Floyd Mayweather to have exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens before Manny Pacquiao rematch in September

Floyd Mayweather will have an exhibition bout before he fights old rival Manny Pacquiao later this year.

The American superstar, who retired from professional boxing after beating UFC fighter Conor McGregor in 2017, will take part in an exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June in Athens.

"2026 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for me," Mayweather said. "Europe, I'm on the way to entertain."

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Zambidis is a 45-year-old who ended his kickboxing career over 10 years ago. He had a one-off boxing bout in 2019.

Mayweather, now 49, will end his boxing retirement when he returns to the licenced sport to rematch Pacquiao in September in Las Vegas.

This will be his fourth return from retirement having previously called time on his career in 2007, 2015 and 2017.

His first fight with Pacquiao was hugely anticipated though underwhelmed as a contest. Nonetheless, it would become the richest fight the sport has witnessed by setting records for gate (£53.1m) and pay-per-view sales (4.6m), and will once more draw the eyes of the world when the two clash again at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19, 11 years on from their first encounter.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Floyd Mayweather to have exhibition against kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens before Manny Pacquiao rematch in September