Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE: Latest updates, result and reaction from exhibition fight
Re-live updates from the American’s exhibition boxing match against the Japanese mixed martial artist
Floyd Mayweather stopped mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura in the second round of the pair’s exhibition boxing match in Japan on Saturday (24 September).
Boxing icon Mayweather, 45, has competed in a number of exhibition fights since retiring unbeaten as a professional boxer in 2017, and his clash with Asakura, 30, proved one of the more entertaining. The bout at the Saitama Super Arena in Asakura’s home country was scheduled for three three-minute rounds, and a fun opening frame gave way to an even more competitive second round, in which Mayweather dropped Asakura with the final punch before the bell. It was a right cross that clipped Asakura on the ear and sent the Japanese fighter sprawling, and the MMA star was unable to beat referee Kenny Bayless’ count.
Prior to the stoppage, Mayweather made a point of staying light on his feet, with southpaw Asakura drawing big reactions out of the American with feints. In the second round, the intensity increased after Mayweather landed a clean, step-in right cross to the head of Asakura. The shot led Asakura to fire back with greater intent and try for a series of stern hooks in the clinch. After Bayless separated the fighters, Mayweather applied pressure by backing up Asakura, who retaliated with his best spell of the fight, appearing to stun Mayweather somewhat. Both fighters then connected with a number of straight punches in the final seconds of the second round, with Mayweather dropping Asakura on the bell and leaving the mixed martial artist unable to beat Bayless’ count. Re-live updates from Mayweather vs Asakura, below.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
The national anthems will play now before the fight begins at last.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
Now here comes Mayweather, looking very relaxed.
He’s sporting a jersey with a large “50” printed on the front, representing his 50-0 unbeaten record as a pro boxer.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
Asakura is making his ring walk now!
The 30-year-old has a pro mixed martial arts record of 16-3 (1 No Contest) and has achieved nine of his wins via knockout or TKO. This bout marks his boxing debut.
The Japanese exhibited a lot of speed on the pads during his backstage workout moments ago.
Meanwhile, Mayweather, 45, was warming up very gently.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
It will be interesting to see what sort of approach Mayweather takes here.
He stopped Tenshin Nasukawa in the first round in late 2018, after knocking down the kickboxing star multiple times, but he was content to just go the distance with YouTuber Logan Paul last summer. Mayweather also went the distance with fellow boxer Don Moore earlier this year, though he was comfortably the sharper performer on that night.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
Mayweather vs Asakura is due to begin very shortly!
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
Full card*
Floyd Mayweather vs Mikuru Asakura
Nadaka Yoshinari vs Bandasak So Trakunpet
Kyoji Horiguchi vs Yuto Hokamura
Hiromasa Ogikubo vs Soo Chul Kim
Kyohei Hagiwara vs Chihiro Suzuki
Juri Ohara vs Luiz Gustavo
Shoma Shibisai vs Cally Gibrainn de Oliveira
*The Independent will provide round-by-round updates of the Mayweather vs Asakura fight but not the undercard contests.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
How can I watch the fight?
The event will air live on the streaming service Fite.TV in the UK and US.
The card is priced at $19.99 (£17.64).
Floyd Mayweather vs Mikuru Asakura live stream: How to watch fight tonight
All you need to know as the boxing icon takes on the mixed martial artist in Japan
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
When is tonight’s fight?
Mayweather vs Asakura is due to take place on Saturday 24 September, with the main card beginning at 4am BST on Sunday 25 September (8pm PT, 10pm CT, 11pm ET on Saturday).
The main-event ring walks are expected to get under way at 6am BST (10pm PT on Saturday, 12am CT and 1am ET on Sunday).
Floyd Mayweather vs Mikuru Asakura time: When are ring walks for fight tonight?
All you need to know as the boxing icon takes on the mixed martial artist in Japan
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
As mentioned below... Conor McGregor has suggested that he is ‘not interested’ in a rematch with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
Former multiple-weight champion Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th round of their 2017 clash, which went down as a professional contest, and the American claimed this week that a rematch is in the works for 2023.
Former UFC dual-weight champion McGregor has poured cold water on that claim, however.
On Wednesday (21 September), the Irishman posted a photo from his fight with Mayweather along with the caption: “#notinterested.”
Full story here:
Conor McGregor reacts to Floyd Mayweather fight claim
Mayweather stopped the former UFC champion in a boxing match in 2017 and has claimed that a rematch is in the works for next year
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
Floyd Mayweather has confirmed that he will box YouTube star Deji Olatunji next, after fighting Mikuru Asakura this weekend.
Former multiple-weight world champion Mayweather retired as a professional boxer in 2017 after stopping former UFC title holder Conor McGregor to improve his record to 50-0. Since then, the American has beaten kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa via TKO and gone the distance with YouTuber Logan Paul and boxer Don Moore in exhibition bouts.
Mayweather, 45, is set to box Mikuru Asakura in the mixed martial artist’s native Japan tonight (25 September), and he told the Daily Mail on Wednesday (21 September) that a rematch with McGregor is lined up for 2023 – something that McGregor denies.
He later told TMZ that a rumoured bout against Deji, younger brother of fellow YouTuber KSI, is in fact scheduled for November.
More details here:
Floyd Mayweather confirms exhibition fight with YouTuber Deji
Mayweather boxes mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura this weekend and has claimed that a Conor McGregor rematch is in the works for 2023
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