Floyd Mayweather will fight in the UK for the first time next month

Floyd Mayweather will fight for the first time in the UK next month, but it won’t be against Liam Harrison as the kickboxing legend pulled out just six hours after Mayweather confirmed the fight.

The pair met in an exhibition fight at the 02 Arena on February 25 after Mayweather shared the news on his Instagram.

He had said: ‘London, February 25, it’s official. My first exhibition fight in the UK will be at the O2 Arena. Tickets go on sale next week. Stay tuned!!’

Floyd Mayweather will fight for the first time in the UK next month during his exhibition tour

However, Harrison then announced that he would withdraw from the fight just hours later due to injury, in what will go down as one of the fastest fight withdrawals in history.

He said: ‘Many of you may have seen the announcement this morning about my fight against Floyd Mayweather.

‘Devastatingly, my knee just won’t allow it. Discussions about the fight started a few days ago with Mayweather’s team and honestly I thought he would be fine in a boxing fight even if he needed knee surgery.

“I increased my training as soon as the arguments started and had some hard bouts and pads, but almost immediately my knee swelled up and I can’t walk. Hitting the pads is fine, but the movement and agility required for training and especially fighting is not possible.

But it won’t be against scheduled opponent Liam Harrison after he pulled out just six hours after Mayweather confirmed the fight due to injury.

Harrison revealed that he would not be able to fight due to knee problems in training

“My surgeon agrees this will not be possible and I am absolutely heartbroken. This fight and everything that came with it would have changed my life.’

Harrison also confirmed that he had not broken any contract upon retiring and praised Mayweather as a boxer.

He added: ‘Furthermore, no contract for this has been received or signed. I have an exclusive contract with ONE and I approached them for permission to sign. Without the receipt of the contract and its review and approval by the ONE, nothing was confirmed.

The legendary boxer will now need to find a new opponent after Harrison’s injury retirement.

Mayweather has been in exhibition fights against Logan Paul in recent years.

‘Floyd is the greatest boxer of all time and I would have liked to give a good account of myself. Not only for me but for the entire muaythai community…

“I’m very flattered that they approached me for this fight and I really think I could have done well.” But, as it is, I’ll have to stick to my surgery next week.

I really hope that when I get better we can make this fight happen.

Legendary boxer Mayweather, 46, hasn’t fought a professional bout since 2017, but has taken part in several exhibition fights against Logan Paul, Deji and Mikuru Asakura in recent years.

His last fight in his official boxing career was in 2017, when he defeated MMA star Conor McGregor to extend his fight record to 50-0, with 27 KOs.

He was best known during his career for his famous victories against the likes of Ricky Hatton, Oscar de la Hoya, and Manny Pacquiao, among others.

Mayweather never fought outside of the US during his highly decorated professional boxing career.

The American finished his professional boxing career with a 50-0 record, with 27 KOs.

He never fought outside of the US while he was a professional boxer, but suggested he would fight in England for the first time when he discussed his exhibition tour in early January.

He had said: ‘In February we are looking forward to coming here and doing an exhibition for the fans in the UK, because I never had the opportunity to come here and fight when I was actively boxing as a professional.

“So hopefully in February I’ll come and do a show if possible.”

Harrison, is a decorated Muay Thai fighter hailing from Leeds who has a career record of 90 wins, 25 losses and two draws, with 50 of his wins coming by KO.

Following his retirement, Mayweather will hope to find a replacement for his scheduled fight on the 2nd of next month.