Mayweather ready for Japan fight, whatever the rules

Floyd Mayweather has won world titles in five different weight classes and is 50-0 in an unparalleled boxing career but the American could be set for a stunning detour into the world of mixed martial arts after signing with Japanese promoters Rizin Fighting Federation. Twenty-year-old Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa is to be the opponent for the undefeated 41-year-old. Mayweather has never fought professionally under MMA rules and did not specify what format the fight would follow. He said negotiations were 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 Tokyo on Saturday.

“We will just see. I can do it all. I can do anything if I set my mind to it.”

Nasukawa is contracted to Rizin and competes in their championships in both MMA and pure kickboxing. He has won all four of his MMA fights. 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.

His decision to sign a deal with RIZIN was all about timing, he said.

“Everything is about timing, everything takes time and everything is about timing,” he added.

“Its also all about entertainment. I love to entertain, I like for people to be entertained and who doesn’t want to be entertained.

“It is good to come over to another part of the world, have fun and enjoy each other.”