Floyd Mayweather confirms comeback fight as Ryan Garcia ‘tune-up’

Floyd Mayweather has claimed he will fight boxer Matty Floyd in December, as a “tune-up” for a clash with Ryan Garcia in February.

Mayweather, a former five-weight world champion, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a poster depicting himself and Floyd, an Australian fighter who has primarily boxed at light-heavyweight.

Mayweather, 49, wrote: “AUSTRALIA VS THE WORLD. THE GOAT VS THE JEDI. FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS MATTY FLOYD. DECEMBER 19TH, BANGKOK.

Floyd Mayweather in May 2026 (Getty)

“THIS IS A LIL TUNE UP BEFORE ME AND RYAN GARCIA LOCK UP FEB. 2027.”

A fight with the 37-year-old Floyd, who is 15-2 as a professional, would be an exhibition, and it would be Mayweather’s first outing since he boxed John Gotti III in 2024.

The American legend was due to fight old rival Manny Pacquiao in September, 11 years after their blockbuster title bout, but the Netflix contest has been postponed for the time being, with legal issues getting in the way.

Mayweather had also tried to line up a fight with heavyweight icon Mike Tyson this year, as well as a clash with kickboxer Mike Zambidis, and it is believed that those planned contests led to the legal issues that delayed the Pacquiao rematch.

More recently, WBC welterweight champion Garcia claimed he would be boxing Mayweather soon, which the latter acknowledged in his post about Floyd.

Following his initial claim, Garcia added on X on Friday: “ATTENTION RED, FLOYD MAYWEATHER. You called me and wanted this fight and I agree this is a big fight. But I am fighting FEB6th regardless so unless you actually make this happen then this fight is gone.

“You can go fight whoever but this is for a championship. I will TAKE you[r] 0 with pleasure. Final warning no more games let’s make it happen.”

Ryan Garcia (left) made short work of Conor Benn (Getty)

Mayweather last boxed professionally in 2017, stopping UFC star Conor McGregor to move to 50-0. The bout was the second-most watched in boxing history, behind only Mayweather’s decision win over Pacquiao in 2015.

American Garcia, 28, last fought in September, stopping Britain’s Conor Benn in two rounds to retain the WBC welterweight belt, which Mayweather previously held.

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.