Watch Floyd Mayweather highlights here. Photo by Getty Images Floyd Mayweather returned to the Saitama ring in Japan for another exhibition this past weekend. Mayweather’s footwork, intuition, and speed of hand were a sight to see.
Keep scrolling for ringside highlights of his second-round win over Rizin MMA star Mikuru Asakura. It’s 2022 and Floyd Mayweather, 45, is still knocking people out. The American athlete, one of boxing’s greatest success stories, began his professional career months after winning a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
He won his first world title two years later. Then went on to win world championships in five weight classes, and became a must-see attraction at the box office thanks to mega fights — and wins — against Oscar de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, and Conor McGregor. Though he retired in 2017 after finishing McGregor in the 10th round, Mayweather continues to earn significant paydays on the exhibition boxing circuit.
This weekend, Mayweather returned to Japan to move around with MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura. The Rizin featherweight, who has competed in MMA for a decade, had Pacquiao’s support throughout the promotion. Manny Pacquiao waves to the crowd as he walks into the ring for the Mayweather vs.
Asakura exhibition. Photo by Getty ImagesMayweather and Pacquiao verbally sparred in the build-up to the Rizin 38 event in Saitama — resulting in Mayweather warning the Filipino former fighter that he might get his “ass whooped” again if he wasn’t careful. Pacquiao was even ringside for the show.
But this wasn’t about Pacquiao, this was about how Mayweather would look in his mid-40s against a Rizin star in his prime at 30 years old. We’re used to hearing Mayweather say that “all work is easy work,” but he took that to a new level this week when he claimed he didn’t even know his opponent’s name. “I actually have never seen my opponent compete as an MMA fighter, compete as a boxer,” Mayweather told reporters at a pre-fight press conference.
“I don’t know his weight class,” added Mayweather. “I don’t even know his name. And … I don’t even know the rules.
When I do these exhibitions, my opponents take it serious, but to me it’s just a joke. “Mayweather romped to an easy win SundayFloyd Mayweather beat Mikuru Asakura with ease. Photo by Getty ImagesMayweather walked to the ring with a black robe that prominently displayed the numbers 50-0 — his flawless, unbeaten boxing record.
—RIZIN FF OFFICIAL (@rizin_PR) September 25, 2022Mayweather’s footwork, intuition, and speed of hand were a sight to see as he finished Asakura in round two. He evaded Asakura’s punchier shots, but when it was clear the Japanese fighter was increasing his pressure Mayweather responded in kind by throwing — and landing — crisp yet powerful punches of his own. A buzzer-beating straight right hand felled Asakura moments before a break in the action and Mayweather hovered around his opponent while referee Kenny Bayless counted.
Asakura failed to return to his feet, and so Mayweather was awarded the exhibition win. Watch ringside highlights right here:Mayweather will earn $20 million for the six-minute beatdown, according to ESPN. ‘I’ll be back,’ said MayweatherMayweather thanked the crowd after the result was announced.
“I’ll be back,” he told the masses in attendance in Saitama, Japan. Floyd Mayweather embraces Mikuru Asakura after beating him in round two. Photo by Getty ImagesOne person Mayweather won’t be back against, though, is Pacquiao.
Despite their pre-event jawing, Mayweather told reporters at a post-fight media event that he is not looking to take on any fights for real. “I retired from the sport, I didn’t let the sport retire me,” Mayweather said, in response to a question about a prospective Pacquiao rematch. ‘Boxing retired Manny, Manny didn’t retire from boxing,’ according to MayweatherFloyd Mayweather.
Photo by Getty Images”I’m not going to get in there with no former fighters, former world champions, putting any more abuse on my body. “I retired for a reason,” added Mayweather. “I’m here to have fun, enjoy myself, with guys that are going to help me entertain the people, but I’m not going to take punishment to the point where I can barely walk and barely talk.
“Manny had a great career but boxing retired Manny, Manny didn’t retire from boxing — there’s a difference. “It is unclear when Mayweather will return to the ring for another exhibition but he has mentioned he’d jet out to the United Arab Emirates once again, having put on a show with his former sparring partner Don Moore in Abu Dhabi, earlier this summer. Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/floyd-mayweather-beat-mikuru-asakura-by-knockout-result-highlights-2022-9
