Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather competed in his first exhibition fight in December 2018 against kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa. The then-41-year-old fought at a RIZIN MMA event and took out the young fighter via TKO. On September 25, Mayweather will look to do the same against a young MMA star who is more than up to the challenge.
Inside the Saitama Super Arena in Japan, Mayweather faces off against Mikuru Asakura. The fight will be a part of a Super RIZIN event, coupled with RIZIN 38. Mayweather, now 45, may have retired from active competition, but he is always ready to take up an opportunity and put on a show fans will never forget.
“It’s still a great feeling to travel the world and basically do these exhibition bouts and have fun,” Mayweather said at the launch press conference, via talKSPORT. “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.”
At the press conference, Mayweather praised his opponent as “one of the best” in Japan. In classic Mayweather fashion, he then stated he (Mayweather) is “one of the best in the world.”
MORE: Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura date, start time, odds, schedule, price & card
This bout will be Mayweather’s fourth exhibition fight and the second one this year. In May, he beat Don Moore, a former sparring partner. This time, he faces someone with experience inside the cage.
The Sporting News digs deep and looks into the history of Floyd Mayweather’s latest exhibition dance partner in Asakura.
Who is Mikuru Asakura
Asakura, 30, started his MMA career competing in the amateurs under the Fighting Network Rings banner. Working with The Outsider brand of the promotion, Asakura turned pro in 2012 following a 6-1 amateur record.
Competing for The Outsider, DEEP Cage Impact, and Road FC, Asakura won the RINGS 70kg and 65kg Championships in 2015, defending both titles once. He made his RIZIN debut in 2018 and is 10-2 with the promotion. After winning seven in a row, Asakura faced Yutaka Saito for the RIZIN featherweight title in 2020. He lost via unanimous decision.
Since then, Asakura has gone 3-1 and is currently on a two-fight win streak. Asakura’s last fight was a unanimous decision win in a rematch against Saito.
Asakura fought in one exhibition MMA fight in 2019. This will be his first boxing bout. That is something he is very excited to take part in.
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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,” Asakura stated at the press conference. “I will win this fight.”
When is Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura?
- Date: Sunday, September 25
- Start time: 11 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEST
The Mayweather vs. Sakura exhibition fight will take place on September 25. The expected start time of the Super RIZIN event is around 11 p.m. ET | 3 a.m. GMT | 1 p.m. AEST.
The event will be two parts, with RIZIN 38 coming on after the Mayweather fight.
How to watch Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura?
- RIZIN Stream Pass, FITE.tv
As of now, the only way to watch Mayweather vs. Asakura is via the RIZIN Stream Pass and FITE.tv.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura price: How much does the card cost?
Per FITE.tv, the Mayweather vs. Asakura fight will cost $29.99.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura fight card
Super RIZIN
- Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura
- Nadaka Yoshinari vs. Bandasak So Trakunpet; Kickboxing
RIZIN 38
- Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Yuto Hokamura
- Hiromasa Ogikubo vs. Soo Chul Kim
- Kyohei Hagiwara vs. Chihiro Suzuki
- Juri Ohara vs. Luiz Gustavo
- Shoma Shibisai vs. Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira
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