Floyd Mayweather will be squaring off against undefeated kickboxing champion Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan on New Year's Eve, but it won't be a real fight. In fact, the press release specifically states, “This will be full contact competition, but the bout is not going on boxing or MMA records."
Mayweather and Nasukawa were both at Mayweather’s boxing club in Las Vegas on Thursday for a media day, in which the rules for their upcoming exhibition were revealed as follows:
- Three minutes per round, for three rounds
- Straight boxing rules
- No judges
- Both will wear RIZIN 8-ounce gloves
- Weight: 147 pounds
As seen in the video embedded below, Mayweather was ticked off when asked about the possibility of allowing Nasukawa to kickbox.
"Everything is always on my terms because I am the 'A' side," Floyd told reporters on Thursday. "I'm not going to fight in an MMA ring. If I do fight in an MMA ring (it will be) boxing only. Everything is my rules, my way. I work hard to put myself in the position where I call all of the shots. He may be a kickboxer, but he has to abide by my rules, simple and plain."
The exhibition, taking place at Saitama Super Arena, will mark Mayweather's first fight in Japan. The 41-year old says he'll be making seven-figures off the nine minute event.
"No disrespect to Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, but I'm making more in a nine-minute exhibition (than) what they made after their heavyweight fight last weekend," he said.
You can check out the full press conference in the video embedded below.