Floyd Mayweather Announces New Opponent For UK Exhibition Match

It looks like boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have jumped the gun with regard to his most recent fight announcement.

Last week, the undefeated five-division world champion announced that he would be competing in his first exhibition bout in the United Kingdom at the world-famous O2 Arena in London on February 25th and that he would be taking on English kickboxing star Liam "Hitman" Harrison.

Well, it would appear as though Harrison was never cleared to compete—medically and contractually—and the announcement fell apart almost immediately.

On his official Facebook page, Harrison explained why he wouldn't be fighting Mayweather after all.

"Devastatingly, my knee just won't allow it. Discussions about the fight started a few days ago with the Mayweather team and I honestly thought I would be ok in a boxing fight, even with needing surgery on my knee," Harrison explained.

"I upped my training as soon as discussions started and had some hard sparring and pads but almost immediately my knee had ballooned up and I can't walk. Hitting pads is fine but the movement and agility needed to spar and especially fight just isn't possible," he continued. "My surgeon is in agreement that this won't be possible and I am absolutely heartbroken. This fight and everything that would have come with it would have changed my life."

Harrison is scheduled to undergo surgery next week.

Apart from the medical issues, Harrison also detailed he is currently under contract with ONE Championship and that the promotion never signed off on the fight.

Now just days after announcing his supposed fight against Harrison, Mayweather took to Instagram once again to announce a new opponent for his exhibition bout in the United Kingdom next month.

Mayweather Jr. will now be facing former mixed martial artist and reality television star Aaron Chalmers.

The 35-year-old has a 5-2 professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record, with stints under BAMMA and Bellator.

All five of Chalmers' wins have come by stoppage (three submissions, two KOs)

Chalmers retired from MMA in 2020, but he has been competing in professional boxing and currently has a 1-0 record.

Apart from his exploits in MMA, Chalmers is also known for his appearances on the reality TV series Geordie Shore, a British offshoot of the widely popular MTV show Jersey Shore.

He also appeared on Ex on the Beach, another British reality TV program.