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Floyd Mayweather rules out Manny Pacquiao rematch… but confirms he will still fight in money-spinning exhibition bouts

FLOYD MAYWEATHER confirmed he will continue boxing in exhibition bouts - but has ruled out a rematch against Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather made £7million for his one-round beatdown over Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa at the end of 2018.

 Floyd Mayweather confirmed he will continue boxing in exhibition bouts
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Floyd Mayweather confirmed he will continue boxing in exhibition boutsCredit: Reuters
 Mayweather ruled out a rematch against Manny Pacquiao
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Mayweather ruled out a rematch against Manny PacquiaoCredit: AP:Associated Press

The non-professional contest came a year after the 42-year-old’s retirement fight against UFC star Conor McGregor.

After knocking out featherweight kickboxer Nasukawa, Mayweather insisted his pro ring career is still over, but has now revealed there are still more money-spinning exhibition bouts to come.

He told Reuters: "I've got calls to get back into the ring, but my health is my wealth.

"Boxing is a very, very brutal sport. In the last few years a lot of fighters have died inside that squared circle.

"You have got to know when to hang it up. I had a great career.

"I'll still travel and do exhibitions. I make great money doing exhibitions; between $10 and $30 million.

"I think I make more doing that than most fighters make fighting."

SunSport revealed Mayweather plans to build a casino hotel in Okinawa.

It comes after the Japanese government announced in February they want to compete with regional rivals including Macau, Singapore and South Korea with planned bookies to arrive in 2020.

The retired boxer launched TMT Japan (The Money Team) in Tokyo this June, and revealed he was negotiating his next exhibition bout.

MMA promotion RIZIN, who staged the American’s win over Nasukawa, are keen to again work with the former pay-per-view king.

But the opponent would again have to be another kickboxer or MMA fighter, to work around the Japanese Boxing Committee’s rulings.

Promoter Nobuyuki Sakakibara told SunSport: “Whenever Mayweather fights he'll need an opponent.

Floyd Mayweather shows off skills back in gym as Manny Pacquiao rematch rumours heat up

“As long as it’s a boxing bout it’s really hard for us because of the regulations with the Japanese Boxing Commission.

“Whatever boxing happens they have to overlook everything, so for us to hold a straight up boxing match, it’s very difficult.

“If someone comes up and we think they’ll fit the bill to be Mayweather’s opponent it’s definitely something we would be interested in.”

 Japaneses kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa was beaten by Mayweather last year
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Japaneses kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa was beaten by Mayweather last yearCredit: AFP
 Mayweather launched TMT Japan in Tokyo this June and revealed plans for another exhibition bout
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Mayweather launched TMT Japan in Tokyo this June and revealed plans for another exhibition boutCredit: Rex Features

 

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