Floyd Mayweather is returning to Japan for his next exhibition boxing bout, and this time he will be taking on an MMA fighter.
As announced during a press conference on Monday, the boxing legend Mayweather will take on Japan’s Mikuru Asakura, who has spent the majority of his professional MMA career fighting in Rizin.
The bout will take place in September in Japan under the Rizin banner, with more details to be announced soon. The event will be broadcast on the newly announced Rizin Fight Pass.
" Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura "#RIZIN #フロイド・メイウェザー #朝倉未来 pic.twitter.com/om4sjuxQrf
— RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) June 14, 2022
The exhibition bout will be the third such contest for Mayweather following his last professional bout which took place in 2017 against former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.
Mayweather’s first foray into exhibition bouts at the conclusion of his pro career came in 2018 against Japanese kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa, which took place at Rizin 14. Mayweather knocked Nasukawa down three times in the opening round, prompting his opponent’s corner to throw in the towel.
Mayweather’s second exhibition bout came against YouTuber Logan Paul last June. The fight would see the final bell after eight rounds, although no winner was announced. The most recent exhibition bout took place against former training partner Don Moore in May.
Mayweather was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame this past Sunday, an accomplishment that brought the undefeated professional boxer with 50 wins to tears during his speech.
Asakura (16-3 MMA) has fought under the Rizin banner for his 12 previous professional bouts. The 29-year-old featherweight has not competed in 2022, although he competed three times in 2021, winning the two most recent bouts by defeating Kyohei Hagiwara and Yutaka Saito by unanimous decision. Asakura has eight knockouts in his pro career, with his most recent finish coming against Satoshi Yamasu in the first round.
The full press conference can be viewed in the video above.
