Fans are again accusing Floyd Mayweather of fixing one of his post-retirement exhibition bouts after footage appeared to indicate that his fight-ending punch on Saturday night didn't land.
Mayweather knocked out MMA star Mikuru Asakura in the second round of their fight at the Saitama Super Arena over the weekend after taking a couple of big shots early in the contest. But some fans are theorising that the bout was fixed after a video was circulated that seemed to show the boxing legend just missing Asakura's head with the final shot.
It wouldn't be the first time that fans claimed Mayweather had fixed a fight, after previously declaring he had done so during his last visit to Japan in 2018. Then, he dropped kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa three times on route to his corner throwing in the towel but some questioned the legitimacy of the punches given Mayweather was famous for not having much power during his prime.
Speaking after the fight, Mayweather explained that it wasn't the final punch that caused the damage, but one earlier in the bout. "Things happen," he told reporters. "I wanted the fight to go the distance, but actually the shot I threw at the end of the round really wasn't that hard of a shot.
"I think it was the shot a couple of shots before that one that took a toll on him. But those things happen in combat sports. A close friend of mine from Japan told me to let him survive the first round and then knock him out in the second - I did what he asked me to do."
Asakura added at his press conference: "That punch that seemed to be faint... This is the punch of the world's strongest boxer. Mirai [his nickname] loses. It's frustrating, but I'm glad I was able to see the world's punch!"
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The 50-0 boxing icon has said previously that he wants to face opponents who won't cause him any damage, but he had to walk through some big shots from the MMA star before eventually landing a stoppage. It was his fourth bout since retiring from professional boxing in 2017; he went the distance with Don Moore earlier this year as well as YouTuber Logan Paul last year.
Now, Mayweather moves on to a Dubai showdown on November 13 with another social media sensation in British influencer Deji. The Brit, whose brother is chart-topping rapper KSI, recently won his first boxing match after four attempts when he stopped Yusef 'Fousey' Erakat at The O2 arena, and moves on to a bout with arguably the greatest boxer of all time.
Deji has teased an announcement this afternoon after last week it was confirmed that Mayweather's Global Titans Fight Series will return on November 13. The pair are expected to compete at the Coca-Cola Arena with a star-studded undercard including Love Island winner Jack Fincham and Nigel Benn's son Harley.
