Floyd Mayweather knocked out mixed martial arts fighter Mikuru Asakura in the second round in Japan in the latest of the boxing great's post-retirement exhibitions.
The 45-year-old Mayweather floored his opponent with a right hand as his former welterweight rival Manny Pacquiao watched ringside in Saitama.
The American Mayweather, who retired in 2017 with an unbeaten 50-0 record, afterwards dismissed any prospect of a fight with the retired Pacquiao.
Mayweather arrived at Saitama Super Arena, north of Tokyo, just an hour before the fight.
He was shown on TV relaxing in a dressing room full of takeaway fast food, before making his ring walk.
On another easy payday for Mayweather, the bell to end the second round sounded as Asakura hit the canvas, but it failed to save the Japanese fighter and he was unable to beat the count.
“It was another blockbuster turnout. Boxing for me is like breathing,” Mayweather said, adding he is looking to fight more “YouTubers and MMA guys”.
Philippine great Pacquiao is not on his radar. “I retired for a reason,” said Mayweather. “I'm here to have fun and enjoy myself but I'm not going to take no punishment to the point to where I can barely walk and barely talk.
“People will always pay to get a glimpse of Floyd Mayweather,” he said, before asking, “so why would I go out there and fight a top fighter when I can get the same amount of money for three rounds with whoever?”
Asakura, an MMA star and popular YouTuber in Japan, gave Mayweather more of a workout than the last time the American fought an exhibition in Japan, against kickboxing prodigy Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.
“I'm glad he threw a few shots, got the crowd excited. That's what it's about,” Mayweather said.
“I'm proud of him. I'm proud he came out here. He helped me entertain people. He did what he was supposed to do. We both had fun.”
“I don’t remember what hit,” Asakura said after the fight. “I have a huge headache.”
Mayweather is reportedly close to agreeing a rematch in 2023 with UFC star Conor McGregor, who he beat in his final fight before retirement.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
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- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
