Boxing: Mayweather to fight MMA's Asakura in exhibition bout in Japan

(From left) Floyd Mayweather, Rizin Fighting Federation CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara and Mikuru Asakura at a press conference. PHOTO: AFP

(REUTERS) - Floyd Mayweather will take part in an exhibition fight against mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Mikuru Asakura in Japan later this year, the organisers said on Tuesday (June 14).

American Mayweather, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday, retired in 2015 but returned to defeat Conor McGregor in 2017 and improve his professional record to 50-0.

Promoters said the bout is scheduled for September. The date, venue and rules for the fight will be announced later this month.

This will be the 45-year-old Mayweather's second exhibition bout in Japan, following his first-round TKO win over kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018.

His most recent fight was an exhibition bout against Don Moore in Abu Dhabi in May, which he won.

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