Floyd Mayweather Jr. returned to championship form in the boxing ring after taking 21 months off to pursue a short-lived but lucrative wrestling career. Mayweather went from being “Pretty Boy” Floyd to “Money Mayweather” after his first $20 million Wrestlemania fight against “The Big Show.”
Mayweather dominated the 12-round fight against Juan Manuel Marquez at theMGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas on Sept. 19, winning by unanimous decision.
“I’ve been off for two years, so I felt like it took me a couple of rounds to really know I was back in the ring again,” Mayweather said. “I know I’ll get better.”
Mayweather improved on his flawless 40-0, 25 KO, perfect record.
Marquez appeared to be in trouble as early as the second round after a Mayweather blow sent him to the canvas.
“He surprised me with the first knockdown,” Marquez said. “He hurt me in that round, but not any other time. I don’t want to make any excuses, but the weight was the problem. He’s too fast.”
Mayweather was fined $60,000 for missing the Friday night weigh-in by four pounds.
“When I hit him, he laughed, but I knew he felt my punches,” Marquez said. “We tried to work the speed, but the difference was the weight.”
Mayweather landed 290 of 493 punches for 59 percent and landed more punches each round than Marquez did in total punches. Marquez threw 583 punches but only 12 percent landed.
“Don’t forget, I came from a small weight class too, so I know when you’re in front of a great fighter,” said Mayweather. “I think he brought his best tonight.”
Currently, there is no unanimous heavyweight champion of the world. Russian boxer Nikolay Valuev is the current WBA champion and Ukranian Vitali Klitschko is the WBC champion — not exactly houshold names like Joe Louis, Joe Frazier or Muhammad Ali. Floyd “Money” Mayweather was not only credited with the win, he might also get credit for rescuing the sport of boxing from obscurity. –lenn durant
