LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The chance to embellish his  unbeaten record will be uppermost in Floyd Mayweather’s mind  when he takes on Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in their hotly  anticipated welterweight fight in Las Vegas this month.

Mayweather has not fought for nearly two years but believes  he will be in prime condition when he returns to the ring from  retirement for the Sept. 19 clash over 12 rounds at the MGM  Grand.

“It’s very important for me,” American Mayweather said  during a conference call yesterday of his bid to maintain an  unblemished career record of 39-0 with 25 knockouts.

“I am just happy to say that I’m going down as a Hall of  Famer and it’s extremely important for me to go out there to  perform well and dominate.

“I’ve got to go out there and be smart, be intelligent and  listen to my uncle Roger,” he added, referring to his coach  Roger Mayweather. “If I do that, we will come out ‘A’ okay.”

Mayweather, who has not fought since his 10th round  stoppage of Britain’s Ricky Hatton in a WBC welterweight title  bout in December 2007, felt his opponents always held one  advantage.
NO PRESSURE

“When you go out there with an undefeated record, there is  no pressure on these fighters because they have nothing to  lose,” the flamboyant 32-year-old said.

“If Marquez gets beat in 12 rounds or he gets knocked out,  they are still going to love him in his country because he had  the chance to face the best. They will say: ‘You lost but you  lost to the best.’

“But in the U.S. it doesn’t work like that so we have to  work that much harder to stay on top. If I win, it’s normal. If  a guy gives me a tough fight or even comes close to winning,  that’s abnormal. Everybody expects me to dominate.”

Mayweather, a five-division world champion who is already  accepted as one of the greatest boxers of any era, shrugged off  suggestions he might be ring-rusty after his 21-month absence.

“I don’t think a two-year layoff is going to affect me,” he  said. “I feel fast and strong and my timing is there. We are in  the gym every day and we are looking very sharp.

“I feel the same way as I felt before I left. Actually I  feel a little better. I think the break helped because I  haven’t had a break since ‘87 so my body had a chance to heal.  I feel really good.”

Mayweather said he would not underestimate the challenge  posed by Marquez, a Mexico City native who has a 50-4-1 record  with 37 knockouts.

“He is Mexico’s numero uno,” he added.

“He’s one hell of a fighter with over 50 wins and champion  in more than just one weight class. Believe me, Marquez is not  going to lay down.

“There’s going to be blood, sweat and tears on Sept. 19.”