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Floyd Mayweather to face Japanese MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura in next exhibition fight after previously making kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa cry with first round knockout
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather will travel to Japan for another exhibition next month - this time to face MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura.
In June, RIZIN Fighting Federation announced they will host Mayweather's next fight and revealed his opponent during a press conference for the bout will air on RIZIN Fight Pass, but the fight date and venue were not made public.
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It has now been confirmed that Mayweather's latest post-retirement fight will take place on September 25 inside the Saitama Super Arena.
Mayweather retired with a perfect 50-0 record after beating UFC superstar Conor McGregor in 2017 and moving on to exhibition bouts.
When ‘Money’ steps into the ring with the 30-year-old, former two-division MMA champion, it’ll be for the fourth time since he called it a day five years ago.
The 45-year-old flew to Tokyo in December 2018 after being offered $9million by RIZIN for a three-round exhibition against the 20-year-old kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa.
It was a quick night at the office for Mayweather, who dropped his undersized opponent three times, forced the stoppage, made Nasukawa cry, and danced around the ring in celebration.
Asakura, who boasts a 16-3 MMA record, is confident that he will not suffer the same fate as his compatriot when fighting Mayweather next month.
"My name is Mikuru Asakura and I'll be facing Floyd Mayweather," he said at the press conference.
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"I'm an MMA fighter but I'm going to use this opportunity and I'm going to use him to raise my name and value internationally. I will win this fight."
The American, who has since had two further exhibitions – one against Logan Paul in Miami last year and another against Don Moore in May this year in Abu Dhabi - says he’s looking forward to fighting in Japan again.
“It’s still a great feeling to travel the world and basically do these exhibition bouts and have fun," Mayweather said.
"My legacy is already engraved in stone, but it’s still great to just go around the world and entertain people from all walks of life.
“I’m pretty sure he’s going to come out and give his best, like any and every guy, but I’ve seen every style.
"My job is just to go out there be me, have fun and do what I do best.”
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