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48-year-old Wayne McCullough the latest to ‘call out’ Tenshin Nasukawa


Irish boxing legend Wayne McCullough has expressed a desire to return to ring and wants to fight the kickboxer on everybody’s lips.

Not long after Tenshin Nasukawa was beaten in less than a round in a New Years Eve exhibition match, UFC star man and Crumlin BC graduate Conor McGregor expressed a desire to fight the Japanese 21-year-old.

The Dubliner asked for an MMA exhibition show with Nasukawa, who lasted less than 140 seconds against Mayweather, in Tokyo sometime before the summer. 

Mayweather earned $9,000,000 for his brief appearance in the ring with Nasukawa, and it appears McGregor – who was stopped in ten by ‘Money May’ back in 2017 – fancies a similar pay day from the Rizin promotional outfit.

In fact, he is not the only one.

Barcelona Olympic silver medal winner Wayne McCullough is the latest to throw his hat in the ring.

The 48-year-old claims has fought since his 2008 loss to Juan Ruiz, but for years has remained open to a comeback – even calling out Carl Frampton – and never officially retired from the sport.

The LA-based Shankill puncher is now willing to return in an exhibition clash with the Japanese fighter claiming he is fit and ready.

‘The Pocket Rocket’ has famous Japanese previous. He was the first fighter from Ireland or Britain to win a world title in the Land of the Rising Sun – indeed he was the only fighter until Portlaoise native and new Matchroom signing TJ Doheny equaled the feat last year.

McCullough defeated Yasuei Yakushiji in Nagoya in 1995 to claim the WBC world bantamweight title – and now wants a return to Japan for a lucrative exhibition, even referencing his famous win in his call-out tweet. 

That said, the chances of such a fight actually taking place are exceedingly slim – although a McGregor v Nasukawa bout does not seem beyond the realms of possibility,

Indeed the Asian youngster responded to McGregor’s call-out, insisting on a kickboxing bout rather than mixed martial arts. Nasukawa also said it would have to take place at 58kg (127.9lbs) which would rule the far larger McGregor out.

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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