Joe Rogan believes that Mike Tyson might forgo exhibition rules and try to legitimately hurt Floyd Mayweather when the pair square off next year.
The iconic boxing duo have inked a deal to compete in the early part of 2026, with a broadcaster, venue and official date still unconfirmed. Last time Tyson competed against Jake Paul he struggled to so much as throw punches, much less land them, and his allure has dropped significantly.
However, Rogan believes that he may have a new fire inside after signing up to fight Mayweather, with whom he has had a decades-long feud. And it could result in him embracing his more violent side against the multiple-weight world champion.
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Joe Rogan predicts violence in Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather showdown
While it’s almost guaranteed that Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather will offer up a glorified sparring ‘move around’, there is some degree of intrigue to the matchup. Tyson has had issues with Mayweather since 2001, and they almost came to blows during a 2014 WBC event.
And Rogan believes if ever someone were to break the rules of an exhibition and try to injure his fellow legend, the New Yorker might be just the man to do it. Speaking on his Fight Companion show for UFC Paris, the UFC commentator noted that the bad blood makes for a must-watch.
“Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather don’t like each other and they have not liked each other forever,” Rogan explained to co-hosts Brendan Schaub, Bryan Callen and Gordon Ryan. “If there is a fight that might be real [it would be this one].
“Like, Mike Tyson might say ‘I’m going to knock this motherf—er out or I’m going to try to knock this motherf—er out… If you look at the Roy Jones Jr fight or the Jake Paul fight, no disrespect, they looked like they were sparring and it looked like there was agreements made.
“I do not know if Mike would honor those agreements if there was a moment where really he could hit him. Now could he hit him? That little motherf—er can move still at 50-years-old he’s still so slick, he’s in shape, still fit.”
Mike Tyson promises Floyd Mayweather fight will be gruesome
When the fight was announced, Tyson declared that the fight will be ‘detrimental for the health’ of Mayweather when they do meet. Their last weigh ins were over 60lb apart, and should the legendary heavyweight land, it would surely be the biggest punch of the much smaller man’s career.
“When CSI came to me about stepping in the ring with Floyd Mayweather, I thought, ‘No way this happens,’ but Floyd said yes,” Tyson said in a press release. “This fight is something neither the world nor I ever thought would or could happen.
“However, boxing has entered a new era of the unpredictable—and this fight is as unpredictable as it gets. I still can’t believe Floyd wants to really do this. It’s going to be detrimental to his health, but he wants to do it, so it’s signed and it’s happening!”