FLOYD MAYWEATHER has responded to Amir Khan’s claim that his exhibition bout against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa is ‘bad for boxing’.
Mayweather, 41, will meet Nasukawa, 20, on December 31 in a boxing exhibition – with Japanese MMA promotion RIZIN FF promoting the bout.
Getty Images – Getty14 Mayweather will meet Nasukawa on December 31, in Japan
Reuters14 Khan does not think the bout is good for boxing
However, Khan, who has chased a fight with Mayweather since 2013, told the Daily Mail that he believes the 41-year-olds next bout is “hurting boxing.”
Khan said: “If you look at boxing and MMA – why is MMA and UFC surpassing boxing?
“Because they’re putting the better fights on, they’re putting the fights on that people want to see and these are just joke fights what Floyd Mayweather is doing.
“He’s going to be getting a good cheque but it’s hurting boxing isn’t it?
“Boxing fans are going to buy the fight, think it’s going to be a good fight, Mayweather is going to go in there and destroy the guy straight away (and) people will say it’s a mismatch.
Most Read in Boxing WILDER FIRE Wilder slams Mayweather for backing Fury and puts Money Man in his place
'a disgrace' Floyd Mayweather left 'disgusted' after Fury is robbed of win over Wilder
WILD COUNT Wilder reveals 'proof' Fury did not beat ten count after final round knockdown
RevealedSETTLE THE SCORE Bungling judges added up Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder scorecards WRONG
CommentCOLIN HART Fury's draw with Wilder proves boxing will never be exact science
'weren't great' Hearn slams Fury's fight with Wilder… but admits Brit proved him wrong
AMIR 'CON' Brook blasts Khan for 'running off' from all-British boxing showdown
SAU LOSER Billy Joe Saunders fumes after losing £70,000 betting on Fury to beat Wilder