Floyd Mayweather challenged by former protégé Gervonta Davis: 'Tell him to suit up'

Floyd Mayweather's highly anticipated comeback fight against Manny Pacquiao has been postponed, but his former protégé Gervonta Davis has thrown down the gauntlet. On July 15, 2026, Davis publicly challenged Mayweather to step back into the ring, writing on social media: 'I'll take Floyd too. Tell 'em to suit up.' The callout comes as Mayweather seeks alternatives after legal issues delayed his planned September 12 rematch with Pacquiao at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

What happened to the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch?

The long-awaited rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, originally scheduled for September 12, 2026, at The Sphere in Las Vegas, has been postponed due to ongoing legal complications. The fight was set to be a Netflix-exclusive event, but with Pacquiao now considering other opponents to stay active, Mayweather may need to find a different path back to the ring.

Why is Gervonta Davis challenging Mayweather?

Gervonta Davis, who Mayweather promoted from 2015 to 2022, has a complicated history with 'TBE.' The two worked together for years, with Mayweather guiding Davis to multiple world titles. They even shared a card in August 2017, which turned out to be Mayweather's final professional fight. However, their partnership soured in 2022, leading to a public fallout. Davis' challenge now seems to be a mix of personal rivalry and a strategic move to stay relevant in the boxing world.

What's next for Floyd Mayweather?

With the Pacquiao fight on hold, Mayweather could use a tune-up bout to shake off ring rust. Davis, who denied earlier reports of a 2027 return, is now open to fighting later this year. A matchup between the two would be explosive, given their history and Davis' recent knockout of Frank Martin in June 2024. If Mayweather accepts, it could set the stage for a Pacquiao rematch in 2027, potentially with a title on the line.