Former world champion angered by throwing away bouquet ‘I felt sick’ … Overseas media are confused ‘strange event’: J-CAST News[full text display]

The martial arts event “Super RIZIN” will be held at Saitama Super Arena on September 25, 2022, and the “throwing away disturbance” over the bouquet presentation of the exhibition match is spreading a big ripple.

In the exhibition match, former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA, 45) defeated Mikuru Asakura (30) by TKO twice, showing Mayweather Jr.’s strength as advertised. However, the events in the ring before the exhibition match caused controversy on the Internet.


  • Mayweather Jr. attacking Asakura (Photo: AP/Aflo)

  • Mayweather Jr. attacking Asakura (Photo: AP/Aflo)

Former World Champion Tokashiki “That’s rude”

The scene in question is the scene where Takushi Okuno (48), the representative of the political group “Burdock Party”, who played the role of presenting the bouquet to Mayweather Jr., dropped the bouquet into the ring without giving it.

Representative Okuno approached Mayweather Jr. with a bouquet, but threw it in front of Mayweather Jr. without handing it over. Mayweather Jr. looked puzzled for a moment, then picked up the bouquet with gloves on his hands and handed it to the staff.

“RIZIN” CEO Sakakibara went up to the ring after the 4th match and apologized for Okuno’s behavior. Some fans on the Internet criticized Okuno, but there were also critical comments from the professional boxing world.

Former WBA world middleweight champion Shinji Takehara (50) updated his YouTube channel on the 25th and mentioned the behavior of representative Okuno. Former WBA world light flyweight champion Tokashiki who appeared in the video said frankly, “One thing that made me feel sick was when the burdock party threw a bouquet and gave it to me. That made me feel sick.” Katsuo, 62, agreed, saying, “That’s rude.”

Naoya Inoue: I’m not the only one who felt like apologizing to Mayweather

Naoya Inoue (Ohashi, 29), the unified world bantamweight champion of the three groups, updated Twitter on the 25th, saying, “Mayweather, who picked up the abandoned bouquet instead of the exhaust, was too cool… I’m sure. I’m sure I’m not the only one who felt like apologizing to Mayweather,” he wrote.

Representative Okuno’s behavior was reported overseas, and the authoritative American magazine “The Ring” (web version) reported the content of the exhibition match and mentioned the scene in question. “At the traditional flower delivery ceremony given to Mayweather, the person handing the flowers surprisingly dropped a flower at Mayweather’s feet.”

In addition, Argentine media “TyC Sports” (WEB version) published an article with a video of representative Okuno throwing a bouquet. “(Okuno representative) threw the bouquet into the ring instead of handing it to Mayweather,” he said, pointing out the series of acts as “strange events.”

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