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Obviously, not a man who is retiring too seriously, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will return to the ring on New Year's Eve in Japan against the kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
The former five-person world champion retired for the second time after defeating UFC star Conor McGregor at a boxing match in Las Vegas last August, thus extending his record of 50-0.
The American had hinted a comeback, suggesting that he could fight his former rival Manny Pacquiao or Khabib Nurmagomedov, the reigning UFC lightweight champion.
On Nov. 5 in Tokyo, he announced that his opponent would be Nasukawa, 20, who will participate in the RIZIN Fighters Federation.
Right here, Newsweek take a closer look at the prodigy of Japan's fiercest fights.
What is Nasukawa quality?
Southpaw is undefeated in 27 professional kickboxing fights and four MMA fights. His first foray into the MMA took place in 2016 when he signed for RIZIN, the promoter behind Mayweather's upcoming fight.
Nasukawa won titles in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions, with respective weight limits of 125 lbs and 135 lbs. Given that Mayweather has not fought below the 147-pound limit since defeating the late Arturo Gatti in 2005, it remains to be seen in which class the December 31 fight will be contested.
At 5 feet 4 inches, Nasukawa is also much shorter than Mayweather, which is 5 feet 8 inches.
A fighter from day one
Nasukawa did not even have two months when Mayweather won his first world title, but he does not lack experience in combat. He started practicing martial arts at the age of five after his father enrolled him in a karate class, then kickboxing while he was still in school. .
By the time he turned professional at 18, his amateur record was at an almost credible 99-5 level. Moreover, thanks to his training and fighting in Thailand, he has also developed a thorough knowledge of Muay Thai.
Prestigious victories to his credit
In adolescence, Nasukawa defeated former IBF World Champion Amnat Ruenroeng Boxing and the Muay Thai Champion of Lumpinee Stadium, Wanchalong PK Saenchai. Although the financial details of the upcoming battle with Mayweather have not been revealed, the fight is likely to be the biggest of Nasukawa's career.
Aliens and phobias
Despite the emergence of one of Japan's sports stars, Nasukawa revealed to mixedmartialarts.com last year that he was "easily scared". In the same interview, he also stated that he believed that there was life on other planets.
"There is certainly a life outside the Earth for sure," he said.
"I believe that they [aliens] were here before us. "
Excited about fighting Mayweather
"I think my role as a fighter is to make sure that the fighting here in Japan is generating a lot of excitement," Nasukawa said through a translator during the unveiling of the fight. in Tokyo.
"When I was offered this card, I immediately accepted it without delay. Nobody has defeated my opponent in the past and I would like to be the man who does the story. My punch can change the story and I will show it to you. "
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