Floyd Mayweather has declared that he was paid $1.5million (£1.23m) just to show up to a press conference announcing his upcoming bout with Mikuru Asakura.
The 50-0 boxing legend retired from active competition after stopping Conor McGregor in 2017 but has stuck around the sport as a promoter, as well as taking on opponents of varying levels in exhibition bouts. He took on Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018 before facing YouTuber Logan Paul and unbeaten boxer Don Moore within the last year.
In his latest exploit, he is heading back to Japan to face Asakura in an event being co-promoted by Rizin this September, announcing the bout in Las Vegas this week. He is known to make millions for these exhibition bouts and made an eye-watering sum just to appear at the launch press conference.
"I'm coming to you live," Mayweather told ESNews after the event. "You want to know how much money I got for coming here? 1.5 [million dollars]."
The 45-year-old has taken minimal risk in these exhibitions thus far, with rulesets and circumstances always favourable for the former fighter. In 2018, he viciously stopped Asukawa, before going the distance to non-decisions against Paul and Moore.
Mayweather had sparred with the 18-0 Moore throughout his career and was able to toy with the boxer throughout their Dubai fight last month. And he was facing a raw novice in Paul last summer in Miami, but was likely frustrated not to stop the YouTuber, who was allowed to weigh in 35lb heavier than his opponent.
In September, Mayweather will head back to Japan to face Asakura, who is not known as a particularly impressive boxer, even by MMA standards. He has said that he views these exhibition bouts as "fun" after a lengthy and gruelling career.
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"I know that he believes in his skill," Mayweather said of Asakura at the pre-fight press conference. "But no fighter that he’s ever been in the ring with is Floyd Mayweather. These other guys are just fighters, but I’m Floyd Mayweather. I’m on a different level. I’m special.
"Not just special, very special. This guy is going to come out and give his best, like every and any guy. But I’ve seen every style, so my job is just to go out there be me, have fun and do what I do best. I don’t have to watch tapes on my opponents, he needs to watch me. I’m the one to watch. Everybody I face is just an opponent. It’s no different from facing Manny Pacquiao or Canelo Alvarez.
"I had so many great days competing at the highest level. But this is a great feeling now to be able to travel the world and do these exhibition bouts and have fun."
