Floyd Mayweather Jr. has dropped another bombshell: he’s slated to face Mike Tyson in an exhibition match scheduled for 2026. The announcement is stirring up huge reactions, and Mayweather couldn’t be bothered by the critics.
Mayweather seems almost proud of the hate. In response to people doubting him, especially after so many years of success, he said, “Continue to hate. People only talk about winners. I’m a winner.”
But here’s where the focus changes: longstanding remarks about his reading skills, famously thrown around by 50 Cent, are bubbling back up. Fans are tying Mayweather’s bold Tyson talk to those jabs, and social media is piling on.
Mayweather Is Winning in the Ring, But Losing Online
Mayweather has done more than most in the boxing world; an undefeated record, massive earnings, business ventures, and a legacy few can touch. His announcement about fighting Tyson has renewed those achievements in the spotlight. Despite the praise, there’s a strong counterpoint; many fans believe this fight is motivated by money, not legacy, especially given the ages involved. Tyson is 59; Mayweather is 48.
Mayweather’s comments after the announcement make it clear he’s embracing the scrutiny. He said he understands why people are upset, “If I were somebody else, I’d be mad at Mayweather, too.” But he doesn’t care, and he wants people to keep talking. Fans quickly jumped in with sharp takes: “With the way he behaves, I am sure he would be in Tyson’s shoes in a couple more years.” Another added, “Mike Tyson’s about to win this one.”
Some went harder:
“Not sure who’s owning who at this point. Thirty years later and Floyd still talks like a broke kid who finally found money. His whole career was running circles just to avoid a real fight and now he runs his mouth like it is the only workout he has left. He is the definition of new money insecurity, dressing it up in fake old money elegance, flexing like a lottery winner who already spent the jackpot at the mall, Hater’s 😂 sure.”
One even joked, “if mayweather was fighting in my back garden id close the blinds.”
The impact is divided public opinion. Some respect him for owning what people say, for being undefeated and unapologetic. Others mock him, questioning how much of his legacy is being boosted vs being exploited. The age gap, the context, and the optics all feed into that criticism.
50 Cent’s Old Jabs About His Reading Skills Resurface
This isn’t the first time Mayweather has faced ridicule, especially over allegations about his reading skills. Rapper 50 Cent has often leaned on this narrative, using literacy as a recurring punchline in his taunts. When audio surfaced of Mayweather struggling to read on The Breakfast Club, the mockery only grew louder.
Fans are now reviving this material, frequently in sarcastic ways, to undermine Mayweather’s boasts about wealth and relevance. When he says “continue to hate,” the replies quickly fill with memes and tweets suggesting the same point. It has become an easy line of attack for critics.
To be clear, reading skills alone do not define someone’s value, particularly not a figure who has achieved extraordinary success in sport and business. But public figures are rarely judged on achievements alone. 50 Cent’s barbs may appear petty, but in the era of social media, they remain effective in shaping the narrative.
Mayweather seems to want all this: the fight, the controversies, the insults. For him, “winning” isn’t just about gloves and rounds. It’s about dominating the conversation. Whether that’s admirable, exhausting, or somewhere in between depends on who you ask.
Published: Sep 18, 2025 12:26 pm