Mayweather to fight in Japan on New Year\'s Eve

SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 5, 2018) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNDEFEATED AMERICAN BOXER, FLOYD MAYWEATHER, SAYING: "I wanted to do something different.

I always wanted to display my skills outside the U.S. and be in a special fight and so, this presented itself, I spoke with my team, I got with RIZIN and we put it together.

You know, I've fought in the U.S. - all 50 fights, actually, were in the U.S. But as an amateur, I was able to travel and fight against Russia, fight against Cuba, fight against so many different other countries, but as a professional, I haven't had a chance to go outside the U.S. to display my skills and display my talent for the world.

And I chose Japan because it's such a great place and they've got great people.

The fighting atmosphere is unbelievable." STORY: American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced at a news conference on Monday (November 5) that he had signed with Japanese mixed martial arts promotions company RIZIN Fighting Federation to fight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa on New Year's Eve in Saitama.

The undefeated 41-year-old, who has won world boxing titles in five different weight categories, has never fought professionally in mixed martial arts and it has yet to be decided what format and rules the fight would follow.

His opponent at the event, RIZIN.14, will be 20-year-old Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.

Nasukawa competes in RIZIN championships in both MMA and pure kickboxing, and has won all four of his MMA fights.

While boxing rules restrict bouts to the use of fists, MMA rules can incorporate kicks, knees and elbow strikes, as well as wrestling, joint locks and chokes.

Mayweather said the terms of the fight would be decided in the coming weeks.

Mayweather said the decision to fight in Japan was about expanding his global profile.

Mayweather's last bout was in 2017 when he beat Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, running his boxing record to 50-0 and earning close to $300 million.

The boxer had come out of a near two-year retirement to fight McGregor and afterwards said he was done with the sport.

The finances of the RIZIN deal were not disclosed at Monday's news conference.