Floyd Mayweather to return to ring to fight in Tokyo in 2021

Boxing legend will make another comeback but details are kept under wraps

US boxing legend Floyd Mayweather celebrates after winning an exhibition fight against kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa of Japan in 2018. AFP

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr will return to the ring with a fight in Tokyo in February 2021 - but who he will fight and under what rules was left unclear.

The retired five-weight world champion had already dropped hints about the fight, which follows a widely ridiculed 2018 "exhibition" match against a Japanese kickboxer, but organisers offered more details on Monday.

It will be part of an event dubbed "Mega 2021", being hosted at the Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital on February 28, the production committee said in a press release.

They said it would feature "champion-class" fighters, including Mayweather, but gave no further details - including who the welterweight star will face, and under what conditions.

Last week the 43-year-old American shared a video on Instagram teasing the fight.

"Tokyo, Japan, I'm coming back, in 2021," he said in the clip.

"I know the Olympics is in Japan in 2021, but me, myself, Floyd 'Money' Mayweather and my team will be doing something big in Tokyo Dome ... Japan, I'm on my way."

Mayweather v Pacquiao: Fight of the Century

Floyd Mayweather, left, lands a left to the head of Manny Pacquiao, during their welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 2, 2015. AP

Manny Pacquiao lands a punch during his defeat to Floyd Mayweather. Getty

Floyd Mayweather celebrates after his fight against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas. AP

Manny Pacquiao gestures to the crowd after losing to Floyd Mayweather. Getty

Floyd Mayweather, left, in action during his dominant points victory over Manny Pacquiao. AFP

Floyd Mayweather after defeating Many Pacquiao. AFP

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao face-off ahead of their fight. Reuters

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao ahead of their fight in Las Vegas. AFP

Mayweather retired three years ago, and although he had previously announced he was "coming out of retirement in 2020", he hasn't been seen in action this year.

A legend in the boxing world with an unbeaten 50-0 record, Mayweather is no stranger to Japan, where he fought an exhibition match against MMA star Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018 - the last time he was coaxed out of retirement for a big payday.

Mayweather floored the kickboxer less than half his age three times in the first round before the Japanese fighter's trainer rushed in to stop the fight.

Mayweather hinted online that he earned $9 million for the two-minute fight.

In 2017, Mayweather beat mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in the 10th round of a boxing match.

And in 2015, he defeated Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao in their "Fight of the Century" - which largely failed to live up to the hype.

Mayweather is believed to have earned an estimated $300 million from the points victory over Pacquiao, which remains the most lucrative fight in history and generated more than $600 million in revenue.