Floyd Mayweather Jr. to face kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year’s Eve in Japan.

The boxer announced his decision after signing for mixed martial arts promotions company RIZIN Fighting Federation.

Mayweather has never fought in MMA before and the format for the Nasukawa fight has not yet been confirmed.

“I wanted to do something different,” said the former five-weight world champion.

“I wanted to display my skills outside the US and be in a special fight. I want to give the people what they want – blood, sweat and tears.”

The 41-year-old said the rules and weight class of the bout will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a perfect 50-0 record in his professional boxing career.

READ: Mayweather would get smashed by Khabib Nurmagomedov, says UFC boss

READ: Bayern Munich accused of racism over Halloween party photo

Perfect records

Both men have a perfect record in their respective sports – Mayweather is 50-0 while Nasukawa is 27-0 in kickboxing and 4-0 in MMA.

“It’s the biggest moment in my life and I want to be the man who changes history. I’ll do that with these fists, with one punch – just watch,” said 20-year-old Nasukawa.

Mayweather has not fought since coming out of retirement to beat Conor McGregor in 2017 but had been linked to a money-fight with former foe Manny Pacquiao.

However, in a conversation with CNN’s Talk Asia, he said chances of a rematch with Pacquiao were “done.”

“We had a chance to meet in the square circle and I was the better man,” he said.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. lands a right hand against Conor McGregor during their boxing match in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 26. Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th round, collecting his 50th victory in what he said will be the last fight of his undefeated pro career. It was the first pro boxing match for McGregor, a mixed martial artist who is the UFC's lightweight champion.

McGregor lands an uppercut early in the bout. He came out aggressive and took the fight to Mayweather in the first few rounds.

McGregor sticks his tongue out at Mayweather during an early exchange.

McGregor swarms Mayweather at the start of the fight.

The much-anticipated fight was held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

After a typically slow start, Mayweather started to force the action more in the middle rounds.

McGregor might have lacked in experience, but he had a clear size advantage.

There were several awkward exchanges when McGregor would end up behind Mayweather.

The two fighters trade punches in the middle of the fight.

Mayweather landed more punches than McGregor -- 130-60 -- in rounds six through 10. McGregor had a 51-40 edge in the first five rounds.

McGregor started running out of steam later in the fight, and Mayweather capitalized in the 10th round.

Referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight in the 10th after a wobbly McGregor took several hard shots and wasn't throwing punches.

Mayweather and his father celebrate the victory.

The two combatants embrace after the fight.

Demi Lovato sang the national anthem before the fight.

McGregor entered the arena first, draped in the Irish flag.

Mayweather came out in all black and wore a mask.

There were many celebrities on hand to watch the fight, including basketball star LeBron James. Behind James is boxing legend Mike Tyson.

Actress Jennifer Lopez and her boyfriend, former baseball star Alex Rodriguez, take in the fight.

Actress Charlize Theron sits close to ringside.

A fan waves an Irish flag before the start of the fight.

Mayweather finishes McGregor in 10th round

Prev Next

Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videos

He was recently called out by UFC president Dana White, who suggested the boxer should face Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov in the octagon.

News of the fight against the rising Japanese star could be the latest signal that Mayweather is thinking about a switch to MMA.