42 Friday Sports Friday, November 9, 2018 Boxing superstar Mayweather cancels Japan kickboxing fight I had been ‘blindsided’ by organizers of the proposed bout: Mayweather LOS ANGELES: Boxing superstar Floyd May- ments that were being made without my con- weather on Wednesday scrapped a planned fight sent or approval.” with a Japanese kickboxer, claiming he had been In Tokyo on Monday, Mayweather had vowed duped into agreeing to the contest. In a lengthy to give “blood, sweat and tears” in the fight statement posted on social media, Mayweather against Nasukawa. “It’s always been a goal of said he had been “blindsided” by organizers of mine to go outside out of the US and display my the proposed bout against Tenshin Nasukawa, talent. The world has never seen Mayweather set for New Year’s Eve in Saitama. compete live in (Japan),” Mayweather told re- “I want it to be clear that I, Floyd May- porters at the press conference, framing the fight weather, never agreed to an official bout with as an expansion of his businesses to the Far East. Tenshin Nasukawa,” Mayweather wrote on In- Mayweather has not fought since his money- stagram. The 41-year-old retired welterweight spinning boxing showdown with mixed martial champion said he had travelled to Japan last arts star Conor McGregor in Las Vegas in 2017. week to discuss participating in a private bout Mayweather returned to retirement following against Nasukawa for a “small group of wealthy that bout with a perfect 50-0 unbeaten record. spectators for a very large fee.” However the American has repeatedly hinted “This exhibition was previously arranged as at coming out of retirement since that fight, a ‘Special Bout’ purely for entertainment pur- most recently teasing a possible rematch poses with no intentions of being represented as against Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao. Na- an official fight nor televised worldwide,” May- sukawa, 20, meanwhile, had told reporters on TOKYO: This handout photograph taken by Rizin Fighting Federation on November 5, 2018 shows weather wrote. Soon after arriving at a press Monday it had been an “easy decision” to agree Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa (R) posing during a press conference in Tokyo to announce conference in Tokyo on Monday, Mayweather to fight Mayweather. his fight with US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (left) — AFP said he and his team “were completely derailed “It was a surprise offer but I accepted with- by the new direction this event was going.” out hesitation,” said Nasukawa. “I don’t care bance by combating what was being said.” “I am Yahoo Sports combat sports columnist Kevin “We should have put a stop to it immedi- what the rules are. I want to be the man who a retired boxer that earns an unprecedented Iole greeted Mayweather’s volte-face with scep- ately,” Mayweather wrote. “I want to sincerely changes history. I’ll do that with these fists, with amount of money, globally, for appearances, ticism. “Mayweather is hardly a shrinking violet apologize to my fans for the very misleading one punch-just watch.” speaking engagements and occasional small ex- and he has never - ever - failed to speak up on information that was announced during this Mayweather said he had been reluctant to hibitions,” he said. his own behalf since he became a professional press conference. “I can assure you that I too speak out at Monday’s press conference be- US-based pundits however poured scorn on boxer,” Iole wrote. “One would have to be a fool was completely blindsided by the arrange- cause he did not want “to create a huge distur- Mayweather’s stated reasons for the U-turn. to believe this.” —AFP be very proud of that,” said Carter. Dan Carter tips While the All Blacks are overwhelming favourites to lift their third successive Webb Ellis person who is shut down when he’s out there Cup, Carter said the form book does not count for All Blacks call solo. It takes that away because he’s got some- Japan to reach everything. “Just because you’re the number one one else to take a bit of the heat.” The starting side in the world doesn’t guarantee you’re going side has four changes from the side that faced Rugby World to win the Rugby World Cup,” he said, adding that up big guns for Australia, one of them forced by injury this a lot of teams were peaking ahead of next year’s week when prop Joe Moody tore his eyelid at tournament. “So, I’d like to think the All Blacks will training, opening the way for Karl Tu’inukuafe. Cup knockouts win, but you’re never 100 percent sure of that.” England Test Regular starters Brodie Retallick and Aaron However, Carter tipped his former side to have TOKYO: All Blacks legend Dan Carter yesterday too much firepower for England at Twickenham LONDON: Smith return at lock and half-back respectively, New Zealand have signalled tipped Japan to reach the knockout stages of their this Saturday. their attacking intent against England by replacing Scott Barrett and TJ Perenara. Jack Goodhue returns to the centres after a bout of home World Cup next year-and warned favourites While Eddie Jones’s men looked strong last naming two playmakers in a full strength side New Zealand will not have it all their own way. The week in their narrow 12-11 win over South Africa- for tomorrow’s blockbuster Test at Twicken- glandular fever, relegating Canterbury Cru- saders teammate Ryan Crotty to the bench. 36-year-old fly-half, who confirmed his stint in the only team to turn over the All Blacks this year- ham. Two-time world player of the year Japan would bring down the curtain on his glitter- Carter said the “speed in which they play the game Beauden Barrett and mercurial youngster Hansen said the All Blacks wanted to “make a statement” at Twickenham, where they have ing career, said the Brave Blossoms were capable might be a little too much for England to stay with Damian McKenzie will both start in the one- of reaching the quarter-finals. them for 80 minutes”. off Test in London. only been beaten once since 2015. “England at home is always a massive challenge for any- “There is going to have to be a couple of upsets Carter was world player of the year in 2005, As expected, the run-on XV has no play- for Japan to make that but they are capable of it,” 2012 and 2015, amassing a world-record 1,598 ers from the second-string All Blacks side one,” he said. “There’ll be 80,000 people there. For us it’s said the three-time world player of the year, who points in 112 Tests, and is the biggest draw in that beat Japan 69-31 last week in Tokyo. It is on a two-year deal with the Kobe Steelers. Japan’s domestic league after completing a three- more closely resembles the side that de- about making our own statement. To do that, we’ll need to bring our own intensity and ac- “They’ve got the team, the players, the coaching year spell with French side Racing 92. feated Australia 37-20 a week earlier in staff to pull off these upsets and I’d love to see them Entering his mid-30s, Carter said his Japanese Yokohama, with Barrett again starting at fly- curacy to an even higher level.” Team (15-1) in the play-off stages of the next World Cup.” odyssey will likely be the last chapter in his storied half and McKenzie at fullback. Damian McKenzie; Ben Smith, Jack Good- Japan will likely have to beat one of Pool A’s Six career. “I’ve been playing for 15-16 years now. I Coach Steve Hansen said either player Nations heavyweights, Scotland or Ireland, to haven’t fully decided yet when I’ve going to finish could marshall the attack, making the world hue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Ardie reach the quarter-finals but Carter said last week’s but I think this would be a great place to finish my champions difficult to predict for defen- performance against New Zealand should give career,” he said. Asked whether he might be sively minded teams such as England. “We Savea, Liam Squire; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Karl them hope. tempted into coaching, he quipped that coaches think against sides that play a little differ- A second-string All Blacks side hammered “work harder than the players, so that would be ently than we do, having two playmakers Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Japan 69-31 but the Brave Blossoms played their quite intense”. And while he said he “could not makes it a lot harder for them to shut us part in a pulsating game in Yokohama near Tokyo. imagine” a better place to live and play than Japan, down,” he told reporters. Nepo Laulala, Scott Barrett, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Richie Mo’unga, Ryan Crotty. —AFP “Not many teams are able to score five tries he admitted the local language was causing him “It also takes away the frustration of that against the All Blacks. So the Japanese team should some difficulties. — AFP.