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Retired boxer, Floyd Mayweather, has announced a shock return to the ring. He will fight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan on December 31, after signing a deal with a mixed martial arts company.
The format and rules for his fight with Nasukawa are yet to be decided.
Mayweather, former five-weight world champion beat UFC’s Conor McGregor in a boxing match in August 2017 to extend his perfect record to 50 wins.
He has recently hinted on potential fights with former rival, Manny Pacquiao and UFC’s Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I wanted to do something different,” said the 41-year-old American, who has not fought since coming out of retirement to face McGregor.
“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.”
Japanese kickboxer, Nasukawa, competes in the RIZIN Fighting Federation, the company Mayweather has signed with, in both kickboxing and mixed martial arts.
“It was a surprise offer but I accepted without hesitation,” said Nasukawa, 20, who has a 27-0 record in kickboxing and a 4-0 record in MMA.
“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.”