Floyd Mayweather is "looking forward to expanding his brand through business," according to Kaz Nagatsuka of the JAPAN TIMES. The 12-time boxing world champion is currently visiting Japan to form "TMT Tokyo" and establish a partnership between his newly-announced Mayweather Holdings, Japan's Kyoei boxing gym and Japanese management company Libera. On Monday, Mayweather described a "wide range" of business interests including luxury car sales and the operation of nightclubs, boxing gyms and casinos. He said that the casino operation, made possible through a bill passed by the Diet, Japan's bicameral legislature, in July which legalized casinos in the country, will be the "major player" for his Japan operation. Mayweather, who declared his retirement after improving his professional record to 50-0 in '17, claimed he does not "really miss boxing" but did not "dismiss the idea of putting on his gloves again." Mayweather's Japanese business partners were "thrilled with the opportunity" to work with him. Kyoei Chair Keiichiro Kanehira declared the impact of Mayweather coming to Japan the "equivalent" of Muhammad Ali's visits to the country, first in a fight against Mac Foster at Nippon Budokan in '72 and then against professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in a famous "special rule" match in '76 at the same venue (JAPAN TIMES, 9/17).
