Mayweather Takes His Money Team to Mystery Fight in Japan
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CCRICKETRICKET | Page 2 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Taijul’s haul Messi could of 11 wickets play against leads hosts Inter, says fi ghtback Barca coach Tuesday, November 6, 2018 TENNIS Safar 28, 1440 AH Djoko ends year as GULF TIMES top gun as Nadal misses ATP Finals SPORT Page 3 FOCUS Mayweather takes his money team to mystery fi ght in Japan Unbeaten American boxing star will fight 20-year-old kickboxer at a Japanese MMA promotion card on December 31 Reuters “I wanted to do something dif- out hesitation. past the former world champion bout before any real judgement Tokyo ferent. I always wanted to display “My opponent looks taller would not have taken this chal- can be made. my skills outside the US and be than I thought, I think because of lenge so light-heartedly. If this move is a bid to stay in a special fi ght,” added May- the aura around him, but I think I With fi ghting fans — both relevant, then Mayweather, loyd Mayweather’s over- weather, who has fought every could hit him.” boxing and MMA alike — try- whose business acumen has been stated arrival to his unveil- one of his professional bouts in Nasukawa’s comments caused ing to process the latest twist matched only by his performanc- ing as the new fi gurehead the United States. MaMayweatheryweather aandnd his bbusi-usi- ini MMayweather’sayweather’s cacareerreer ppath,ath, es in the riring,ng, hahass certainlcertainlyy foundfound for a Japanese mixed mar- Mayweather’s latesttest momoveve nenessss aadvisordvisor BBrentrent wwiwillll pprimarilyrimarily ccomeome ddownown to a way to kkeepeep hhisis name in llights.ights. Ftial arts promotion proved that no- comes as a major shockock after hhee JoJohnsonhnson to bbreakreak tththehe eventuaeventuall ddecisionecision over tthehe matter what the event or the loca- announced his secondond retretire-ire- inintoto bbeamingeaming rrurulesl es of hhisis nexn e xt FloydFloyd Mayweather Jr. ofof the US tion, the American boxing legend ment from the ring followingollowing hhisis smsmilesiles bbutut strestretchestches himselfhimself duringduring a news will always be box offi ce. defeat of Irish mixed martmartialial arts ttherehere wawass cconferenceonference in Tokyo, Japan, The undefeated 41-year-old (MMA) star Conor McGregorcGregor in a a sesensense yeyesterday.sterday. Mayweather’sMayweather’s announced he was coming out of crossover boxing matchtch llastast yeyear.ar. tthathat iinn DecembDecemberer 3311 opoppo-po- a retirement yesterday and will However, the most sstunningtunning aas-s- ttheh e nenentnt wiwillll bbee JJapaneseapanese top the bill at the Rizin Fight- pect of Mayweather’ss annouannounce-nce- kikickboxerckboxer TeTenshinnshin ing Federation’s next card on ment is his decision to sisigngn witwithh an NNasukawaasukawa ((right).right). December 31, in a bout against a MMA brand, having neneverver comcom-- (R(Reuters)euters) Japanese kickboxer with the rules peted in the octagon before.efore. yet to be determined. Prior to yesterday’s news con- CONFIDENT OPPONENTPONENT ference, Mayweather gave a se- While boxing rules restrictestrict bboutsouts lect number of media interviews to the use of just punches,ches, MMA over the weekend, but the iden- also incorporates kicks,cks, kkneesnees tity of Rizin’s marquee recruit for and elbow strikes, aass wewellll as the Saitama event had been kept wrestling, joint locksocks anandd under wraps. chokes. So, with the logo for May- Mayweather and hhisis team weather’s ‘The Money Team’ said they were still iinn ne- brand ostentatiously emblazoned gotiations with Rizinn ovoverer across the room, there was a pal- the rules and formatt ooff Mayweather ready for Japan pable sense of intrigue ahead of the fi ght, which shoulduld the American’s late arrival. be “situated” in thee fi ght, whatever the rules When Mayweather fi nally ap- coming weeks. peared in front of the media in The identity off Reuters Saturday. Tokyo, the American, whose Mayweather’s oppo-- Tokyo “We will just see. I can do it all. boxing record is an unblemished nent, Japanese kick-k-- I can do anything if I set my 50-0, was far more subdued than boxer Tenshin Nasu-- mind to it.” his noisy introduction, substi- kawa — a fi ghter halff loyd Mayweather has Nasukawa is contracted to tuting his usual bravado with a the American’s age won world titles in five Rizin and competes in their serious business-like tone. — muddies the wa- Fdiff erent weight classes championships in both MMA “We want to continue and I ters yet further. and is 50-0 in an unparal- and pure kickboxing. He has want to continue to build my Nasukawa com- leled boxing career but the won all four of his MMA fights. relationship with Money Team petes in both MMA American could be set for a While boxing rules restrict Tokyo, I want to continue to and kickboxing, stunning detour into the world bouts to the use of fists, MMA come over here and bring other and has won all four of mixed martial arts after rules can incorporate kicks, fi ghters over here,” Mayweather of his cage fi ghts. signing with Japanese promot- knees and elbow strikes, as explained during a somewhat While Mayweath- ers Rizin Fighting Federation. well as wrestling, joint locks stilted news conference. er showered praisee Twenty-year-old Japanese and chokes. “My company have been mak- on his opponent andd kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa His decision to sign a deal with ing some huge fi ghts happen in even disparaged him-m-- is to be the opponent for the RIZIN was all about timing, he the US but we look forward to self by saying “mymy undefeated 41-year-old. said. taking the Mayweather promo- body don’t look thee Mayweather has never fought “Everything is about timing, tions banner and the TMT (The same as it used to professionally under MMA everything takes time and Money Team) banner worldwide look”, a bullish Nasu-u- rules and did not specify what everything is about timing,” he and if it means working with a kawa exuded confifi - format the fight would follow. added. great guy like this (Rizin presi- dence. He said negotiations were “Its also all about entertain- dent Nobuyuki Sakakibara) then “I would like too ongoing with Nasukawa’s ment. I love to entertain, I like there is no problem.” prove with my own fi stt representatives and that his for people to be entertained It seems for Mayweather, what others couldn’tt skill-set did not end at boxing. and who doesn’t want to be who won boxing world titles at do in the past,” saidd “I can wrestle, I can wrestle entertained. fi ve diff erent weight divisions, the 20-year-old, who little bit. I can box a lot a bit,” “It is good to come over to this fi ght is about expanding added he accepted Mayweather told Reuters another part of the world, have his brand and business interests the off er to fi ght in an interview Tokyo on fun and enjoy each other.” overseas. Mayweather with- CRICKET Drained Taylor quits as CA director AFP after the damning independent reporters. director was either to step up or the game and straining the play- Sydney review blamed CA’s “arrogant” “I don’t think I can give any step off the board,” he said. ers’ relationship with the gov- and “controlling” culture as con- more. I’ve lost the energy and I “I had an opportunity at this erning body. tributing to players cheating in think it’s time for someone else time to put my name forward as Interim CA chairman Earl Ed- ormer Test captain Mark the pursuit of victory. to step up and fi ll my shoes.” a chairman, or step off . dings admitted he had hoped the Taylor quit as a Cricket He ruled himself out, citing a Since Steve Smith, David “That’s where I got to and I respected Taylor, who played in Australia director yester- confl ict of interest, having re- Warner and Cameron Bancroft think I’ve made the right move in 104 Tests, would remain on the day, saying he had “lost cently signed a new contract with were banned for trying to al- the interests of Australian cricket board. Fthe energy” to continue after a broadcaster Channel Nine which ter the ball with sandpaper in a to step off and give some other, “Mark has played a signifi cant torrid time sparked by the ball- has the rights to the World Cup South Africa Test in March, Tay- hopefully, former player an op- role in helping build and shape tampering scandal and a scathing and Ashes series in 2019. lor has been at the forefront of portunity to add some fresh ideas relationships within the cricket review into the governing body. And Taylor, who served 13 working to restore relations be- to this role as a director of Cricket community, specifi cally with He becomes the latest top fi g- years on the board, has now de- tween CA and the players’ union. Australia.” players past and present,” he said. ure to exit the embattled organi- cided to split from CA altogether But now is the right time to While the cheating row has “In his role as director he has sation following chief executive and give it a clean slate to restore “allow Cricket Australia and the dominated his time as director always worked collaboratively James Sutherland and chairman its reputation. Australian Cricketers’ Associa- this year, Taylor was also heavily with key parties to put the inter- David Peever. “I’ve just got to the end. Par- tion to work from a fresh page”. involved last year in a bruising ests of Australian cricket fi rst.