Despite his insistence that combat sports was in the rear-view mirror, undefeated boxing icon, Floyd Mayweather Jr., will return to action under the RIZIN banner on New Year’s Eve in Japan, in a modified-rules match up against unbeaten kickboxing phenom, Tenshin Nasukawa.
While Nasukawa is unlikely to be recognized by the masses, UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan, warns that Mayweather might be biting off more than he can chew, depending on what sort of rules are established for their upcoming “Super Challenge” contest.
“I’m sure many of you combat sports fans heard that Floyd Mayweather signed to face Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan on New Years Eve,” Rogan wrote on Instagram. “I don’t know what kind of ‘special rules’ they’re supposed to be fighting under, but I just like the fact that it’s going to happen and that people get to Google Tenshin’s name and see some of his fights. He’s a true striking genius. I doubt Floyd is going to agree to any rules that allow Tenshin to kick, but if he does, it could be a terrible night for him. This kid is the truth.”
Nasukawa, 20, stands 5’5” and was last seen taking a unanimous decision win over Kyoji Horiguchi at RIZIN FF 13 in September. That’s roughly one year after we last saw the 41 year-old Mayweather, 5’8”, who stopped former UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor in August 2017.
Sorry, no Khabib Nurmagomedov fight (as promised).
The Dec. 31 RIZIN 14 card, held inside Saitama Super Arena, will also feature the return of UFC veterans Tatsuya Kawajiri and Daron Cruickshank, among others, against opponents to be named. Broadcast plans are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.