ON again, off again and now on again. Floyd Mayweather will box an exhibition with Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Prefecture Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
They will box three three-minute rounds under boxing rules (no kicking or any MMA) with eight ounce gloves at welterweight, 147lbs. There will be no judges and no result will go on their respective records.
“This is a great way for me to go out there and give people some entertainment. It’s an exhibition match, but it’s giving me a chance to do something different,” Mayweather said. “I love competing against fighters from all walks of life like in my amateur days. It’s all about entertainment. Nine minutes of entertainment. It’s going to be amazing.
“I’m in the entertainment business. That’s what I go out there to do. I love to do this. I’m working out to put on a show for three rounds.
“I’m going to go out there, have fun and do what I do. I’m enjoying life and I’m going to enjoy this experience.”
“The fight is very close and I’m training hard every day to face Mayweather and leave a mark,” Nasukawa said. “This is a great opportunity and we’re happy to take it. I’m going to put everything out there and show my strengths. I think that I’m the faster fighter. I’m going to use my weapons against him.
“There’s never been a Japanese fighter to face Floyd Mayweather in the ring. As an athlete, this is something that’s a great honour and a challenging task. I’d like to make a big impression.
“I want to get the whole fight community, the whole country of Japan and the entire world involved in this fight. I’m going to go in there believing in myself and ready to prove myself.”
