Floyd Mayweather says he will return to the ring next year.- His announcement came during a video-link at a press conference in Yokohama to promote an event called MEGA 2021, which will take place on February 28 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
- Though it is an MMA event, Mayweather's participation will likely adhere to the Queensberry rules of
boxing rather than the unified mixed martial arts rules. - Mayweather took part in a boxing exhibition in Japan two years ago and made the promising kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa cry after flooring him three times in one round.
Floyd Mayweather has announced a return to the ring for a boxing exhibition in Tokyo on February 28.
It will be the first time he's taken part in a Japanese showcase since he beat an up-and-coming fighter called Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018, flooring the kickboxer three times in a one-round blowout, using Queensberry boxing rules.
"Japan is one of the most wonderful countries in the world. Tokyo is also a wonderful city. I want to entertain Japanese people," Mayweather said on a conference call Monday, according to talkSPORT.
The British
Though it is an MMA event, Mayweather will unlikely be participating in a match which uses unified mixed martial arts rules.
His December 31, 2018 outing against Nasukawa was organized by Rizin Fighting Federation — a Tokyo-based MMA firm run by Nobuyuki Sakakibara — but was still a boxing exhibition.
Mayweather said: "I train a lot and make an effort as usual. I want to prepare to entertain people. The last time I performed in Japan, I didn't practice that much. I want to prepare well this time.
"I would like to thank all the Japanese fans and Tokyo fans. Thank you for remembering me. I have no idea what kind of opponent I am [facing] now. I'm looking forward to going to Tokyo anyway.
"It's a place where great games have been organized, so I just want to go to Japan to entertain Japanese fans."
Mayweather reportedly banked $9 million for his participation in the Nasukawa exhibition, and then said a couple of months after the show that he was going to take part in "four or five" more exhibitions throughout the rest of 2019 and expected to earn approximately $80 million.
Not one of those exhibitions transpired, however, Mayweather's advisor and CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe, said in August that the retired fighter has received "a few sick offers" regarding a potential $100 million exhibition tour.
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