down the line. 

Speaking with CanadaCasino, Holmes, who was famously stopped by Tyson in 1988, warned Mayweather that he must be ready for the ‘real’ version of ‘Iron Mike’ to show up. 

“My advice for Floyd Mayweather? I would tell Floyd to be ready for Mike. Play [fight] or real [fight], you have to be ready because Mike’s always for real. 

“If Mike thinks he can still do it, God bless him. But I’m too old. I miss it, but I can’t do it any more.”

Mayweather vs. Zambidis is currently in jeopardy because of an ongoing lawsuit against the American but, if it takes place, it will top an 18-fight card being held at the Telekom Center, in Athens, Greece this weekend.