Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE: Latest updates, result and reaction from exhibition fight
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
Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather fought mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura
Exhibition bout was held under boxing rules, as Asakura made debut in the sport
Fight took place in Asakura’s native Japan, at the Super Saitama Arena
Mayweather, 45, stopped Asakura, 30, with the final punch of the second round
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
07:07 , Alex Pattle
That’s all from us! Thanks for following the action with The Independent.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
07:05 , Alex Pattle
Read our full fight report here:
Floyd Mayweather stops MMA star Mikuru Asakura in exhibition fight in Japan
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:49 , Alex Pattle
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:45 , Alex Pattle
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:42 , Alex Pattle
“I’m happy we were able to give the fans excitement tonight. Thanks for having me, I’ll be back.”
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:41 , Alex Pattle
“I would like to thank the whole country of Japan, an incredible country,” Mayweather says.
“A round of applause for this incredible competitor right here.
“Another unbelievable experience. I’m just happy to be here, thanks again.”
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:40 , Alex Pattle
The final punch that Mayweather threw seemed to catch Asakura on the ear. The Japanese arguably tried to stand too quickly, too.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:37 , Alex Pattle
Round 2
A fun first round. More big reactions from Mayweather when Asakura feints, but the American does land a clean, step-in right hand to the head!
That’s one of the best shots so far. Asakura definitely felt it, as he now tries to fire back and ends up getting physical in close. Referee Kenny Bayless soon separates the fighters.
Mayweather targets the body and lands twice in quick succession. The 45-year-old is pressing forward now and lands to the head again.
Asakura comes forward himself and connects with a couple of harsh headshots! Mayweather is smiling back at the Japanese... Good head movement from Mayweather to get off the ropes. Mayweather is warned for a low blow.
A really competitive round ends with both men landing multiple straight shots up top, just before the bell!
WOW! Mayweather drops Asakura with the final punch of the round... and Asakura won’t beat the count!!!
It’s waved off!
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:32 , Alex Pattle
Round 1
Asakura comes out in a southpaw stance. Mayweather parries a few jabs and stays light on his feet.
The American slings a jab of his own onto the chin of Asakura, who responds with a fierce hook to the body. Another jab lands for Mayweather, who then just about blocks a left cross from Asakura.
Lots of big reactions from Mayweather when Asakura feints. The American blocks a heavy left hook with his back against the ropes.
Asakura taunts the American, who then lands a stern right hand up top. Another right by Mayweather, this one landing to the body. One more.
Asakura curls a left hook just past Mayweather’s head. He does appear to land a right hook, though, moments later. A right hand seems to just about connect for Mayweather on the bell.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:27 , Alex Pattle
And here we go, Mayweather vs Asakura is live!
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:20 , Alex Pattle
The national anthems will play now before the fight begins at last.
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
06:18 , Alex Pattle
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
06:16 , Alex Pattle
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
06:11 , Alex Pattle
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
06:04 , Alex Pattle
Mayweather vs Asakura is due to begin very shortly!
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
05:00 , Alex Pattle
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
04:00 , Alex Pattle
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
Mayweather vs Asakura LIVE
03:00 , Alex Pattle
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?
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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 vs Asakura LIVE
01:15 , Alex Pattle
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 vs Asakura LIVE
Sunday 25 September 2022 00:31 , Alex Pattle
Floyd Mayweather returns to the ring tonight (25 September) for an exhibition boxing match with mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura.
Mayweather retired as a professional boxer in 2017 after stopping former UFC champion Conor McGregor to improve his record to 50-0. Since then, the American has fought kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa, YouTuber Logan Paul and boxer Don Moore in exhibition bouts, beating the former via TKO and going the distance with the latter two. The former multiple-weight world champion, 45, is now set to face Asakura in the Japanese fighter’s home country, as the pair box one another at the Super Saitama Arena.
Asakura, 30, has a pro MMA record of 16-3 (1 No Contest) and has achieved nine of his wins via knockout or TKO. Saturday’s main event against Mayweather marks Asakura’s boxing debut, and it will take place under the banner of Rizin – the MMA promotion for which Asakura competes in the featherweight division. Mayweather’s next outing is also already lined up, with the American set to take on YouTube star Deji in November.
