Floyd Mayweather vs Tenshin Nasukawa: American makes light work of kickboxing sensation

Floyd Mayweather beat kickboxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa

Mayweather beats McGregor

Floyd Mayweather made another comeback from retirement to easily beat Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa in a bizarre one-off exhibition match in Tokyo.

The undefeated boxer won in his first match since beating UFC star Conor McGregor by unanimous decision in August 2017.

Mayweather’s decision to return to the ring and take part in a total mismatch attracted criticism from those within the sport, including Amir Khan who said his “jokes fights” are “hurting boxing”.

The American billed the fight as the “highest paid exhibition ever”, but the event, which place on the RZIN 14 MMA card, will not go on either fighter’s record. Re-live the action below:

PREVIEW

TV and live stream information

The event will not be shown live on TV in the UK, but fans can order the show live on FITE TV for $24.99 here.

When is it?

The fight tops a packed undercard in Japan and the two are expected to begin their ring walks before midday in the UK.

Rules

The exhibition fight will be contested over three, three minute rounds under boxing rules, Rizin confirmed last month.

Both Mayweather and Nasukawa will both wear eight ounce Rizin gloves and the result will not go on either fighter’s boxing or MMA records.

How much will Mayweather earn?

Mayweather revealed on Instagram that he expects to make $9m from the fight, working out at $1m per-minute of boxing. “What if I told you I was making $9,000,000 for 9 minutes of sparring in Tokyo Japan would you do the same if you were me?” he wrote. “I like to call it a 9 minute walk thru.”

Undercard

Tenshin Nasukawa vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Kyoji Horiguchi vs Darrion Caldwell

Kanna Asakura vs Ayaka Hamasaki

Rena Kubota vs Samantha Jean-Francois

Yusuke Yachi vs Johnny Case

Ulka Sasaki vs Manel Kape

Yuki Motoya vs Justin Scoggins

Nobumitsu Osawa vs Tofik Musaev

Jiri Prochazka vs Brandon Halsey

Justyna Haba vs Shinju Nozawa Auclair

Damien Brown vs Daron Cruickshank

Mika Nagano vs Miyuu Yamamoto

Gabi Garcia vs Barbara Nepomuceno

Kazuyuki Miyata vs Erson Yamamoto

[31 December 2018 13:44 · Jack Watson]

Khabib vs Mayweather, anyone?

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager says that Floyd Mayweather wants a fight with the UFC superstar. Honestly, this man would even do panto if the money is right.

Khabib's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told TMZ Sports: “Me and him (Mayweather) have been texting each other for the last month.

"He's very much begging for the fight. If he say he did not (call and text me), I'm going to put everything online. Don't lie, Floyd! Do not lie, Floyd!

"At the end of the day, if he want it, the fight is here. I like this fight. But, he has to come a little bit better. He knows what I'm talking about."

Dana White gave the potential fight his blessing in October. How kind of him.

[31 December 2018 13:50 · Jack Watson]

Horiguchi wins!

Kyoji Horiguchi beats Darrion Caldwell in the third round!

Horiguchi had Caldwell in a stiff lock which the American almost escaped but eventually was forced to tap out.

Incredible scenes as the home favourite celebrates. 

[31 December 2018 13:56 · Jack Watson]

Mayweather vs Nasukawa is next!

The stage (ring) is set for the final event of the night and the reason we've all been sat around eagerly waiting for an event on the other side of the world with little meaning to take place. 

Get ready folks. 

It also seems that Sweet Caroline hasn't made it's way to Japan yet.

[31 December 2018 14:05 · Jack Watson]

Nasukawa is here

I wish I knew what song he was walking out to, but in truth we have no clue, it's certainly decent though.

The Japanese kickboxer walks out to wild cheers and fans in every row battling to get a closer glimpse of their star.

[31 December 2018 14:08 · Jack Watson]

Boos for Mayweather?

Floyd 'Money' Mayweather walks out with his own rappers screaming 'money team' as he attempts to get the crowd chanting 'TMT'. There's some interaction but it's limited.

Here's the man himself, and he's wearing one of those paper things you put over your mouth to control the air quality, either that or he was delayed earlier by a practical dentist course. 

[31 December 2018 14:11 · Jack Watson]

Final preparations

The two fighters are presented with flowers in the ring as we pause for the Japanese national anthem. 

Time for the American anthem, which is the right moment for Mayweather to put his novelty 'U$A' hat on. Very funny. Very funny.

We're almost there...I promise!

[31 December 2018 14:17 · Jack Watson]

Quick reminder of the rules

The exhibition fight will be contested over three, three minute rounds under boxing rules.

Both Mayweather and Nasukawa will both wear eight ounce Rizin gloves and the result will not go on either fighter’s boxing or MMA records.

[31 December 2018 14:21 · Jack Watson]

We're off!

The fighters receive the final instructions from the referee, touch gloves and we're away in the first round!

[31 December 2018 14:23 · Jack Watson]

Round 1

Nasukawa survices a count of eight as Mayweather knocks him to the ground just one minute into the contest. 

He gets himself back up but is sent straight back down with a powerful right hand.

[31 December 2018 14:24 · Jack Watson]

Mayweather wins!

Nasukawa is down for a third time in the round and his corner throw in the towel! It's over!