Pretty Boy Floyd aka 'Money" Mayweather signs deal for 5 Fighters

Mayweather out to reclaim mantle as boxing's best

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By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
(Archive)







Updated: May 22, 2009, 10:53 AM ET

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Let's roll: Floyd Mayweather, left, has made it clear that he's in it for the long haul.

Mayweather back for the long haul

Love him or hate him, the mere mention of Floyd Mayweather's name elicits a strong reaction from boxing fans. His mainstream profile has also grown bigger than any other fighter's because of a run on the popular reality series "Dancing With the Stars," a heavily hyped wrestling appearance at last year's WrestleMania, not to mention starring in a ubiquitous AT&T commercial that seems to be on television every 10 seconds.

But after 17 months out the ring in a retirement virtually nobody thought would last, the former five-division champion indeed finally announced his comeback earlier this month.
On July 18 (HBO PPV) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) will face lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs), the pound-for-pound star who will jump two divisions for the fight at a maximum weight of 144 pounds, nine more than where Marquez is champion.

"I'm not overlooking Juan Manuel Marquez, and I hope he's not overlooking me," Mayweather said. "He knows I've been off awhile so he might think I'm rusty, but I'm not. I'll be ready."
When Mayweather walked away, he was on top of the sport, the universal choice as pound-for-pound king and the reigning welterweight champion. His final two fights in 2007 against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton generated a staggering 3.4 million pay-per-view buys in the United States.

Now, Mayweather says he is back to reclaim the mantle of No. 1 that Manny Pacquiao now holds, even though, as Mayweather says, he never lost his status in the ring.
"One day, somebody may shut my mouth. As of right now, I'm the top dog," Mayweather said. "I'm the king. I'm here to stay. I left on top, came back on top. I'm here to fight and reclaim what's mine. Nobody has ever took my throne. So how am I not the king if nobody ever took my throne?"

With his impending ring return, Mayweather, who is in London with Marquez wrapping up this week's six-day, three-city, two-country media tour to promote the fight, brings an avalanche of publicity to boxing.

"He crossed over to being a mainstream star," said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's close friend and adviser and CEO of Mayweather Promotions, which is working with Golden Boy on the fight. "He will bring more fans to the sport and overall that will uplift the sport."
Mayweather certainly injects a jolt into the sport like no other and he's more than happy to tell you all about it.

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CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images

Floyd Mayweather and Co. believe that when it comes to the biggest fights in boxing, all roads lead through them.


"When you talk boxing, you talk Floyd Mayweather," he said. "I'm back because the sport of boxing needs Floyd Mayweather. The sport truly needs me and the fans really want me. Wherever I go, they go crazy. I'm the most controversy in the sport."

If you buy the rap, the good news for boxing is that Mayweather is back for the long haul. A source with direct knowledge of his deal with Golden Boy Promotions told ESPN.com that Mayweather's deal is for five fights.

That ought to give him ample time to face boxing's biggest names, including an eventual showdown with Pacquiao, the fight the public is already demanding. If Mayweather gets past Marquez, which he is expected to do as a 3-1 favorite against the smaller man, there are several potential megafights for him: Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto among them.
So what about it, Floyd?

"The thing you got to realize about Floyd Mayweather is I don't need to call out no fighters," he said, making it clear that he thought Marquez deserved to win both of his controversial fights with Pacquiao [a draw and split decision].

Ellerbe made Mayweather's plans after Marquez a bit more clear.

"I can tell you this right now that we're gonna line all these guys up, whoever the so-called best guys are, whoever they say they, and we'll line up," he said. "Obviously, he can't fight them all in one night. But one by one, so whoever it is. He left the best, he's coming back the best. All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather."

Besides Pacquiao and Cotto, difficult bouts to make because of Mayweather's terrible relationship with Top Rank's Bob Arum, his former promoter, there is also Mosley.
"Mosley had a good win with [Antonio] Margarito," Ellerbe said. "We can't fight him right now, but he's one of the top fighters. We recognize he's one of the top fighters. He can get it too."

The time off was something Mayweather said he needed after several major fights in a row. He said he returned because he missed boxing. He also undoubtedly returned for the money, even though he doesn't want to acknowledge the millions he owes to the IRS.
"Floyd truly needed a break away from the sport and he had to realize that he missed the sport," Ellerbe said. "I think by him taking the time off and doing some other business ventures, he realized it. He's well rested."

Said Mayweather, flashing his million-dollar smile, about his return: "Somebody got to keep the sport up and running, so why not me?"








So what it is Floyd hataz? WATCHOO GONNA DO WHEN THE MAYWEATHER TRAIN RUNS WILD ON YOU?

 

yeah, Mayweather did come back to clean house. He realized that hes much better then all these guys so why not comeback?

 

Signs deal with who?

 

5 deal fight? I thought he was his own boss? Who did he sign a 5 deal fight with? Himself?

 

that would be amazing if true...

to me there's not even 5 guys really worth fighting...

jmm
shane
cotto
pacman

who else? not margarito, not paul williams...

 

He signed with goldenboy??

 

Good news. I've missed the cherry pickin *****

 

I heard when he announced his come back that King was involved or that he was in discussion with Don King

 

Mayweather’s Hit List Includes Pacquiao, Mosley, Cotto

21 May 2009

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Floyd Mayweather © Getty Images
If people thought Floyd Mayweather Jr. was going to return for a payday or two and then head back into retirement, they are very mistaken. Mayweather returns to the ring on July 18 against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Floyd has been away from the ring since a December 07 knockout of Ricky Hatton.

Since Mayweather’s return, we’ve heard the constant mention of the infamous “hit list” that Floyd provided to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. Speaking exclusively with ***********.com’s Luis Sandoval, Schaefer disclosed some of the names on Floyd’s hit list. Manny Pacquiao was an obvious name. Others like Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto are there too. And even a potential fight the down the road with junior welterweight Victor Ortiz, who many view as a future superstar in the sport.

“Yes, he has a hit list. The same thing with Marquez. Both guys want to fight the best. Mayweather, should he win that fight, he wants to go on and [continue to] fight. There is Pacquiao on the list, there is Shane Mosley on the list, there is potentially a Miguel Cotto on the list and maybe down the road somebody like Victor Ortiz,” Schaefer said to ***********.

 

The day I believe PBF would fight Mosley, Cotto or Pac is the day I see him in the ring with any of three. Until then, talk is cheap. IMHO, PBF is probably going to go after Berto, Joshua or any BS like that. I doubt in a million years he would want to get in the ring with Mosley after he saw what Mosley did to Margarito (the same guy who made him tremble with fear)...He is most likely going to price himself out of a fight versus Pacman if you ask me, because all he has to do is beat up Marquez then comeback and say "well I beat the guy who beat you *twice*" so I deserve more money.

 

:huh

Williams is rated higher than Cotto and Cotto beat Shane so if Floyd "really" wants to fight the best then Williams cant be avoided any longer

 

damn GBP is getting real powerful in the game

 

This is great ****ing news!

 

Mayweather and Berto share the same management, so that fight is highly unlikely.

Clottey? That's too high risk/low reward.

He has a trinket, but not too many big names would want to fight him. Cotto is an exception because he seemingly just does what Top Rank tells him to, although it appears his relationship with them is on the skids.

 

Cotto's ranked 7 P4P, and Williams isn't even top 10 last time I checked..but I do get what u're trying to say

And as for the article, I'll beleive it when I see it,...a leopard can't change his spots and the same goes for cherrypickers, he'll say anything to get people to buy this fight thinkin it's the beggining of his takeover, But I wont be fooled

But If he does actually do this, I'll take back everything negative I've said about him, well....no I wont cuzz it was all true, but I will become a fan of the guy if he truly wants only the most challenging fights, I can definately respect that