The Japanese martial artist Tenshin Nasukawa has seemingly not allowed his confidence to be knocked by defeat in an exhibitionary boxing bout by Floyd Mayweather and has seemingly accepted the challenge of an old foe of the American.
The Irish UFC star Conor McGregor challenged the 20-year-old, who fights as a kickboxer primarily, on Twitter yesterday, although it was not clear how serious the proposal was.
'I wish to go to Tokyo to face Tenshin Nasukawa in a Mixed Martial Arts exhibition bout,’ he wrote in the early hours of Monday morning.
'Before this summer. Please arrange this, this instant. Yours sincerely. The champ champ.'
Now Nasukawa has replied in punctual fashion, but has his own preferred conditions.
'Dear Mr. McGregor. Thank you very much for remembering my name. I'm honored that you would even consider fighting me.
'58kg, kickboxing rules would probably get us in the ring sometime in the near future. I will fight my RISE world GP this year so please watch your diet and wait for me!'
It’s difficult to foresee the Irishman agreeing to a fight under kickboxing rules, while a weight limit of 58kg (127lbs) is unthinkable for him. You only need to think back to his gaunt face at weigh-ins when trying to make 147lbs to understand why.
The Japanase fighters upcoming commitments mean any potential fight couldn’t be organised for ‘before this summer’ as the Irishman had requested, either.
Still, you could see this rumour milling around as both fighter’s keep themselves in the headlines and the possibility of a lucrative future bout bubbling away.
Thank you very much for remembering my name. I'm honored that you would even consider fighting me.
58kg, kickboxing rules would probably get us in the ring sometime in the near future 👍
