Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a heavy favorite, but he's not taking any chances after agreeing to fight Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year's Eve.
Mayweather has long been linked with a switch to the UFC, while he faced Conor McGregor in the ring last year and has talked up the potential of a clash with Khabib Nurmagomedov, which Dana White insisted would have to take place in the octagon.
And now Mayweather has sealed a deal with Nasukawa and RIZIN Fighting Federation, although the rules of the fight are yet to be agreed.
Mayweather (50-0) announced the bout in a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
"As far as the weight class and the rules, we will talk about that and will get that situated within the next couple of weeks," he said, before explaining his decision to take the fight.
Nasukawa, 20, stands 5’5” and the 41 year-old Mayweather, 5’8”, who retired from boxing after stopping McGregor in ten rounds in August 2017.
The young fighter is regarded by many experts as one of the best combat sports prospects to come out of Japan in several years. He's captured the public eye by story and there is now a media frenzy with his decision to face Mayweather.
Mayweather will have a huge size advantage in the contest, as Nasukawa usually competes around what's considered to be super bantamweight or featherweight in boxing (122-126-pounds).
Despite his opponent heading up by several weight classes, Mayweather is not overlooking his much younger opponent.
"I think he's young, very strong and very fast and he undefeated so it's obvious he's doing something right," Mayweather said.
Mayweather showered praise on his opponent and even disparaged himself by saying “my body don’t look the same as it used to look,” as a bullish Nasukawa exuded confidence.
