
Floyd Mayweather’s Next Opponent Just Showed Exactly Why ‘Money’ Says No to Kicks… Tenshin Nakusawa is an ANIMAL…
Tenshin Nasukawa might not be very well known in the western world just yet, but that could change very soon. The 20-year-old kickboxer is one of the most exciting talents in combat sports and is set to take on Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition match on New Year’s Eve, in Tokyo’s Saitama Super Arena.
Floyd Mayweather was condemned by fight fans after pulling out of the bout, basically because RIZIN – who is co-promoting the exhibition – wanted Nasukawa to be able to use kicks. ‘Money’ wasn’t having it and they went back to the table to renegotiate a deal that is heavily in the American boxer’s favour.
However, you can’t blame him. Nakusawa was fighting Taiki Naito this weekend at RISE 129 (RISE are RIZIN’s kickboxing affiliate) and won by savage brutalization. The young bantamweight champion is a scary prospect. Watch the footage below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kI-r1Ohl_E4
Flashy
Tenshin is a very flashy fighter, who is famous for using spectacular kicks and very quick combos. He uses a superman punch to instigate Naito’s downfall. His countryman fell to the ground but managed to get back to his feet. He probably should have stayed down on the ground. Tenshin then poured on the pressure.
If Floyd Mayweather sees this footage, he might breathe a sigh of relief. Tenshin manages to switch between hands and feet, pouring on a devastating combination of destruction to overwhelm his opponent. Punches, kicks and a monstrous knee are all used to demolish poor Naito, who is way out of his depth. This is why he is such a massive hero in Japan – as well as dressing like an anime character.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nED0uu6f0c
Talent
Obviously, Naito deserved to lose just for those ridiculous trousers, but the truth is that he was outclassed. Nakusawa is 27-0 in kickboxing and 4-0 in MMA. It looks like a matter of time before he turns his attentions directly to the latter, with ONE Championship chairman Chatri Sityodtong openly expressing his interest in signing the young Japanese fighter, when his current contract expires.
While kickboxing is incredibly entertaining, there is a limit to what you can achieve in terms of mainstream recognition and success. Nakusawa has fought some very tough Thais recently like Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Suakim Sit Sor Thor Taew, who were both tougher than most of the Japanese opposition he’s fought. One loss and suddenly his pristine record won’t be so shiny.

It’s On
While it would be amazing to see Tenshin tornado kick Mayweather into oblivion, it’s unfortunately not going to happen. It will be interesting to see if this will affect either man’s professional record because it is, after all, an exhibition match, not a full fight. There will be three three-minute rounds of action, and it will be fascinating to watch the 42-year old in action against a man less than a half his age.
The odds are firmly stacked in Mayweather’s favour but this is in Japan, so you can count on something dramatic happening.