LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – American Floyd Mayweather Jr will come out of retirement in July and take on Mexico’s IBO world lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in a non-title fight, the American said yesterday.
“I left on top and I’m here to fight and reclaim what is mine,” the 32-year-old Mayweather told a news conference at the MGM Grand Hotel ahead of the July 18 contest in which the best pound-for-pound fighter tag will be on the line.
“Lately I’ve been running seven, eight miles a day. I’m in tremendous shape,” added Mayweather. “When it comes to fight time, I’ll be ready physically and mentally. I just want to be the best that I can be.”
Mayweather, the undefeated five-division world champion, has not fought since his 10th round stoppage of Britain’s Ricky Hatton in a WBC welterweight title bout in December 2007.
Widely regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Mayweather announced his retirement from the sport for a second time in 13 months last June.
The American, who has a career record of 39-0 with 25 knockouts, said he would not fight again because he had lost his desire for the sport but he has regained his passion.
“Yes he is back, and not just for this fight,” Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer said. “He wants to fight the best and he wants to check off one after the other.”
In May 2007, Mayweather had announced he would quit boxing after beating fellow American Oscar De La Hoya on a split decision in Las Vegas to claim the WBC super welterweight title.
He subsequently changed his mind and had been scheduled to meet De La Hoya in an eagerly-anticipated rematch last September after beating Hatton before again deciding to retire.
