Ambitious plans
Legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather has big plans for Japan. The fighter has reportedly set his sights on building a casino empire in the Asian country.
A former opponent is also on his mind. Mayweather is believed to be negotiating a rematch against Manny Pacquiao. The fight would be hosted in the Far East to raise funds to finance the construction of Mayweather’s very own casino hotel in Japan.
Mayweather’s interest in Asia
The 42-year-old boxer launched TMT Japan in Tokyo this past June after announcing a new partnership with Kyoei boxing gym and management company Libera.
Mayweather’s goal is to create a casino hotel based in Okinawa
As gambling moves forward in Japan, Mayweather is looking to be heavily involved. Mayweather’s goal is to create a casino hotel based in Okinawa.
Mayweather is in the process of buying a home in Tokyo, so he would be based in Japan. Instead of traveling to the United States and back to Japan, planning exhibitions in the Far East makes sense. He plans on staging fights in the region instead of having to travel.
According to Jay Lau, a Hong Kong-based boxing promoter, Mayweather came to the region to set up TMT Japan because the Asian country is allowing casino’s to be built in 2020.
Lau said: “There are casinos opening in Cambodia, Singapore, and China as well. It means boxing will get more and more popular. The Manny rematch is the biggest thing that can happen.”
Focusing on Pacquiao
When discussions of the casino idea and exhibition matches were first revealed, Mayweather stated he was open to non-boxing opponents, so potentially anyone was on the table. However, once the idea of a rematch with Pacquiao arose, the boxer decided to focus on negotiating that fight only.
it seems bookmakers would put the odds firmly in Pacquiao’s favor
Pacquiao is still an active world champion in the boxing world, while Mayweather’s last fight was against young Tenshin Nasukawa. If the two boxing legends were to clash again, it seems bookmakers would put the odds firmly in Pacquiao’s favor.
Japan embracing gambling
Mayweather’s plan to create a casino comes at a time when the Japanese government is setting up their new gambling industry.
The commission will be in charge of completing background checks as well as investigations of operations selected to manage the Japanese casino resorts. Staff members of the facilities will be included in investigations.