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Retired boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. revealed his plans to fight in another crossover boxing vs. MMA megafight spectacle later this year under the banner of one of the world’s leading MMA promotional companies. The 43-year-old posted his plans via Instagram on Wednesday.
“Soon I’m going to hop on my jet to Tokyo, Japan for a meeting with my partners and Rizin for something this year 2020. Stay tuned,” Mayweather posted.
RIZIN Fighting Federation is a Japanese MMA organization that began in 2015 and has become one of the most popular MMA companies in the world over the last five years.
History of Mayweather vs. MMA Stars
Mayweather retired after his crossover megafight against UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017.
Mayweather stopped McGregor in the 10th round.
In 2018, Mayweather competed in a crossover exhibition bout in Japan against undefeated kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa at RIZIN 14.
That fight didn’t go on Mayweather’s official record but did include him facing Tenshin in a boxing ring in what appeared to be at least a semi-legitimate boxing match.
Mayweather stopped Tenshin in the first round.
Now Mayweather appears to be readying himself for another crossover megafight spectacle presumably against another MMA fighter.
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Is Mayweather vs. McGregor Rematch on Horizon?
The biggest question surrounding Mayweather’s latest announcement is whether the boxer’s plans include a megafight rematch against McGregor.
The first Mayweather vs. McGregor bout was one of the best-selling boxing pay-per-view events in history. Both fighters have repeatedly teased the idea of the rematch over the last few years.
While Mayweather’s plan for competing again under the RIZIN banner likely doesn’t include him facing McGregor again, it does at least pave the way for the superfight rematch to happen because it proves Mayweather is serious about competing in more exhibition bouts.
It’s one thing to tease comeback fights the way former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield have done over recent months. It’s another to do them.
So Mayweather might not directly be heading into the rematch against McGregor, but the fighter could soon find himself standing across the ring from the Irishman as his plans continue to unfold.
McGregor Retired But Keeps Training
McGregor shockingly retired in June but has kept up with his boxing training.
Conor McGregor’s tuning the engine for horsepower on the heavy bag 👊
(via @TheNotoriousMMA)
Besides the 31-year-old seemed more miffed with UFC president Dana White than he was sick of competing when he revealed why he was deciding to call it a career, so many have speculated McGregor could be on his way to fighting again inside a boxing ring.
Should that be McGregor’s desire, there’s no better contest for him from a financial perspective than facing Mayweather again.
On top of that, McGregor has repeatedly said he believes he can win the second fight.
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Floyd Mayweather Returning for Crossover Megafight ‘This Year’