Mayweather Fulfills Boast, Knocks Out Pacquiao

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Mayweather has finally fulfilled his boast as he had arrived at Saitama Super Arena, north of Tokyo, just an hour before the much-teased fight and then proceeded to knock out his opponent, Pacquiao.

On another easy payday for the self-styled “Money” Mayweather, the bell to end the second round sounded as Asakura hit the canvas, but it failed to save the Japanese fighter and he was unable to beat the count.

Read Also: Mayweather To Pay For George Floyd’s Funeral Services

“It was another blockbuster turnout… boxing for me is like breathing,” Mayweather said, adding he is looking to fight more “YouTubers and MMA guys”.

Philippine great Pacquiao is not on his radar.

“I retired for a reason,” said Mayweather. “I’m here to have fun and enjoy myself… but I’m not going to take no punishment to the point to where I can barely walk and barely talk.

“People will always pay to get a glimpse of Floyd Mayweather,” he said, before asking, “so why would I go out there and… fight a top fighter when I can get the same amount of money for three rounds with whoever?”

Asakura, an MMA star and popular YouTuber in Japan, gave Mayweather more of a workout than the last time the American fought an exhibition in Japan, against kickboxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.

“I’m glad he threw a few shots, got the crowd excited. That’s what it’s about,” Mayweather said.

“I’m proud of him. I’m proud he came out here. He helped me entertain people. He did what he was supposed to do… We both had fun.”

Mayweather had also been reportedly close to agreeing on a rematch in 2023 with UFC star Conor McGregor. He had beat McGregor in his final fight just before retirement.

The Mayweather-Asakura bout had no judges, meaning the result would not count on the fighter’s record.

Mayweather had also predicted last week that the fight would be an “easy payday, easy cheque, easy opponent”.

His retirement has not stopped him from raking in millions of dollars from a series of exhibitions. In his 2018 match with Nasukawa, a kickboxer less than half his age, Maywether floored him three times in the first round in a two-minute fight that he hinted online had netted him $9 million.

 

Africa Daily News, New York

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