Floyd Mayweather draws Mikuru Asakura in September exhibition boxing match

Former professional boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather is set for his fourth exhibition boxing match since his 2017 retirement – returning to Japan to compete alongside Rizin Fighting Federation in an exhibition bout against former duel-weight RINGS champion, Mikuru Asakura. 

Featuring just last month in an exhibition matchup, Mayweather shared the ring with former sparring partner, Don Moore in a eight round bout as part of an event in Abu Dhabi, UAE – battling over the course of the allotted time with an official winner undisclosed.

In August of last year, Mayweather, who boasts a 50-0 undefeated professional record, landed an exhitbion bout against Logan Paul in Florida – with the bout also electing against naming an official winner.

In his first foray into exhibition bouts, Mayweather headlined a Rizin card in December 2019 against kickboxing talent, Tenshin Nasukawa – scoring a first round knockout win against the Japanese striker.

Retiring from professional boxing that same year, Mayweather handed former duel-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor a tenth round standing knockout loss in the Dubliner’s professional boxing debut. 

Speaking at a press event to promote the September outing under the Nobuyuki Sakakibara led-venture, Mayweather, who was recently inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame – insisted his legacy was already cemented within combat sports.

“My legacy is already engraved in stone, like I said before, but it’s still great just to go around the world and entertain people from all walks of life,” Floyd Mayweather said at a press event to promote the bout. “I’m pretty sure he’s (Mikuru Asakura) gonna come out and give his best, like any and every guy, but I’ve seen every style, so, my job is just to go out there, be me, have fun and do what I do best.”

“September, we’re going to have fun and entertain people,” Floyd Mayweather continued. “I’m Floyd Mayweather to him. He’s just another opponent to me.”

16-3 as a professional, Asakura, is currently riding a two-fight winning run into his exhibition bout against Mayweather, most recently featuring at a Rizin FF event in December of last year.

Ross Markey

Senior writer for FightBook MMA. An aspiring mixed martial arts reporter based in Ireland. Producer of news articles, interviews, opinion features, and exclusive features such as, ‘The Fallout’, ‘The Breakdown, and, ‘This Week In MMA’.