RICKY HATTON worries 59-year-old grandad Mike Tyson could become a ‘human punching bag’ against Floyd Mayweather.
The American ring icons have announced a Spring 2026 exhibition bout – although a date and venue is yet to be confirmed.
AFPMike Tyson is a beloved grandfather who has been through enough personal struggles[/caption]
INSTAGRAMFloyd ‘Money’ Mayweather is the mater of maximising his earnings in and out of the ring[/caption]
Mayweather – another grandfather – is 11 years younger and still looks in incredible shape, having campaigned at almost half of heavyweight Tyson’s size, between super-feather and super-welter.
And fans are worried about Tyson after he suffered a ruptured ulcer in the build-up to last year’s shambles show against Jake Paul.
Man City fan Hatton, 46, told Metro: “In normal circumstances, given the size difference, you would probably be more worried about Floyd’s well-being.
“But I think the opposite.
“I don’t think Mike will get near him and he’ll be a human punching bag to be honest.
“Mike’s approaching sixty, and you saw from his last fight that he’s well and truly past it.
“I think Mike could really end up getting hurt. I’m not sure I even believe it yet, to be honest, but it would be bad for boxing if it is allowed.
“There’s no winner. If Mike somehow hits Floyd and flattens him then people will say ‘Look at the size difference, it shouldn’t have been allowed’.
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“But if Floyd goes in there and boxes his head off and uses him as a punching bag then people will say ‘We knew that was going to happen.’
“So there’s no positives to come out of it except a lot of dough which clearly is the only thing people are thinking about.”
Like Tyson, Hatton has suffered with mental health and addiction problems, especially in retirement when the buzz and adulation of professional boxing is taken away.
After retiring in 2009, The Hitman had a cathartic professional comeback loss in 2012, an exhibition dance with Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022 and has a final Dubai fight scheduled for December against another 48-year-old.
British boxing legend Ricky Hatton worries about Iron Mike but understands his strugglesPA
So the Brit boy-next-door has sympathy for the Baddest Man on the Planet, he said: “Other than selling a few dodgy carpets with my Dad when I first turned professional, it’s all I’ve ever known.
“I’ve been a fighter all my life and you can’t switch that off. I’m sure he’s the same.
“I’ve learnt how to deal with retirement now – I’m a trainer and I do events to keep myself busy – but you still do miss the sport and that’s why I’m still having the odd fight here or though.
“If you look at my comeback, we’re both similar ages, and it’s a very doable fight.
“He’s an 8-3 record, so it’s not like Paulie Malignaggi fighting bare knuckle at his age or Mike coming back against Floyd. Mine is a very safe fight.”
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