Japanese Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Rizin Fighting Federation has announced that the long-running undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. is set to come out of retirement to fight undefeated Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
The announcement came during Rizin’s recent press conference on Monday, where they revealed that Mayweather Jr. will take on Nasukawa at the Saitama Super Arena in northern Tokyo, Japan on Dec. 31, according to the Associate Press via CNBC.
As for the details of the match, particularly whether this will happen under MMA rules or boxing rules, Rizin chairman Nobuyuki Sakakibara admitted that, “we still have some more work ahead of us.”
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The 41-year-old boxer is undefeated with a 50-0 record, having come out on top over the legendary Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and MMA fighter Conor McGregor prior to his retirement.
Nasukawa, the 20-year-old Japanese phenom, currently has a kickboxing record of 27-0, with 23 knockouts, and a 4-0 running record in his MMA career, The Independent reported.
Speaking at the press conference through an interpreter, Nasukawa called the upcoming match as probably the “biggest event” of his life so far.
“Nobody has defeated my opponent in the past, and I would like to be the man who makes history,” he continued. “My punch can change history. And I will show that to you. So please stay tuned.”
Mayweather Jr., meanwhile, praised his young challenger at the press conference.
“I think he’s young, very strong and very fast and he undefeated so it’s obvious he’s doing something right,” the boxing champion said.
Featured image screenshot via YouTube / The Independent
