During a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience Fight Companion for UFC Paris, Rogan and his guests briefly discussed the upcoming exhibition matches involving boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson.
When the topic of boxing exhibitions came up, Rogan expressed a mixture of skepticism and curiosity about these spectacles. “You got Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather. That’s happening,” Rogan noted.
The podcast host was particularly intrigued by the potential matchup between Mayweather and Tyson, suggesting that unlike other exhibition matches, this one might have genuine animosity behind it.
“Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather don’t like each other. They have not liked each other forever,” Rogan explained to his guests. He then added: “If there’s a fight that might be real, like where Mike Tyson might say, I’m going to knock this *** out or I’m going to try to knock this *** out, it would be Floyd.”
However, Rogan was quick to temper expectations about what audiences should realistically expect from these exhibitions. When discussing the nature of exhibition matches, he clarified that “they’re exhibitions” and “it’s not like a real scrap.”
He allegedly pointed out that previous exhibitions involving both boxers appeared to have certain agreements in place, stating, “If you look at like the Jake Paul fight, no disrespect, and if you look at the Roy Jones fight, no disrespect. They look like they were sparring.”
The conversation touched on the broader state of boxing, with Rogan noting how exhibitions have become a significant part of the current landscape. “That’s the state of boxing,” he observed, listing off various exhibition and crossover matches that have captured public attention despite not being traditional competitive bouts.
What made Rogan’s analysis particularly interesting was his recognition that while these exhibitions might not represent “real” combat in the traditional sense, they still serve a purpose in the entertainment world.
“It’s money grabs,” he admitted frankly, but added, “I don’t like it, but it’s fun. You know, something to watch. I’ll tune in. I hate on it, but I’ll tune in.”
Unlike traditional boxing or MMA matches, exhibitions exist in a gray area where the competitive element is secondary to the spectacle.
