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Floyd Mayweather continues to be successful boxing matches, even when they will not go on his official professional document.
The legendary boxer stopped Japanese MMA fighter and YouTuber Mikuru Asakura on the finish of the second spherical with an enormous proper hand on Sunday’s Rizin Combating Federation card in Saitama, Japan. It was Mayweather’s second exhibition match this 12 months and his second in Japan since his retirement from professional fights.
Mayweather will reportedly make within the vary of $20 million for the bout, which was scheduled for 3 rounds. Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather’s outdated rival, was ringside.
“I want to thank the entire nation of Japan,” Mayweather mentioned afterward. “Unbelievable nation, unbelievable folks. An thrilling, unbelievable turnout. Spherical of applause for this nice competitor proper right here.”
After an uneventful first spherical during which Asakura landed some physique pictures, he had some success within the second spherical, connecting a number of instances to Mayweather’s head with lefts and rights from a southpaw stance.
However Mayweather, among the finest boxers ever and the highest-grossing fight sports activities athlete of all time, got here again with laborious pictures of his personal. He landed laborious to the physique proper earlier than the end then arrange Asakura for the massive proper on the second-round bell, which finally ended the bout.
Asakura was gradual getting up, and referee Kenny Bayless waved the struggle off earlier than both boxer bought to his nook after the second.
“Thanks for having me,” Mayweather advised the gang. “I will be again.”
Mayweather, 45, acknowledged Pacquiao in attendance in his postfight speech, calling him oddly a “future” world champion. Pacquiao, 43, addressed the followers earlier than the exhibition and once more afterward.
Previous to the struggle, Pacquiao mentioned Asakura, 30, had traveled to the Philippines to ask him for recommendation on methods to compete in opposition to Mayweather. Pacquiao added that he was in attendance to assist Asian fight sports activities. Afterward, Pacquiao mentioned twice that he hopes he’ll be invited again, inflicting the commentators to take a position that there could possibly be one thing brewing with Rizin, Mayweather and Pacquiao.
“I hope this isn’t my final invitation to observe a great struggle, a great exhibition,” Pacquiao mentioned.
In an odd state of affairs earlier than the bout, a person who was imagined to deliver Mayweather flowers — a fight sports activities custom earlier than fights in Japan — threw the bouquet down on the canvas somewhat than handing it to Mayweather.
Mayweather got here to the ring sporting a jersey with the quantity 50 on it, signifying his 50-0 professional document. In December 2019, Mayweather completed Japanese kickboxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa within the first spherical after three knockdowns. Nasukawa competes at round 120 kilos. Asakura was a lot nearer to Mayweather’s weight, maybe a bit larger, on Saturday, although there was no official contracted weight.
In an undercard bout to the Mayweather vs. Asakura headliner, Mayweather’s bodyguard Ray “Jizzy Mack” Sadeghi was knocked out in a boxing match by 135-pound kickboxer Kouzi. There was no weigh-in, however Sadeghi was considerably bigger than Kouzi within the ring.
Mayweather had an exhibition bout in opposition to Don Moore in Could in Dubai, and Mayweather has mentioned he’ll take part in one other such matchup within the Center East earlier than the top of the 12 months, although no opponent has been named.
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