Haney vs. Garcia rematch? Mayweather vs. Tyson still on schedule?
The boxing schedule is rapidly becoming populated, with significant bouts already confirmed that feature some of the sport’s most prominent figures, such as Tyson Fury, David Benavidez, Deontay Wilder, Alycia Baumgardner, and Oleksandr Usyk.
However, numerous other potential matchups speculated for this year remain uncertain.
Will Devin Haney compete against Ryan Garcia or Rolando “Rolly” Romero — or possibly both? Is the exhibition match between Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson still on track?
Additionally, will Gervonta “Tank” Davis make a comeback to the ring amidst his legal challenges to face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in a long-awaited rematch?
Andreas Hale addresses these inquiries and more as he seeks to clarify some of the most captivating narratives in boxing today.
What’s the current status of the Floyd Mayweather-Mike Tyson exhibition?
Since the announcement last September that Mayweather and Tyson were scheduled to meet in an exhibition this year, information regarding the event has been limited. There have been no updates on where the fight will be broadcast or streamed, and sources close to the event informed ESPN that reports of an April 25 date in the Democratic Republic of Congo were “extremely premature.”
Mayweather has since declared that he will face Manny Pacquiao on September 19 at Sphere in Las Vegas, leaving the status of the Tyson fight uncertain. Currently, the Tyson fight is still tentatively scheduled, but no definitive details are available.
Tyson appeared on “The Ariel Helwani Show” on Wednesday and expressed his belief that the fight will occur on April 25 in Africa and “in the same ring where Muhammad Ali fought George Foreman.” Ali famously defeated Foreman in the eighth round of the “Rumble in the Jungle” at 20th of May Stadium on October 30, 1974, in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. While wearing a cast, Tyson mentioned that he sprained a hand during training and was uncertain if the injury would impact the scheduling of the Mayweather fight.
Mayweather has remained quiet on the subject but shared on social media in early March that he would participate in a separate boxing exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis this June in Athens, Greece.
Who will Devin Haney face next: Ryan Garcia or Rolando Romero?
Haney, the WBO welterweight champion, has narrowed his choices to two contenders for his upcoming fight: Garcia, the WBC champion, and Romero, the WBA titleholder.
Sources have informed ESPN that an offer is on the table for a May 30 unification bout between Haney and Romero. However, the final decision lies with Haney, who is also contemplating a more lucrative rematch with Garcia — following their April 2024 no-contest after Garcia failed a drug test. Garcia captured the WBC title with a dominant unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in February and has indicated his interest in a rematch with Haney. Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy, has suggested that he is not keen on the rematch, considering that his fighter knocked Haney down three times and initially secured a majority decision before the result was overturned.
Haney appeared on “Inside the Ring” and confirmed that discussions were ongoing for a unification fight with Romero. He stated he is “working on it” with Premier Boxing Champions, Romero’s promoter, but noted that the agreement is not finalized yet. Sources have indicated to ESPN that Haney may also be waiting for an offer from Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
Realistically, the fight with Garcia is not progressing. Haney could potentially face Romero in May and unify the titles, which would likely enhance the significance of a future fight with Garcia. Garcia is also seeking a match with WBO junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson, but weight could pose a challenge as Stevenson has yet to compete at 147 pounds.
Is Gervonta Davis making a comeback this summer against Isaac Cruz?
Possibly. Although there have been reports of advanced negotiations for a Davis-Cruz 2 fight at 140 pounds this summer, there are considerable obstacles that must be overcome before the bout can be finalized. Davis is currently dealing with legal issues stemming from an October 2025 domestic incident involving ex-girlfriend Courtney Rossel. He was arrested in January on charges of battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping, two weeks after a warrant was issued for his arrest, and was released the same day after posting an $8,500 bond.
It remains unconfirmed when Davis will next appear in court, but this ongoing legal situation will influence whether and when he chooses to return to the ring. Additionally, Davis is reportedly contending with a knee injury that could impact his comeback. In a now-deleted post on X after he was withdrawn from a fight with Jake Paul in November, Davis mentioned the injury and stated he would return to the ring as “soon as my knee gets better.”
A rematch with Cruz, whom Davis defeated by unanimous decision in December 2021, could be another exciting matchup, but Davis has numerous personal matters to address before he resumes his boxing career. Furthermore, he has frequently mentioned the possibility of early retirement from the sport, complicating the timeline for his return.
Is junior welterweight the most competitive division in boxing?
The 140-pound division currently boasts the strongest and most talented roster of fighters, with ESPN’s No. 4-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Shakur Stevenson, leading the way after his impressive victory over Teofimo Lopez Jr. in January, which earned him a four-division championship. Overall, junior welterweight is filled with fighters in their prime. ESPN’s top five fighters in the division — Stevenson, Lopez, Keyshawn Davis, Richardson Hitchins, and Dalton Smith — are either undefeated, current world champions, or have held world titles in other weight classes.
Moreover, the division is exceptionally deep, featuring Subriel Matias, Gary Antuanne Russell, Alberto Puello, Arnold Barboza Jr., and Andy Hiraoka among the bottom five. This list does not even account for Cruz, Lamont Roach Jr., Adam Azim, and Emiliano Vargas. The division is remarkably rich in youth, power, and skill, along with established champions, rising stars, and fighters who are still in their prime years. There are no straightforward matchups at 140 pounds, and the anticipated return of Davis adds further intrigue to an already loaded division.
