Tenshin Nasukawa News

Tom Taylor - January 2, 2019

On New Years Eve in Tokyo, Japan, in the main event of RIZIN 14, 20-year-old Japanese kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa stepped through the ropes for an exhibition boxing match with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. Because this fight was an exhibition, it would not wind up on either fighters record, no matter the outcome. All the same, Nasukawa hoped to do the unthinkable and knock the Floyd Mayweather out.

Tom Taylor - January 1, 2019

Pretty much everybody has an opinion on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa bout that topped Monday’s RIZIN 14 card. That includes former UFC lightweight and featherweight champ Conor McGregor. McGregor, who previously engaged in his own battle with Mayweather, recently took to Twitter to give his take on the madness. Surprisingly, however, he had little to say about Mayweather’s performance. Instead, he seems more concerned with Mayweather’s rumored $9M payday, and how it will position him on the list of the highest earning athletes in the world.

Jordy McElroy - January 1, 2019

Tenshin Nasukawa showed up for a fight, and Floyd Mayweather showed up for an exhibition match at RIZIN 14. Ironically, they both got exactly what they wanted at the featured special rules boxing match in Japan on New Year’s Eve. Mayweather left without a scratch after a glorified celebrity appearance, and Nasukawa tasted the pain and heartache of defeat after a real fight with the best boxer on the planet.

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2018

On New Years Eve in Tokyo, Japan (Monday morning in North America), Japanese kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa stepped through the ropes for an exhibition boxing match with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. Because this fight was an exhibition, it would not wind up on either fighters record, no matter the outcome. All the same, Nasukawa hoped to do the unthinkable and knock the Floyd Mayweather out.

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2018

On Monday night (Monday morning in North America), undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. stepped into the RIZIN Fighting Federation ring for a strange exhibition bout with 20-year-old kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa. In the weeks leading up to this exhibition bout — and really, until the very point the action began — Floyd Mayweather looked like he was taking it all incredibly lightly. Once the action began, however, the legend of pugilism began pouring on the offense, punishing his much smaller opponent with the kind of winging power shots he has not thrown in years. To him, it seemed, this was indeed a real fight.

Tom Taylor - December 31, 2018

On Monday night (Monday morning in North America), in the main event of the action-packed RIZIN 14 card inside the hallowed Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather returned to the ring for an undeniably bizarre exhibition bout with undefeated kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa. The rules for the bout were as follows:

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2018

20-year-old Japanese kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa is currently gearing up for the experience of a lifetime: a three-round exhibition boxing match with undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. The bout will top the stacked RIZIN 14 card, which goes down inside the hallowed Saitaima Super Arena, just outside Tokyo, Japan, on New Years Eve. Given that Tenshin Nasukawa and Floyd Mayweather come from two different sports — one that allows kicks, one that doesn’t — it should come as no surprise that the negotiations for this anticipated exhibition match were difficult. The two parties had to agree on a rule-set that would satisfy Mayweather, but also maintain some level of competitive legitimacy.

Tom Taylor - December 19, 2018

On New Years Even, inside the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan, undefeated kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa will step into the ring with undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a bizarre exhibition match. The bout will headline the stacked RIZIN 14 card. In this bout, Nasukawa will not be allowed to throw kicks. He will, however, be able to punch with full enthusiasm, as a knockout victory for either party is apparently allowable under the bout’s ruleset.

Tom Taylor - December 7, 2018

The rules for the much discussed New Years Eve exhibition bout between undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and undefeated kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa have now been released.  This bout will be boxing only, though it will be full-contact competition — which implies a knockout is possible. Kicks will not be allowed, which effectively rules out Nasukawa’s best shot at a victory.

Tom Taylor - December 7, 2018

Ever since it was first reported that undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather will battle undefeated kickboxing sensation Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo on New Years Eve, we’ve all been wondering what the rules of the bout will be. Mayweather has repeatedly stated it will be a boxing-only exhibition match, but many members of the MMA community have expressed doubt about this.  Well, now we have some clarity.

Thomas Taylor - November 25, 2018

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan has heard all of the buzz about Floyd Mayweather and Tenshin Nasukawa’s RIZIN 14 exhibition boxing match, and like pretty much everybody else inside the combat sports bubble, he’s not really sure what to expect. Speaking on a recent Fight Companion episode of his popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Rogan shared some quick thoughts on this shadowy RIZIN contest.

Tom Taylor - November 22, 2018

The story of Floyd Mayweather and Tenshin Nasukawa’s New Years Eve showdown has been a strange one. The contest was first announced earlier this month, but the excitement was promptly stomped out by Floyd Mayweather, who claimed he’d been ‘blindsided’ by the bout’s promoter, Rizin Fighting Federation.

Drake Riggs - November 17, 2018

It’s been a bit of a weird ride in the build-up to RIZIN 14 as it gets its main event sorted out. But that main event will indeed end up being a collision between all-time boxing great, Floyd Mayweather and superstar Japanese kickboxing prodigy, Tenshin Nasukawa. After Mayweather called the fight off due to being ‘completely blindsided‘, RIZIN apologized for the confusion and promised some clarity soon. Well, we now have that clarity.

Tom Taylor - November 15, 2018

Earlier this month, BJPENN.COM reported that undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather had signed on for a shocking fight with undefeated kickboxing wunderkind Tenshin Nasukawa under the Rizin banner. The fight was said to be scheduled for December 31 in Tokyo, Japan, and the rules for the bout were apparently being negotiated. Then it all came crashing down.

Tom Taylor - November 7, 2018

Speaking in a Wednesday afternoon Instagram post, undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. made the announcement that his recently announced RIZIN Fighting Federation showdown with kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa, scheduled for December 31 in Tokyo, is cancelled. Or, perhaps it’s most accurate to say it was never really on. At least not from Mayweather’s vantage point. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp49AUphcLu/

Drake Riggs - November 5, 2018

The out of nowhere announcement of all out of nowhere announcements was announced last night as Floyd Mayweather vs Tenshin Nasukawa will take place at Rizin 14 on New Year’s Eve. Every year since their existence, Rizin Fighting Federation has held their biggest events on New Year’s Eve. And after two already incredible shows with Rizin 11 and Rizin 13, it was going to take something massive to top those for the end of 2018.