The build-up to whether Floyd Mayweather does indeed fight Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa may be more exciting than the fight itself.
Just a little over a week ago cancelled the much-anticipated fight - due to be held on New Year’s Eve 2018 - in a long-winded Instagram post following his return to the USA from Japan where he was reportedly negotiating terms and conditions of the upcoming bout.
The American dismissed claims that the fight was to happen;
"Now that I am back on U.S. soil after a long and disappointing trip to Tokyo, I now have the time to address you, my fans and the media in regards to the upcoming event on December 31st that was recently announced,"
"First and foremost, I want it to be clear that I, Floyd Mayweather, never agreed to an official bout with Tenshin Nasukawa. In fact (with all due respect) I have never heard of him until this recent trip to Japan.
"Ultimately, I was asked to participate in a 9 minute exhibition of 3 rounds with an opponent selected by the "Rizen Fighting Federation". What I was originally informed of by Brent Johnson of "One Entertainment" was that this was to be an exhibition put on for a small group of wealthy spectators for a very large fee. This exhibition was previously arranged as a "Special Bout" purely for entertainment purposes with no intentions of being represented as an official fight card nor televised worldwide.
"Once I arrived to the press conference, my team and I were completely derailed by the new direction this event was going and we should have put a stop to it immediately. I want to sincerely apologize to my fans for the very misleading information that was announced during this press conference and I can assure you that I too was completely blindsided by the arrangements that were being made without my consent nor approval.
"For the sake of the several fans and attendees that flew in from all parts of the world to attend this past press conference, I was hesitant to create a huge disturbance by combating what was being said and for that I am truly sorry. I am a retired boxer that earns an unprecedented amount of money, globally, for appearances, speaking engagements and occasional small exhibitions."
However, now, in news that will be much welcome to fight-fans everywhere, the boxer has reneged on his comments from eight days ago to tell TMZ that the fight is in fact going ahead, but was staunch that it would definitely not be a kickboxing event:
"We're gonna make it happen. Rules? It's gonna be a little boxing exhibition. No kicking, I'm moving around with the guy for 9 minutes, and of course it's gonna be the highest paid exhibition ever."
"It's a no-brainer. Just because I'm retired from boxing, I still make appearances worldwide and make a ton of money."
So cancel your plans for NYE guys, there’s now just one event that commands your attention. That boy Floyd just loves the Benjamins!
At this point I'd rather just see him in a rematch with Big Show!
#MayweatherNasukawa
