Japanese kick-boxer Tenshin Nasukawa has accepted Conor McGregor's challenge for an exhibition fight in Tokyo.
The Japanese kick-boxer made headlines around the world when he was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather inside the first round of a boxing match that bordered on ridiculous.
The American knocked the 20-year-old to the canvas three times before his corner mercifully brought an end to the sorry spectacle by throwing in the towel.
The farcical fight was announced last November before quickly being cancelled after Mayweather claimed the promoter misled him, taking to social media to say the scale of the fight was misrepresented to him.
Will Conor McGregor's next fight be a kickboxing bout in Japan? 🇯🇵@RadioCleary has the story and @gergilroy gives his analysis of Mayweather vs Nasukawa #OTBAM ... Here's the full show ⬇️ https://t.co/dPEJTOINJ2 pic.twitter.com/Oc6RwWleHW
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) January 8, 2019
The American boxer appeared at press conference announcing the event before pulling out three days later. After more talks with the promoter, the fight went ahead on December 31st.
Mayweather made $9 million for the exhibition bout so it is unsurprising that McGregor would be attracted to a fight that would have a high pay day with little risk.
The MMA fighter took to twitter to lay down a challenge: "I wish to go to Tokyo to face Tenshin Nasukawa in a Mixed Martial Arts exhibition bout. Before this summer. Please arrange this, this instant. Yours sincerely. "The champ champ"
I wish to go to Tokyo to face Tenshin Nasukawa in a Mixed Martial Arts exhibition bout.
Before this summer.
Please arrange this, this instant.
Yours sincerely
The champ champ. @ufc @ParadigmSM— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 7, 2019
Nasukawa said he will fight McGregor but only on his terms:
"Dear Mr. McGregor. Thank you very much for remembering my name
"I'm honoured that you would even consider fighting me. 58kg, kickboxing rules would probably get us in the ring sometime in the near future.
"I will fight my RISE world GP this year so please watch your diet and wait for me!"
Tenshin ready for Conor McGregor fight: ‘Watch your diet and wait for me’
Nasukawa has fought 4 times professionally in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, he boasts a perfect record as a kick-boxer, winning all 27 of his professional fights so far.
His most recent victory came at the expense of Kyoji Horiguchi last September. He also holds an incredible amateur record of 99-5.
McGregor's last fight ended in defeat as he was beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov last October.
The Russian dominated most of the fight before locking in a rear-naked choke, that forced the Dubliner to submit in the fourth round of the main event of UFC 229.
Last week the UFC president Dana White said he believed McGregor's next match would be against Nurmagomedov.
White says the promotion are eager to arrange a rematch telling TMZ: “I think a lot of people want to see that fight.”
