LAS VEGAS -- It is not raining here today -- when does it ever? -- but Floyd Mayweather Jr. walked onto the Hollywood Theater stage in the MGM Grand this afternoon with his black jean legs stuffed inside calf-high black rubber boots. I guess this was to symbolize that he's about to -- as they say on the strip club scene -- make it "rain money" in the fight game upon announcing just hours before the Manny Pacquaio-Ricky Hatton bout that he is done with retirement. It was even revealed that "Money" is now Mayweather's nickname.Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Productions said Mayweather will return to the ring in the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 18 against Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather is now 32, 17 months after he walked away from the fight game to make TV commercials and wrestling money. He is 39-0 with 25 knockouts and the biggest personality in the game.
Marquez is now 35. He is 50-4-1 with 37 knockouts. Marquez isn't what he once was, when he was beating up Manny Pacquaio and ruling his class.
It is a perfect comeback fight. Marquez will have to lose weight to fight Mayweather at a catch weight of 144.
"He's a good little man," Mayweather said, before later staring him down for the cameras. "I'm a great bigger man. There's a difference."
Mayweather's return isn't about this fight; it is about the game. It is about breathing life into Vegas, which is suffering in the recession. It is about helping HBO pay-per-view get back record audiences again.
For Mayweather, it is about money and legacy. It is about who he will fight after beating up Marquez. His second fight will probably come in September and it will probably be against the winner of Pacquiao-Hatton, which my instincts tell me will be Pacquiao. Pacquiao is who Mayweather would want, too, because a Pacquiao victory over Hatton would solidify his current moniker as the fight game's best pound-for-pound fighter, which was Mayweather's old title.
"Nobody has took my throne," Mayweather declared on the stage Saturday.
He's right. It's merely on loan. He can reclaim it in September.
Pacquiao-Hatton Photos
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Fans of boxer Ricky Hatton of England react as he is introduced at his official weigh-in for his junior welterweight title fight against Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: Fans and media take pictures as Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Ricky Hatton of England appear for their official weigh-in for their junior welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Getty Images
LAS VEGAS - MAY 01: A sign for Floyd Mayweather Jr. is held as boxing fans wait for the official weigh-in for the junior welterweight title fight between Ricky Hatton of England and Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 1, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was reported that on May 2 Mayweather will announce the end of his retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Manny Pacquiao's mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, waits to watch an official weigh-in for her son and his opponent Ricky Hatton of Britain at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2009. The boxers will meet for a 12-round, junior welterweight bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
Reuters
Boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya and actor Mario Lopez (R) speak to fans before an official weigh-in for junior welterweight boxers Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Ricky Hatton of Britain at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2009. The boxers will meet for a 12-round bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
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Ricky Hatton fans cheer during an official weigh-in for Hatton and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 1, 2009. Hatton of Britain and Pacquiao of the Philippines will meet for a 12-round, junior welterweight bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
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Junior welterweight boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines weighs in for his fight with Ricky Hatton of Britain at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2009. The boxers will meet for a 12-round bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
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Manny Pacquiao fans cheer for boxer during an official weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2009. Pacquiao of the Philippines and Ricky Hatton of Britain will meet for a 12-round, junior welterweight bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
Reuters
Junior welterweight boxer Ricky Hatton of Britain weighs in for his fight with Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2009. The boxers will meet for a 12-round bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
Reuters
Junior welterweight boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines gestures to fans during an official weigh-in at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada May 1, 2009. Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton of Britain will meet for a 12-round bout at the arena May 2. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES SPORT BOXING)
Reuters
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-03-2009 @ 12:30AM
dinohealth said...
JUST SAW ANOTHER BS FIGHT WITH A LOT OF BUILD-UP AND LITTLE DELIVERY! ANYBODY THAT BELIEVES THIS IS BOXING IS VERY NAIVE! WELL, I GUESS WE ARE MOVING CLOSER TO ANOTHER BIG PAYDAY WITH FLOYD MAYWEATHER COMING BACK! ALREADY THE HYPE IS IN KB'S ARTICLE! WHAT A BUNCH OF CROCK! SHAME ON YOU, KEVIN! I GUESS PAGE'S DEATH WAS NO BIG DEAL WHEN WE WERE BUSY HYPING THE NEXT BIG PAYDAY!
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