By: Sean Crose
After bursting with feelings of gratitude Sunday during his intro to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in New York, Floyd Mayweather was back to his old self on Monday. As for Mayweather, along with Japan’s Rizin Struggle Federation, announced an exhibition in September against Mikura Asakura, known as Japan’s most famous mixed-marriage artist. Asakura appeared confident, but surely Monday’s press event was about Floyd. “I always try to be the best,” said the boxer dubbed ‘Money’. “As you know, it’s still a great feeling now to be able to travel around the world and do these exhibitions and have fun.”
Sure, Mayweather seems to have retired from professional boxing altogether. Exhibits, such as the upcoming showdown against Asakura, seem to be what he’s comfortable with now that he’s forty years old. “I’m pretty sure that by September in Japan, we’ll give people what they want to see,” Mayweather said. “Because I only do exhibitions, it’s to keep fit. I can work out and that’s very, very important. ” About Asakura: “He’s going to come out and give his best just like every other guy.”
Mayweather has made it clear how important it is for him to stay in shape and stay sharp throughout his boxing career. “Even in these exhibitions, I did not take any punishment,” he said. “You look at a lot of champions, they can barely walk. That’s not nice… the mind is a terrible thing to waste. As for Asakura, the younger fighter looks cool and calm. “I am an MMA fighter,” he said, “but I will take this opportunity and I will use him to raise my profile and my value on the international stage. I will win this war”.
Though cordially polite, Mayweather was clearly unimpressed. “He’s going to have to realize no fighter he’s ever been in the ring is Floyd Mayewather,” said the 50-0 great. “When you see all these fighters, they are just fighters. This is Floyd Mayweather. One person Mayweather is clearly unhappy with is his old rival Logan Paul. “I come to entertain, he comes to hold, that’s it,” Mayweather said of his wildly successful pairing with Paul last year. Mayweather then went on to address reports that Paul wanted a rematch. “This is the same guy who said he didn’t get paid (last time),” he quips.
