Mayweather destroys Japanese kickboxer in exhibition bout

Floyd Mayweather took just over two minutes to dispatch of Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on his return to the ring.

Scheduled to be a three-round boxing-rules exhibition contest, Mayweather had promised “entertainment” in the leadup to the Rizin 14 bout, and proved true to his word with a trio of devastating right uppercut prompting the corner of his 20-year-old opponent to throw in the towel in the first round.

“Money” seemed at ease throughout the matchup he was paid a reported $9 million to appear in, smiling and laughing as he floored his overmatched opponent three times in two minutes. The undefeated prospect Nasukawa was visibly upset following the end of the contest, which he never really managed to get going in.

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The status of the Saitama Super Arena main event seemed in doubt even late in the day, as Mayweather was late to the venue, causing a delay of several hours. The 41-year-old, who didn’t appear to be in prime fighting shape, took to the mic afterwards to declare his opponent “a great champion” while reiterating the bout was “all about entertainment”.

‘Freakshow’ will fail to win over critics

The bout had been derided by some as being a “freakshow” attraction, and on the basis of the mismatch that occurred in the ring, it would be hard to argue with those critics. Suggestions that the fight was fake or otherwise fixed, however, would appear to be wide of the mark, with MMA promotion Rizin set to gain little from having their top rising star destroyed inside a single round.

Mayweather claimed that he was still retired following the contest, which will not count on either fighter’s record, although one would have to think it’s only a matter of time before another suitor throws enough money his way to draw him out again.