Oscar De La Hoya: Juan Manuel Marquez will beat Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather shows respect to Juan Manuel Marquez

FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR.: "I HEAR THE FILIPINOS ARE MAD AT ME"

"Lil Floyd look sharp, man. If what he's doing in the gym carries over to the ring, it's going to be ugly. He tearing people ass up in the gym and that's with the big gloves. When he puts those small gloves on, it's going to be trouble. He's ready though man. He's been sharp…I hear the Filipinos are mad at me," stated world-renowned trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. just days before his son's upcoming return to the ring this Saturday. Check out what he had to say about the fight and his recent claim that "Pacquiao is on something."

PC: Big Floyd, how are you man?

FM: Everything is good Percy. How about you?

PC: I've been doing good man. I just wanted to catch up with you before the fight. How are you feeling?

FM: I feel okay now, but I didn't go to the press conference today because I wasn't feeling good. That's the way it is with me with this disease. If I don't feel like going, I don't go.

PC: I never understood the point of a pre-fight press conference anyway. It's truly nothing left to say 2 days before the weigh-ins.

FM: I know. It's time to fight now, shit! All of the talking is over with.

PC: How is Lil Floyd looking in your eyes?

FM: Lil Floyd look sharp, man. If what he's doing in the gym carries over to the ring, it's going to be ugly. He tearing people ass up in the gym and that's with the big gloves. When he puts those small gloves on, it's going to be trouble. He's ready though man. He's been sharp.

PC: I saw you educating Eddie Murphy.

FM: Yeah, it was cool to hang out with him. He's alright. Him and Johnny Gill were there.

PC: Oh okay. Do you think there's anything behind the piss drinking thing?

FM: Man, let me tell you something man. That's nothing but waste leaving your body. That's the case, he might as well eat his own poop poop. It's nothing good come from that man, come on.

PC: I'll be honest with you, I've asked a lot of people for their prediction and I haven't gotten anyone to pick Marquez over Lil Floyd yet, but a couple of people believe Cotto can beat Pacquiao.

FM: I think he can too. Man, let me tell you something man, Clottey ain't nothing to play with. Everybody going off of Cotto's performance over Clottey, but I think Clottey would beat Pacquiao. That motherfucker ain't no joke man. Cotto could definitely beat Pacquiao. Pacquiao better take him serious because one thing about Lil Floyd, he works his ass off. People talking about wanting to see Pacquiao fight my son, let me tell you man, Lil Floyd would pick Pacquiao's ass apart. Shit, Marquez picked him apart. But I'm going to tell you man, I think Pacquiao is on something.

PC: I was going to ask you about the comments you made about thinking Pacquiao was on steroids. You ruffled some feathers.

FM: (Laughing) I hear the Filipinos are mad at me.

PC: Yeah, they're not going to be sending you any Christmas cards.

FM: Man, I'm telling you man, he puts on that weight too fast and it's too lean. They need to start checking him man and monitoring him better.

PC: I won't hold you up any longer. Get you some rest my man. I was just wishing you luck and checking on you.

FM: Alright Percy well you know I appreciate it and take care of yourself man.

Source: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content5703.html

Floyd Mayweather Plays Media Masterfully

You think maybe some of the folks associated with Floyd Mayweather’s return to the ring wish that maybe he wasn’t working quite so hard on drumming up interest in the Saturday bout with Juan Manuel Marquez?

Floyd’s rant on Wednesday, which featured slaps at our nation’s race issues, Oscar De La Hoya, US sports fans, US fight fans, HBO’s Larry Merchant and Manny Steward, has made the rounds on the web, and if Mayweather’s aim were simply to get people talking about him, and training their eyeballs on him, then he has certainly succeeded.

The most incendiary portion of his remarks were his comments on his perceived status as a black man in America. "If you're rich, you're a rich n-----," he said. "If you're poor, you're a poor n----. If you're smart, you're a smart n-----. At the end of the day, they still look at me as a n-----."

The notable sports-snark websites The Big Easy and Deadspin both synopsized Mayweather’s rat-a-tat rant at multiple targets, and concluded that the fighter’s launch misfired.

“You know you’ve worn out your crazy card when those comments fall flat,” the Big Lead’s Ty Duddy wrote.



Over at Deadspin, Barry Petchesky riffed on Floyd’s comment that: "I wouldn't change my life for nothing in the world. There's nothing like being young, black and rich. But there are certain things you think about. If Floyd Mayweather was white, I'd be the biggest athlete in America. The biggest, the biggest. I know that for a fact."



“That's funny, because the biggest athletes in America are Tiger Woods and LeBron James,” Petchesky wrote. “And the last time a boxer was the biggest name in sports, it was Mike Tyson.”



A thoroughly unscientific sample of friends, neighbors and Facebook pals found most writing off Floyd’s chatter as pre-fight hype. Does he believe what he’s saying? Sure, most seem to think. Is he putting it out there because he knows how to make us keyboard tappers take notice? Sure thing. And it leads one to wonder, how much longer will some of these boldface names that Floyd has taken to task put up with it? You’ll recall he laced into HBO in July 2008, during his hiatus, to the Grand Rapids Press.

"Even a guy like Jim Lampley, he praises Kelly Pavlik -- who has won some good fights, he beat Jermain Taylor twice, we have to give him credit for that -- but they talk about Kelly Pavlik, a white fighter, like he's the second coming,” Mayweather said. “Or they go crazy over Manny Pacquiao. But I'm a black fighter. Is it racial? Absolutely. They praise white fighters, they praise Hispanic fighters, whatever. But black fighters, they never praise. I've noticed it for a long time but I couldn't say anything because I had to do business with them. I'll still do business with them, but I'm done holding my tongue."



He did hold his tongue for awhile during his comeback. At his Empire State Building press conference in May, I asked him about that shot at HBO, and wondered if he still felt the same way, or had he buried the hatchet and gotten over it? At the time, in deft political fashion, he refused to re-enter that charged milieu, and threw the question back at me. (I actually do believe that perhaps Floyd does get a slightly rawer deal from media members, particularly Caucasian ones who have trouble identifying with some of his behaviors and pals and such, for the record.) But now we know that the fighter does still hold a grudge against HBO, or at least the announcing team. Till now, Mayweather has been able to minimize his distaste, so he can continue doing business with them, and allow them to play their part in attempting to sell a million pay-per-view buys to his comeback tussle.



So..how much longer will “they” put up with it? Easy answer--as long as Mayweather is a viable pay-per-view attraction, a certified personality who exhibits enough charisma to guest star on “Raw,” and land a national cell phone commercial. People he’s verbally tasered will hold their tongue, as Floyd said he’d been doing, and swallow their pride, and not blast back as some of them must want to. Because it is all, or virtually all, about MAKING MONEY. We all make choices daily, trading our time, energy, effort and yes, sometimes, our pride in exchange for a check. Some just do it in more public fashion, and for more zeroes on their checks.



I have to think Oscar De La Hoya may well be at the top of the blast-back list. You might not have heard what Floyd said about him. No, not at the Wednesday press conference, when he said anything negative Oscar does gets swept under the rug. (Er, Floyd must’ve not seen the NY tabloids having a field day with Goldie photos during that flareup. No under-rug-sweeping was going on…) I’m talking about the night before, on E’s “Chelsea Lately,” the late-night talk show featuring comedian Chelsea Lately. On Tuesday night, Floyd chatted with Handler. She wondered if he might like to put up his leg, and place his foot next to his tush, as she was doing. No thanks, he indicated with a limping of his wrist, people then might think I’m not hetero. Handler assured him that nobody thinks he’s not straight, and then she asked about his trash talking, especially before he fought Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.



“You didn’t like Oscar De La Hoya at all,” she said.



“You wouldn’t like a man who wears fishnets,” Mayweather said.



“I don’t like men who wear fishnets, unless they’re gay and out of the closet,” she said, “then I can support that.”



“Then he hide, he hide,” Floyd said, chuckling.



Just maybe Oscar is cool with Floyd using the allegation of marital infidelities to stir the pot, get us tappers talkin,’ maybe get a few hundred buys tacked on Saturday night. All’s fair in love, war, and publicizing your pay per view, perhaps.



Something else Mayweather said on Handler’s show got me thinking. Kanye West the day before had wrested the spotlight from award winner Taylor Swift in a boozy defense of his pal Beyonce, who didn’t get the award Swift was holding. “It made him bigger. The whole show’s been about Kanye West,” Mayweather noted. Truth. Kanye was on everyone’s lips. The President, even. So what if the consensus was that he acted like a jackass. At least people are talking about him. That’s a short leap to buying his merch. Same deal for Mayweather. People are talking about him. Borges wrote about him. I wrote about. We are hyping his event.



Do I accept or embrace the substance of Floyd’s Wednesday rant? No. Most glaringly, I think his theory on race affecting his popularity is significantly off kilter. A black cabbie pal of mine thinks a good number of black fans will backlash on Floyd, pissed off that he’s whining about his place, while the rate of unemployment among blacks is at 20% in many parts of the US. Most crucial to his lower-than-he-likes-level of acceptance, fight fans don’t take to his style of fighting. Fight fans pay to see compelling, dramatic combat. That’s the bottom line. They will overlook a boring persona, or a tendency towards excessive bragging, or clashes with law enforcement, if you satisfy their desire to see spirited, aggressive combat. But if your style is geared towards defense first, then you can’t expect to be universally beloved, as Floyd apparently does.



It ain’t about race, it’s about punching in the face, basically. Do it hard, and fast, and frequently, against worthy foes, and they will tell you they love you, with their wallets.



But, let’s be clear about this. Floyd doesn’t care what I think. He just cares maybe a bit that I’m spending a little time, and devoting a little space to him. He has a fight to hype, he knows how me and my type operate. He gave us red meat, we took the bait, chewed on it, shared some with TSS U. Did it work? We will know authoritatively when we see those buy rates. In the meantime, I predict his targets’ tongues will be held, because Floyd holds massive sway as the game’s first or second draw. Man’s no fool, he knows he has a free pass to talk some smack, and the HBO crew and Oscar have to grin and bear it to an extent. Or…I have a conspiracy theory brewing in my brain…Suppose Oscar is itching to fight again, and he and Floyd have discussed this, and Floyd’s reference to fishnets is round one in the road to their rematch. Yikes. There I go again, proving at least one of my points, that if Floyd’s aim on Monday and Wednesday was to get his name on peoples’ tongues, then he has succeeded.

Source: http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/7197/floyd-mayweather-plays-media-masterfully/

Mayweather vs. Marquez: What's not to like about this fight?

72 hours out and I don't get why this promotion didn't catch fire with fans or media. It's going to be a great fight.

One is Mexican, One is the perfect bad boy we all already hate.

No belts, sanctioning bodies, commissions, weights to really be concerned about. Two of the top five pound for pound fighters in the world at comparable weights, with just one barely out of his prime but the fresher of the two. No serious competition entertainment -wise.

On paper this is another sold out MGM Grand event with a huge world-wide pay-per-view audience.

What? They are both counter punchers? You wuss! Within 10 seconds of the opening bell these two are going at it.

There is no punching power? Wrong. Both are punch - efficient finishers.

I can't believe I'm backing a Floyd Mayweather fight, but I'm really backing good fights and I know how difficult but not impossible it is to put one on.

The promoter didn't buy advertising from you? Maybe your not that good of a writer or your site's numbers aren't up to snuff like you think. Maybe Floyd Sr. has scared off all your good readers. Or he will.

Whatever, this will be first or second pick for fight of the year. You should support and enjoy this fight Saturday night.

This is as rogue a fight of top five fighters you will ever see. OK, I'll say it."This will be more competitive than November 14 Pacquiao vs. Cotto." This is the ultimate anti-establishment fight.

This is a can't miss boxing event.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-11372-Dallas-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m9d16-Mayweather-vs-Marquez-Whats-not-to-like-about-this-fight

Mayweather - Marquez " We Got The Winner"

By Rick Assad - Layoff Won't Hurt Mayweather Jr.- Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be considered an all-time great regardless of the era. A near perfect boxer with remarkable hand and foot speed, undefeated Mayweather hopes to push his string of victories to 40 when he faces Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday night.One thing that's working against Mayweather is that he hasn't fought in 21 months. The last time he entered a ring was December, 2007, when he dropped then undefeated Ricky Hatton in the 10th round of their World Boxing Council welterweight title match. That's a long time to be away from the sport, and there will likely be some rust early on, but if there's a man who can overcome this obstacle, it's Mayweather.The closest thing to what he's attempting would be when Sugar Ray Leonard met Marvin Hagler in a middleweight clash at Caesars Palace in April, 1987. Leonard was away from boxing even longer than Mayweather, and earned a disputed split decision. Don't be fooled into thinking Marquez isn't a legitimate challenger, because he is. A tough and tested warrior, Marquez has been involved in 55 professional fights, has come away the winner 50 times, and has 37 knockouts along the way.The loser of only four bouts, most recently to Manny Pacquiao in March, 2008, Marquez is four years older than Mayweather, and also gives away an inch in height and five inches in reach.Compared to Mayweather, Marquez is slow, and he'll have to get inside to be effective. That means if he trades punches, he's going to be in trouble. The only chance he has of pulling off a win is to keep away and attack the body if and when it becomes available. The fight won't go the scheduled 12 rounds unless Mayweather wants to carry Marquez.Think of it this way: If Mayweather was a baseball pitcher, he'd have a four-pitch arsenal at his disposal.Look for the fastball, you'll see the curveball. Look curve, well then here comes the slider. Look slider, and here comes the change. It's a losing proposition.Marquez is fabulous, but not against Mayweather. I see the fight ending in the 10th round.

Diane Bennett - My money goes on the "Money Man" himself Mayweather, however, I view this as a closer fight than most are predicting. Marquez should be able to use his ring experience and his body attacking ability to keep the fight close. Mayweather will try to bully Marquez and in the end Mayweather will be the victor by split decision.

Steve Hobden - Although this is a fight between two of the best P4P fighters in the world, I'm not so sure we'll see a good fight. Styles make fights and both fighters are natural counter punchers. I believe what we will witness is a fight that will be more like a game of chess than a boxing match. Marquez is a very tough and intelligent fighter but the jump up in weight could be a bit much to ask, especially when facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. Also Marquez works better against fighters who come forward as he's a real affective counter puncher and we all know that's not Mayweather’s style. I just don't think Marquez will be fast enough with the extra weight. Floyd is the bigger fighter with a wider variety of skills and sharper reflexes so I have to favour him to win. He also needs to make a statement to regain his P4P king status so I think we'll see Mayweather at his very best.
Mayweather wins by comfortable points decision.

Peter Goldthorpe- This fight has the potential to be the fight of the year, with undoubtedly two of the best P4P fighters in the world going head to head, although both fighters are counter punchers i don't think this will be an overly technical affair. However i do not see it going the distance, rather i think it will be a late stoppage for Mayweather. As i think it will be the case of who-ever fires first will lose, with Marquez likely to be the aggressor throughout in which Mayweather will counter wearing his opponent down winning alot of the rounds along the way, but both of these fighters have had successful training camp so come September 18th the world will be in for not only a great fight but an exciting occasion, one of which i am counting down the days too.

Dr. Pietro Baio DC - I'm looking for Marquez to win by knockout in the 8 rd. If the fight had been in July my opinion may have been for Mayweather. I believe the extra two months of training will have allowed Marquez to gain the extra weight yet adapt and bring his speed up to par. I don't think the extra weight will affect Marquez at all, while the lay off my have slowed Mayweather. You may be able to be fast in the gym, but time makes the body for get how to take a punch.. I do believe Mayweather will have an added pop to his punch do to the lay off which has allowed his fragile hands to heel. And finally who could beat a man who drinks his own urine and eats raw eggs. If that don't kill you it can only make you stronger.

Rota Em - Mayweather by Close Decision. Money says he is going for the KO (and I hope he does), if that is the case then I would give Marquez a puncher's chance for the upset stoppage. Keys for Money is the left hook. Marquez was dropped by those lefts in his fights with the Pacman, and then Juan Diaz showed what his could do as well. For Marquez, he's gotta keep those punches coming in bunches. A body-head combo will drop Money.

Albert Alvarez - This battle will come down to will versus skill. I see Marquez having more will than Mayweather, but I see Mayweather having better skill than Marquez. One mans heart and determination must break through and determine who in fact relly is Number One/Numero uno. To me, I feel that the size, skill, and patience of Mayweather will be what will carry Mayweather to get the nod.So there it is. Floyd Mayweather over Juan Manuel Marquez by UD.

Riz Zahid- Expect Mayweather to start off slow and shed any ring rust he had, only to come back and use his natural skills to overwhelm Marquez. I would not be surprised if Marquez is able to hurt Mayweather in this bout though, especially if he is able to get to the body like many have failed to do. However in the end, the speed may simply be too much for Marquez and expect Floyd to finish a very determined Marquez in the later rounds.
Marquez wants Pacquiao again and Mayweather wants to solidify himself as the best boxer of today. Both Mayweather and Marquez know that their opponent in this fight is a major obstacle on the path to greatness.



Cesar Zuniga - This might be the battle between two of the smartest and most versatile fighters in the game today. Both men possess the ability to adapt to another fighter’s style while the fight is going on. What makes it hard to choose a winner in this fight is that there are many intangibles that surround the fight and truthfully if this fight was two years ago I would have clearly chosen Mayweather as the victor. This is not two years ago. In fact Mayweather hasn’t fought in two years and it’s hard to say if the former P4P champ will come in with the same dominance and speed that was seen in his previous 40 fights with no signs of ring rust, a style and brilliance that leaves him in a league of his own. Marquez has been on a war path as of late. Knocking out two men, Casamayor and Diaz, that have never been knocked out before, and from proof of his training in Mexico City, which I have seen first hand, he is very confident and very focus on the objective at hand. He is however; jumping up two weight classes for this fight and the question lies will his power carry over successfully to that weight? There is no questioning his heart and tenacity, that’s for sure, but come fight night will he be just too small for Mayweather? Marquez possesses a courage that is astonishing to watch. This was seen when he got up from 3 knockdowns to push Pacquiao to an arguable draw and I feel he has gotten better. For those that feel Mayweather will walk right through Marquez and this won’t be competitive, I feel are wrong. Whatever the outcome is at the end of the fight and whoever is raising their hands at the end, I believe Marquez will push Mayweather to the end and this fight will go 12rds. There are many questions to be answered come Sept. 19th and this writer feels we are in for a great night of boxing. My Prediction: I am going with an upset.Marquez UD

Source: http://www.diamondboxing.com/newsstory.php?list=9611

MAYWEATHER VS. MARQUEZ FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

FLOYD MAYWEATHER
"To go down as a legend, you have to face the best in your era and Marquez is one of the best in my era.

"I have been around the sport and I have experienced many different styles, and I will adjust and adapt. Now I am back and September 19 is another big day for me.

"You can expect blood, sweat and tears on Saturday night. I predict one hell of a fight.

"I have a lot of respect for Marquez. He hasn't said anything bad about me, so I have nothing bad to say about him. How can I say something bad about someone who respects my fight game?

"This isn't going to be difficult. Nothing is difficult. I just had to get back into the groove. I had to keep working hard. I love to box. I love to go into combat.

"Roger watches all of the tapes, but Roger doesn't tell me how I am going to beat him (Marquez). He says to me that I just need to fight and adapt. And if I ask him, 'How am I going to do that?' Roger responds, 'because you are great.'

"I am not like other fighters. Other fighters have been beat. There is no blue print to beat me. There is a blue print to beat Marquez, because he has been beaten before.

"I am a strong individual and only the strong will survive. I have the skills to pay the bills. It is not about who is the biggest. It is about who is the most skilled. When I get in the squared circle, I am going to do what I have to do to win."

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

"Everyone knows I don't like talking outside the ring, but I want to say three things. First, I am prepared physically and mentally. Second, I want to thank all of the Mexican people for supporting me and third, I want to dedicate this fight to the Mexican people who are going to be here and all of the Mexican people around the world.

"I want to thank God for helping me train very hard with no injuries. It is a great challenge for me and I am training very hard for this fight.

"In my mind, Floyd Mayweather is the number one pound-for-pound fighter, and to be number one, you have to fight number one.

"Mayweather is illusive and a counter puncher. I am going to go after him. There is a chance he might try to come after me, but I know I am going to go after him.

"This fight is a different weight for me. I worked very hard. I built up my speed and my strength.

"I know people are betting against me, but it doesn't matter to me. I have my mind and I have my concentration, and I have the motivation to win.

"This fight is the most important fight of my career, and I am going to put everything in the ring.

"I don't like to make predictions; I let my fists do the talking."

ROGER MAYWEATHER, Mayweather's Trainer

"Do you know what great means? Great is Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Robinson."

NACHO BERISTAIN, Marquez' Trainer

"There are not too many fighters who have had the privilege of fighting a great athlete like Floyd Mayweather. Now it is my fighter's turn. Juan Manuel Marquez is a great athlete in his own right. He has great technique and work ethic in everything that he does.

"I also want to say that Juan Manuel Marquez and I have always admired Mayweather because he is such a bright fighter and outstanding fighter. I feel that he is the number one pound-for-pound fighter along with Bernard Hopkins.

"We have worked so hard for this fight and we believe that we have the chance to win.

"I want to give the highest esteem to Mayweather's team because they have a great athlete and a great fighter and I hope that he stays humble. He has a great personality and I admire him very much. His uncle and father are great trainers and I admire them as well. Me myself being a trainer, I admire him very much."

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

"This has been the best promotion. Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions working together hand in hand. When you have two teams coming together it is always going to work.

"The king is back. That is why we are all here.

"Floyd Mayweather what can I say? Since he announced his return to the sport of boxing, there has been tremendous buzz. No matter where you look, people are talking about Mayweather vs. Marquez.

"We have introduced a number of different platforms for this fight. There are many new avenues for consumer awareness so there won't be one person out there who is not aware of this great event."

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

"This fight is going to be the biggest fight of the year. There is no doubt about it. The people are anxious, especially since it is falling on the Mexican Independence Day weekend. It is a special night because all of the world will be witnessing an upset.

"I am up here taking pictures from the stage, because I want to capture the moment when Juan Manuel Marquez dethrones the king. I couldn't do it, but I will tell you one thing--Marquez is ready. I want to freeze the moment of history in the making.

"The sport of boxing deserves this. We are showing the world that boxing is alive and well. We are selling unprecedented pay-per-view numbers and live gate numbers. We aren't up here gloating that Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions are doing great things for ourselves, we are doing these things for the sport of boxing. We are showing the whole world that boxing is here to stay.

"I want to tell Mr. Nacho Beristain that I am sorry that I failed you. I didn't do you right in the ring. You are an amazing trainer. You have done a tremendous job working with 18 world champions, and I wanted to take the opportunity to say that to you.

"Marquez always does what is necessary not only to win fights, but to please his loyal fans. He is not your typical Mexican warrior. He comes in with no holds barred and attacks. He has some good school behind him. That is what makes this fighter different from every body else.

"Marquez is the number one Mexican fighter today, which is a big deal because you have had great fighters coming out of Mexico in the past who have created a loyal following throughout the country and that is what Juan Manuel Marquez has today."

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

"Mexican Independence weekend has really become THE fight weekend in Las Vegas. We (Golden Boy Promotions) have been here regularly on this great weekend in boxing bringing the biggest fights to fans around the world.

"This amazing promotion is going to conclude on Saturday. On HBO 24/7 we saw the vast differences between these two fighters in the way they train and the way they live.

"On Saturday night, Juan Manuel Marquez will carry the hopes and dreams of almost 100 million Mexicans on his shoulders and into the ring. A few minutes later, Mayweather the American superstar will make his entrance. Mayweather is here to put all doubters to rest and to make a statement that 'Yes I am still number one.'

"There is a tremendous amount of marketing power behind this fight with an excess of 700 million impressions. I couldn't believe it myself, I had to double check. It is true. There are over 700 million impressions out there for this fight.

"Mexicans around the world are looking to this fight. It is like when the Pope visited Mexico City. It is of that magnitude. This is like their religion.

"There was a poll on Yahoosports.com. Within 24 hrs of the poll being posted, 55,000 people responded. Forty-six percent chose Marquez to win, and 51 percent believe Mayweather will win. As you can see, the public knows this is going to be a close fight and it is going to be a great fight.

"Come and see the fight here at the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas."

MARK TAFFET, Senior Vice President of HBO Pay-Per-View

"When Oscar de la Hoya retired, people said 'What will boxing do now? What is going to happen next?' The answer is simple. Look at what has taken place in 2009. It is evidenced that the best is yet to come. We are in the midst of one of the greatest eras in the sport's history. This era's great welterweights are going to leave their mark on the history of the sport.

"There is no bigger story in boxing and one of the biggest stories in sports this year is Floyd Mayweather's return to boxing.

"America's number one fighter. Mexico's number one fighter. The two biggest fan bases.

Mayweather has ignited the urban markets the same way that De La Hoya ignited the Hispanic markets.

"HBO's 24/7 draws new fans to the sport of boxing in order to ensure boxing's future. The Mayweathers are must see TV that have our fans glued to their television sets. Juan Manuel Marquez has created an identity with fans that he didn't have before. And I want to say that we are all intrigued by your (Marquez') interesting training techniques.

"We have made it so that wherever consumers go, watch listen, read, tweet, text, they are going to be surrounded by Mayweather and Marquez."

RICHARD STURM, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM Mirage

"MGM Grand welcomes the return of Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions as we end the summer and welcome Mayweather back to the ring. We are also thrilled to host the return of one of the sports' favorites in Juan Manuel Marquez.

"Saturday night will be a memorable one for fans as Floyd Mayweather returns to the ring after a brief retirement. He has always called MGM Grand home after having fought here five previous times."

# # #

Mayweather vs. Marquez: "Number One/Numero Uno," is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions and is sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Quaker State, Dewalt Tools, Affliction Clothing and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will take place Saturday, Sept. 19 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and limited to 10 per person and ticket sales at $150 are limited to two (2) per person with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets previously purchased for the July 18 date will be honored.

The Mayweather vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO Sports' all-access reality series "Mayweather/Marquez 24/7" returns with the premiere of the finale on Friday, Sept. 18 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. HBO will replay episodes #1, #2 and #3 consecutively prior to the premiere of episode #4. The replays begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Sept. 18. Episodes #1-3 are also available on HBO ON DEMAND.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-27429.html

Flamboyant Mayweather takes humble approach with Marquez

LAS VEGAS — In the midst of the cameras, microphones and questions, Floyd Mayweather Jr. pauses to take inventory of what's ahead.

Saturday's showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez at MGM Grand is important (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET), as is the TV interview he's booked to do next, but neither comes before his 9-year-old daughter, Iyanna.

"I've got to pick up my daughter from school," he says, pausing to alert his publicist, who offers to find his mother to do it. "Don't worry about my Mom I'm picking my daughter up today. She's been going to school for a while and I haven't picked her up yet."

FAMILY TIES: Mayweather ties start to bind

This is the fighter, and the man, Mayweather wants to project: A thoughtful, considerate, responsible 32-year-old father of four, dressed down in a white T-shirt, sneakers and camoflauge pants. Not the cursing, trash-talking multi-division champion, flaunting the cost of his home, designer boots or visits to strip clubs.

"(Marquez) respects my fight game. He told me that a long time ago," says Mayweather of the low-key final press conference Wednesday, where he rose to shake hands with Marquez's trainer as the pair showered one another with compliments. "It's just a lot of fighters in the past I talk trash to have really disrespected me. … So I say bad things."

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs), regarded as the mythical No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter before leaving in 2007, has passed every test with flying colors.

He's solved master boxers like Genaro Henandez (KO 8), brawlers like Ricky Hatton (KO 10), tall, two-fisted punchers like Diego Corrales, southpaws like Zab Judah (W 12), crafty veterans like Emanuel Augustus (KO 9) and superstars like Oscar De La Hoya (W 12).

In Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) he'll meet not only the best Mexico has to offer, but one of the sport's top three fighters pound-for-pound who is as skilled with both hands as he is gritty.

Mayweather's biggest challenge of the night, however, may be this: Can he carry a major PPV show without a major foil?

Marquez has only headlined a PPV card once, a 2008 decision loss to Manny Pacquiao that drew 405,000 buys.

Before Mayweather fought De La Hoya— the greatest draw in PPV history — Mayweather hadn't exceeded 375,000 buys.

There's also the perception that this is a fight between a great little man (Marquez has never fought above 135 pounds) and a great bigger man (Mayweather has gone as high as 154). It's being billed as a welterweight bout though it'll be below the 147-pound limit. Marquez also is four years older.

"I feel like I always was a pay-per-view star," says Mayweather, whose win vs. De La Hoya drew a record 2.4 million buys and almost 1 million with Hatton. "Marquez has a good following with his Mexican people. He's going to have a lot of support."

This bout was originally announced for July 18 but pushed back to Mexican Independence weekend. Since then the push to grow this into a superfight by co-promoter Golden Boy Promotions has been substantial:

•In conjunction with NCM Fathom, the card will be shown via closed circuit in 170 theaters nationwide, with $12.50 to $15 suggested ticket prices.

•Three major sponsors are on board that weren't for De La Hoya-Mayweather: Quaker State, Affliction clothing and AT&T's first venture into boxing.

•Tecate is offering a $25 mail-in rebate on the $49.95 show for viewers, with purchase of an 18-pack or larger, and a $30 rebate for food purchases at participating stores nationwide.

•An aggressive campaign through social networking sites and in the urban dotcom markets, BET.com, JayZtv.com and Allhiphop.com, among others, to reach out to Mayweather fans.

HBO is in on it, too, using this fight as a launching pad for its new approach to saturating the marketplace with digital content.

It's all part of "the hunger to go younger," says Mark Taffet, senior vice president at HBO PPV. "If you overwhelm that younger demographic with advertising, they tune you out. They want content. ... We're moving in a completely different direction than what we were doing a year ago."

Money matters:

Marquez's base salary is $2 million for the bout. TV undercard combatants Chris John will get $50,000; Rocky Juarez $80,000; Michael Katsidis $125,000; and Vicente Escobedo $90,000.

Mayweather's purse won't be known until Friday because of deductions, says Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The IRS is expected to attend to collect back taxes. According to Kizer, the agreed upon total is "unofficially $5 million."

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-09-16-mayweather-marquez_N.htm

Mayweather-Marquez meeting respectful, for the most part

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is rapidly approaching his official return to boxing this Saturday to face Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

On Wednesday, Mayweather Jr. took another step closer by addressing media members for the final time at the pre-fight press conference.

For his final official statements from the microphone, he thanked his sponsors and was surprisingly respectful of his opponent.

“It’s been a tremendous camp, there’s been a lot of hard work and dedication,” Mayweather Jr. said. “In the sport of boxing, if you want to go down as a legend you have to face the best in your era. At this particular time, Marquez is one of the best fighters in my era.

“He’s a hell of a fighter. Counter-puncher. Good boxer. But I’ve been around the sport and faced many styles. I’ll adjust and adapt when I get in that ring Saturday night.”

Marquez was also brief and thanked his native country of Mexico for its support.

“I don’t like talking outside of the ring, I just want to say three things,” he said. “One: I prepared myself very hard, physically and mentally. Two: I want to thank all the Mexican people for their support in me. Three: I want to dedicate this fight to all the Mexican people around the world.”

While the press conference went off mostly with no harsh words, there were a few exceptions.

Some people noticed that former boxer and president of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, was taking pictures from his seat on-stage.

During his time at the microphone, he explained why.

“People are wondering why I’m taking pictures,” De La Hoya said. “I want to capture the moment when Juan Manuel Marquez dethrones the king…”

To which Mayweather Jr. interrupted from his seat, “You couldn’t do it.”

De La Hoya, who lost a split decision to Mayweather Jr. in 2007 turned to him and said, “No, I couldn’t do it. But I’ll tell you one thing — Marquez is ready. I want to freeze this moment of history in the making.”

Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Jr.’s uncle and trainer, also didn’t raise his hand before interrupting Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe after Ellerbe said, “There are a number of great trainers in the sport…”

“Yeah? Great?” Roger said. “I know you’re talking about me. What you need to say is, there are other trainers out there. Listen, here’s how boxing goes. Don’t steal my mic, I’m gonna spread something to you real quick.

“Great is Michael Jordan. Great is Floyd Mayweather. That’s what great is. The dudes behind me, I don’t worry about the dudes behind me because I know they don’t know (expletive) anyway. If they knew what I knew, they’d be ahead of me. So I don’t know about great, don’t give them credit for being great.”

For the most part however, both fighters’ camps showed respect for one another.

Mayweather Jr. even raised from his seat to shake hands with Marquez’s head trainer, Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Beristain, after Beristain said he admired the fighter and his family.

“There’s not too many fighters that I’ve had the privilege to face like Floyd Mayweather,” Beristain said through an interpreter. “I want to give the highest esteem to his team. They’ve got a great athlete and a very good fighter. His uncle and father are great trainers that I admire, and I admire him very much.”

Beristain, who also trained De La Hoya for his fight with Manny Pacquiao in 2008, went on to say that despite his enormous respect for Mayweather Jr., he feels he can be beat.

“Juan Manuel Marquez is a great athlete in his own right, with a great technique and work ethic,” he said. “We’re worked so hard for this fight and we have the belief we have a chance to win.”

Source: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/16/mayweathermarquez-press-conference-respectful-most/

MAYWEATHER VS. MARQUEZ PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

May 18, 2009 - Los Angeles, CA at the LA Public Library
May 19, 200 9- New York City, NY at the Empire State Building

FLOYD MAYWEATHER
"July 18th you are going to see the best Floyd Mayweather, because I am truly back."

"My uncle Roger and I, we have a tremendous game plan, and I'm going to be more than ready for this fight. Training camp is going amazingly well. I am weighing in around 146 or 147 and I know I will be ready on July 18th."

"Marquez is a great Mexican warrior who is going to be in tremendous shape. He is a hell of a guy and he is a hell of a fighter."

"I like to hit, but I don't get hit. Marquez hits and gets hit. He seems used to it and still comes out on top 90 percent of the time."

"I expect a great fight. If Marquez is aggressive it could turn into a brawl and that is exactly the type of fight fans love to see."

"I want to be the best. They say to be the best you have to beat the best and Marquez is one of the best in this sport."

"I've got nothing but love for the Mexican fans; they are some of the most loyal fans in boxing. Mexican fans really know boxing inside and out."

"I can't wait for this fight, and I am really dedicating myself to be ready for it."

"Please continue to support boxing. July 18, make sure you tune in. It's going to be a hell of a fight. I'm not overlooking Juan Manuel Marquez, and I hope he's not overlooking me. He knows I've been off awhile so he might think I'm rusty, but I'm not. I'll be ready."


JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

"I am preparing myself mentally and physically for this fight."

"When Golden Boy Promotions asked me do you want to fight Floyd? I said 'yes let's do it.' I don't like easy fights."

"I know that this fight very important for my career and for my life, and I am going to be fully prepared on July 18th."

"I have a tough fight with Floyd, I'm training right now and will go up to the mountains to build muscle for the fight. It isn't exactly my weight but that only means I'll have to eat more Tacos, Burritos and Carnitas."

"My fans here and all of my fans in Mexico will help me come out on top, the support they have showed today and at the fan rally yesterday has been amazing."

"Everyone knows I don't like to talk outside of the ring, I do all of my talking inside of the ring."


ROGER MAYWEATHER, Trainer of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"I know what's going to happen, and I'm sure all of you know what's going to happen."

"Marquez is a good boxer, but in boxing it's about more than being good. Anyone can be good, but there are only a few out there that are great, and Floyd is a great boxer."

"The best boxers in the world come from where I'm from, the Midwest. Floyd is also from there so you know he's one of the best."

"It's going to be a great fight and I know that this guy over here [Floyd] is going to come out on top."


LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

"Now that Floyd is back, he has come back to take his crown. He is coming back to be the best out there and to be the best out there you have to beat a fighter like Marquez."

"Marquez fought two great fights against Pacquiao, and in the eyes of many beat him both times."

"As soon as tickets go on sale (this Friday), you need to get them because it is going to be a tremendous fight."

"Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has the greatest global impact of any fighter. In 2007 Floyd fought in the two biggest fights of the year."

"The reason Floyd is back is because he is in love with the sport; he's always been in love with it."

"No matter where he goes, fans are always coming up to him asking, 'When are you coming back?' Well, he's back now and is ready for this tremendous challenge."

"He has a lot to prove. There are always the naysayers out there who say he cant get back on top."

"He represents boxing to its fullest."


OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

"This fight will pit the best fighter from the United States against the best fighter from Mexico.

"Styles make fights and Marquez's style will beat Floyd's on July 18th. With the support of all his fans, Marquez will come out on top."

"I don't care what people say, Marquez beat Pacquiao. He got knocked down three times and came back to win every round after that."

"Mayweather has beaten everyone he has ever fought. He retired as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world and now he's returning to fight one of the best fighters in the world."

"Marquez has already been training in the mountains, and he is ready to go."

"This is truly a fight that the fans want to get behind. In my eyes, Mayweather is the best in the world, who is about to meet the number one Mexican fighter in the ring to duke it out and show who is truly number one."


RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

"Fight fans around the world have been waiting for this for a long time. Floyd said he is coming back to fight the best and Juan Manuel Marquez is the best."

"Juan is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport today on July 18th he will be carrying the hopes and dreams of 160 million people on his back, the people of Mexico."

"Floyd Mayweather is the undefeated and undisputed pound-for-pound champion. He is the number one pay-per-view star. With 250 million dollars, that is a quarter of a billion dollars, in receipts from his last two fights, Floyd Mayweather is definitely a star.

"July 18 is going to be the biggest pay-per-view event of the year. It's called number one because everywhere you look you are surrounded by the best."

(To Floyd) "On behalf of the millions of fight fans around the world, thank you for coming back. You really bring energy to the sport of boxing."

"Even when he wasn't fighting he was a tremendous asset to the sport of boxing."

"Floyd talks the talk, but he does walk the walk as well? He has a huge group of people who love him and adore him and respect him for his accomplishments. Then he has the 'haters.' The people who cant wait to see him lose, but the good news is that both of those people will buy the pay-per-view."

"This really is the showdown between Number One and Numero Uno."


ROSS GREENBURG, President of HBO Sports

"Floyd Mayweather, the mouth that roared, is back and he is going into the lions den."

"I have seen Marquez in the ring and in rounds 6-12, you better watch out."

"Move over Paris Hilton and the Kardishians; Donald Trump, empty out the boardroom, and survivors get off the island because Money Mayweather is back on 24/7 and the first episode premiers June 27th."

"We will load you up again with 24/7's all access. We are always excited when Floyd Mayweather is part of the series. We are also excited to go down to Mexico to join Juan Manuel Marquez. All access 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Whatever it takes, we will be there."


MARK TAFFET, Senior Vice President of HBO Sports and HBO Pay-Per-View

"The year 2009 is shaping up to be a fantastic one for boxing. In January, we had a great fight in Margarito vs. Mosley. Then we had Marquez vs. Diaz, which was an impressive fight, and a few weeks back we had Pacquiao vs. Hatton."

"In Mayweather vs. Marquez, we have one guy that is returning to the ring while the other is more ready than ever. One that is representing the United States and the other that has Mexico on his back. One has had six world championships in five weight classes and the other has held five world championships in three weight divisions."

"Mayweather vs. Marquez is one of those events you will not want to miss."


BOB HALLORAN, Director of Sports, MGM MIRAGE

"Representing the MGM Family and having this fight at the historical MGM Grand Garden Arena, we are elated."

"We have now had a long association with Golden Boy Promotions, Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya and they keep making better and better fights."

"We've had both fighters fight at the arena a few times before and every time we did they had some great fights. I don't think there is any question that this will be a sellout."

# # #

Mayweather vs. Marquez: "Number One/Numero Uno," is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines. The 12-round bout will take place July 18th at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.

The Mayweather vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.HBO Pay-Per-View® a division of Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO®, HBO PPV® and related programs, channels and services are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.

Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-24547.html