Mayweather Will Compete At MMA Event, Japanese Promoter Insists

Nobuyuki Sakakibara has insisted that boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s proposed fight against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa will definitely go ahead on New Year’s Eve.

Sakakibara is the CEO of the promotional company organising the mixed martial arts event.

After announcing he would take on Nasukawa at the next Rizin Fighting Federation event in Saitama at a news conference in Tokyo this month, the American reneged on his commitment to the contest upon his return to the United States.

Mayweather said on his Instagram account that he only agreed to a three-round exhibition in front of a small group of wealthy spectators for a very large fee.

He stressed that he had no intention of it being represented as an official fight card or televised worldwide.

However, a statement from Rizin FF CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara on his unverified Twitter account indicated the Deceember 31 fight was back on, although the rules and duration of the bout have yet to be determined.

“The misunderstanding with Floyd Mayweather has been resolved,” Sakakibara said in a tweet posted on Friday, alongside a photograph of himself and Mayweather.

“He will fight with Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year’s Eve for RIZIN 14.

I will explain the details once I am back in Japan,” said the promoter.

Sakakibara is planning to hold a news conference on Saturday to provide further details.