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| Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) and mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura pose during a news conference announcing their exhibition boxing bout at The M Resort on June 13, 2022 in Las Vegas. (File photo by=Getty/Kyodo) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] TOKYO: Newly enshrined Hall of Fame boxer Floyd Mayweather is headed back to Japan for his next post-retirement exhibition bout in September, when he will face Japanese mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura, organizers announced Monday in Las Vegas, Kyodo Sports reported.
The boxing match will take place under the banner of Japan's Rizin mixed martial arts organization, in which the 29-year-old Asakura competes. At the press conference announcing the fight, Asakura said he hoped to build his profile by battling the 45-year-old American great, who held world titles across five weight divisions before retiring in 2017. "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," Asakura said.
Mayweather promised to put on a show for Japanese fans when he returns to the ring following three successful exhibition contests, against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, YouTube star Logan Paul, and most recently against boxer Don Moore last month. The venue and date for the fight are to be announced later this month. Mayweather knocked out Nasukawa in the first round of their New Year's Eve exhibition bout in Saitama in 2018. The undefeated boxer with 50 professional wins gave a tearful speech Sunday at his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
