Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight in Japan Would Help Launch Casino Empire

A Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight would be huge for the sportsbooks and could potentially launch Mayweather's casino empire in Japan.

The Sun reported Thursday that Mayweather is looking to build a casino there.

He can launch it by hosting a money-spinning rematch against Manny Pacquiao in the Far East, the media outlet reports.

That would be a huge fight but Mayweather is also keen on more exhibition bouts against non-boxers, having faced UFC megastar Conor McGregor and Japanese martial artist Tenshin Nasukawa.

Hong Kong based promoter Jay Lau said: “In Asia more and more casinos are setting up.

“Mayweather came to Tokyo to set up TMT Japan because of the Japan casinos that open in the next year.

“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.

“I hope it does happen, it could be a big possibility that fight is the grand opening for the Japan casinos.”

From the Sun:

Mayweather’s ambition is to create a casino hotel in Okinawa, allowing him to stage fights in Japan, and revealed at a press conference in June his plan for more money-spinning exhibitions.

He said: “Negotiations are progressing, although it is not yet official, my opponent could be a kickboxer or an MMA fighter.

“It’s natural that I come up with this idea, because I’m buying a house in Tokyo so I don’t have to repeat the long trips between the United States and Japan.”

- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com