Floyd Mayweather Mayweather is set to have a kicking finish to 2018 as it's been confirmed he'll be taking on the Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
Since achieving his perfect record of 50 wins when he beat Conor McGregor back in August 2017 the former five-weight world champion has talked about fights with the UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and boxer Manny Pacquiao, but not so much with the kickboxer.
But since Maywether signed a deal with a mixed martial arts company it's been confirmed he'll be taking on Nasukawa in a Rizin Fighting Federation event on 31 December.
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In a press conference about the fight the 41-year-old said: "I wanted to do something different. I wanted to display my skills outside the US and be in a special fight. I want to give the people what they want - blood, sweat and tears."
Mayweather, who has only fought once since 2015 (and that was against McGregor) said rules for the fight against the undefeated 20-year-old would be discussed 'within the next couple of weeks'.
When Mayweather last fought below the 147lbs limit was three years ago - so it's likely to be a challenge taking on the kickboxer as he has won various titles in the flyweight (125lb) and bantamweight (135lbs) divisions - ultimately this raises the obvious question over what the contracted weight for the fight will be.
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Mayweather said: "As far as the weight class, we're not really worried about that. When it's all said and done, it's all about me going out there and displaying my skills against another skillful fighter."
Japan's young fighter Nasukawa has a 27-0 record in kickboxing and a 4-0 record in MMA - also he clearly has no hesitation against taking on Mayweather's experience.
Nasukawa also suggested he wouldn't mind it kicking was rule out the fight - definitely hinting at his confidence as this is what he most famous for.
He said: "It's the biggest moment in my life and I want to be the man who changes history. I'll do that with these fists, with one punch - just watch."
Rumour first arose Maywether would take on the young champ yesterday when RIZIN promoter Nobuyuki Sakakibara, while speaking to the media, hinted the idea there would be some sort of partnership established.
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Via MMA fighting he said: "I think my shortest answer to that is the fact that now we are aligned to achieve something together, and that is hitting a new challenge, taking a step forward to whatever wonderful thing that we can create together."
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