Medical professionals have expressed serious concerns about the recently revealed exhibition match between boxing legends Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, planned for 2026.

The announcement of the bout, which emerged just hours before health warnings were issued, has prompted immediate calls for cancellation from medical experts.

The contest between the 59-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion and the 48-year-old undefeated former multi-weight titleholder has yet to confirm its specific date or venue.

The criticism follows Tyson's controversial return to professional boxing in November last year, when he faced 27-year-old Jake Paul in a televised match on Netflix.

Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to meet in the ring for an exhibition bout in the spring of 2026, a match-up that few in the boxing world ever imagined possible

Sports medicine specialist Dr Brian Sutterer delivered harsh criticism of Tyson's performance against Paul, describing the bout as "one of the most shameful things I've seen on TV".

The physician condemned authorities for permitting the former champion to compete against a significantly younger opponent, particularly given the physiological disadvantages associated with ageing.

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"Fighters really need to step up and take some responsibility here and set some clear standards because we're starting to see more and more of these exhibition types of fights," Dr Sutterer stated.

His assessment highlighted fundamental concerns about reaction time deterioration and anatomical changes that occur with age.

Tyson, who celebrated his 59th birthday in June, boasts a professional record of 50 victories from 58 contests during his career that concluded in 2005.

The former undisputed heavyweight champion previously participated in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr in November 2020.

Mike Tyson has fought Jake Paul and Roy Jones Jr in recent years

Mayweather retired unbeaten in 2017 after securing 15 major world titles across multiple weight divisions, maintaining a perfect 50-0 professional record.

The 48-year-old has since competed in several exhibition matches, including bouts against Logan Paul and Aaron Chalmers.

Despite experiencing recent health issues, including an ulcer flare-up, Tyson indicated following his loss to Paul that he intended to continue fighting.

Dr Sutterer emphasised that exhibition matches between fighters of similar ages would present fewer risks, as both competitors would face comparable physiological limitations.

"I don't have as much concern about that as fighting somebody with a very, very different physiologic advantage," the doctor explained, stressing that such disparities extend beyond boxing skills to fundamental bodily functions.

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The medical professional argued that current exhibition boxing lacks adequate regulations regarding age differences between participants.

He noted that these concerns relate to "the basic root of anatomy and physiology and how your body changes over time", rather than technical boxing ability alone.