Mayweather to fight MMA in Japan on New Year's Eve

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American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. said on Monday he would fight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year's Eve in Saitama.

He made the announcement after signing with a Japanese Mixed Martial Arts promotional company in Tokyo.

The undefeated 41-year-old, who has won world boxing titles in five different weight categories, has never fought professionally in mixed martial arts and it is yet to be decided what format and rules the fight would follow, he said.

While boxing rules restrict bouts to the use of fists, MMA rules can incorporate kicks, knees and elbow strikes, as well as wrestling, joint locks and chokes.

Mayweather said negotiations are ongoing with Nasukawa's representatives and that his skill-set did not end at boxing.

“I can wrestle, I can wrestle little bit. I can box a lot a bit,” Mayweather told Reuters in an interview earlier, “We will just see. I can do it all. I can do anything if I set my mind to it.”

20-year-old Nasukawa competes in both MMA and pure kickboxing and has won all four of his MMA fights.

Conor McGregor (R) and Floyd Mayweather Jr during their super welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas, August 26, 2017. /VCG Photo

Mayweather expects a good fight against Nasukawa,“He is very fast, very young and I am pretty sure he wants to go out and entertain his people."

“Just for me to be in the ring with a young guy that is hungry ... It is going to be good, very, very good and I can't wait,” said Mayweather.

Mayweather's last bout was in 2017 when he beat Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, running his boxing record to 50-0 and earning close to 300 million US dollars.

This has pushed his career earnings to 1 billion US dollars, joining American basketball great Michael Jordan and golfer Tiger Woods as the only athletes to have reached 10-figures in earnings, according to Forbes.

Source(s): Reuters