In Just 139 Seconds, Mayweather Makes $9M for Beating Tenshin Nasukawa
Floyd Mayweather has just made $9M in 139 seconds after beating 20-year-old kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in exhibition bout.
Floyd Mayweather came out of retirement briefly to score a lucrative victory in an exhibition boxing match in Japan over kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa that will do more for his bank balance than it did for the reputation of combat sports.
The 41-year-old dropped his Japanese opponent three times in the opening round of what was planned for a three-round fight. Mayweather knocked him out in just two minutes to win the clash.
The fight topped the bill for the prestigious New Year’s Eve event promoted by Rizin, one of Asia’s fast-growing mixed martial arts organisations, at the Saitama Super Arena, and though it has drawn international attention, it was little more than a shrewd branding move for all concerned.
But for Mayweather, it was about more than just entertainment – the 41-year-old American intimated on Instagram that he would be paid $9m for the exhibition, which was scheduled for three rounds.
After the fight, Mayweather who initially pulled out of the fight due to a misunderstanding between himself and the organisers which was later resolved said:
‘We are both still undefeated, I did this to entertain the fans in Japan, they wanted this to happen and I said why not, Tenshin is still a great champion, I am still retired.
‘Tenshin hold your head up high, I want the fans to support him, he’s a great guy, a great fighter and great champion.
‘Tokyo Japan, RIZIN is number one. Thank you.’
