Mayweather vs Marquez: Ticket Information Released

Floyd "Money" Mayweather has returned to the sport of boxing and will put his undefeated record on the line when he faces the dangerous and highly touted five-time world champion Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez in MAYWEATHER vs. MARQUEZ "Number One/Numero Uno" Saturday, July 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, May 22 at 10 a.m. PT. Ticket sales at $1,000, $750, $600 and $300 are 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.

A 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist for the United States, Floyd "Money" Mayweather (39-0, 25 KO's) has since gone on to strike Gold in the professional ranks, winning six world titles in five weight classes to firmly establish himself as one of the best fighters of his era. In just his 18th pro fight, Mayweather won his first world title at the age of 21 by stopping Genaro Hernandez for the WBC world super featherweight crown in 1998. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native defended that title eight times before moving up to lightweight and taking the 135-pound belt from Jose Luis Castillo in 2002, but "Money" Mayweather wasn't done yet, as he defeated Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah for the junior welterweight and welterweight world titles, respectively. Despite these impressive achievements, it wasn't until he defeated Oscar de la Hoya in May of 2007 for the world junior middleweight championship in a record-setting super-fight where the world truly got to see what Mayweather was all about. In his last fight, on December 8, 2007, Mayweather made another statement to the world when he knocked out Ricky "Hitman" Hatton in the tenth round, handing the British superstar his first professional defeat. After the bout, Mayweather - who has achieved crossover fame as a contestant on the hit show "Dancing with the Stars" and as a participant in WWE's "Wrestlemania XXIV" - announced his retirement from boxing. But he left the door open for a return if the right challenge presented itself, and on July 18th, the 32-year-old Las Vegas resident comes back to face Juan Manuel Marquez.

In an era of great Mexican fighters such as Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, Mexico City's Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KO's) has made it clear over the last few years that he is truly the greatest of the bunch. Long revered by boxing purists as one of the best, Marquez won 29 of his first 30 pro bouts, before finally getting a world title shot in 1999. Marquez would lose that opportunity controversially to Freddie Norwood and in response, he didn't lose for the next seven years, winning the IBF world featherweight title against Manuel Medina in 2003. In November 2003, Marquez unified the titles when he defeated Derrick "Smoke" Gainer and captured the WBA world featherweight title. His second title defense in 2004 against Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao may be his most memorable, as he rose from three first-round knockdowns to roar back and gain a draw in a fight that many observers believe he won. Marquez would lose his belt via decision to Chris John in 2006, but he returned to form almost immediately, scoring a 12-round win over Barrera in March of 2007 to win the WBC 130-pound world title. In 2008, Marquez and Pacquiao would meet again in another memorable bout however Marquez dropped a disputed 12-round split decision to the Filipino superstar. Undeterred, "Dinamita" moved up to the 135-pound weight class in September of 2008 and stunned the boxing world by handing Joel Casamayor his first knockout defeat to win the Ring Magazine world lightweight championship. It was hard to top such a victory, but in the 35-year-old Marquez' most recent fight on February 28, 2009, he did just that as he stopped former Three-Time World Champion Juan Diaz in the ninth round to add the WBO and WBA World Lightweight belts to his trophy case. On July 18th he looks to further cement his legacy with a win over Mayweather.

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.

Father / Son Mayweather Reunite For Marquez Fight

The father/son combination of unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. and well-known trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. - is back. The two have been feuding for several years but managed to make peace in the last few months. Mayweather Sr. taught his son the sport but after a falling out which took place nearly a decade ago, he began training other fighters like Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Chad Dawson. Uncle Roger Mayeather is the head trainer for Floyd Jr.

Speaking with the Los Angeles Times, FLoyd Jr. revealed that his father has been helping him in camp since the May 2 bout between Pacquiao and Hatton. Floyd Jr. wants to give his dad plenty of support during a very tough time. The elder Mayweather lost between 25 to 30 pounds due to sarcoidosis, a disease that limits lung capacity.

"My dad's been working with me every day since the Hatton fight," Mayweather Jr. said. "We chill out, shoot pool, talk about different fighters."

As far as the Hatton loss, Floyd Jr. says the Manchester fighter did not listen to his father.

"I know what my father teaches," Mayweather Jr. said of the Hatton debacle. "That's not how my father trains a fighter. He'll say, 'Use the . . . jab, man.' I guess a fighter can't be taught new things. Hatton rushes in, he didn't follow the game plan."

Marquez Says "I Will Beat Floyd Mayweather Jr"

WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez is already training hard at the Romanza Gym in Mexico City, taking his first steps in camp to prepare for the biggest fight of his career. Marquez moves up to 143-pounds to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr on July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The calm that prevailed yesterday at the Romanza Gym was interrupted by the entrance of several television cameras and a herd of reporters. Reason: Juan Manuel Marquez was to start his training with a view to meeting against Floyd Mayweaher of July 18 in Las Vegas.

Marquez sees some flaws in Mayweather that he plans to exploit. During last week's press conference to announce the fight, Marquez told BoxingScene.com that he was pretty confident of an upset. Mayweather's physical attributes don't appear to be a issue either.

"I'm positive that I'm going to beat Mayweather. It's true that he has a two inch height advantage, a little bit more reach and he is a great fighter - but I know how is beatable, and I will do just that on July 18 in Las Vegas," Marquez told ESTO.

Marquez had told BoxingScene that he planned to keep his camp in Mexico for the full duration, but because of the swine flu epidemic in the country, he may head off to Big Bear, California at some point. He knows the public has him as a heavy underdog. It doesn't bother him. He likes the role of the underdog.

"This is not the first time that I'm the betting underdog. For example, I encountered Manny Pacquiao twice, and in both fights he was the big favorite. Even though I lost the rematch by one point and had a draw in the other, I am sure that I won both fights. Pacquiao said that he hoped to fight Mayweather in November, because Floyd is going to win me, but [that won't happen]. In November I will be his opponent," Marquez said.

Floyd Mayweather vs Juan Manuel Marquez

The boxing world received two gifts this week, not only the announcement that six-time world champion in five weight divisions Floyd "Money" Mayweather has returned to the sport, but also that he was immediately putting his undefeated record on the line when he faces the dangerous and highly touted five-time world champion in three divisions Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez in MAYWEATHER vs. MARQUEZ "Number One/Numero Uno" on Saturday, July 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada which will be broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT. Mayweather's return and the fight were announced today at a press conference at MGM Grand..

"That's right. I'm back and you can all get ready for another chapter of the Mayweather experience!" said Mayweather. "I told my CEO Leonard Ellerbe from the start that I wanted to come back fighting the best fighters out there and Juan Manuel Marquez is one of the best in boxing today."

"To be considered the best in the world, you have to fight the best, and I have made it clear even when Mayweather was away from the sport that he was the only man I really wanted to fight," said Marquez. "I'm happy that he's come out of retirement and accepted my challenge. Unfortunately for him he might be sorry he came back at all."

The summer showdown between Mayweather (39-0, 25 KO's) and Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KO's) will be promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions.

"Mayweather Promotions is proud to announce the return of Floyd Mayweather after a much needed rest," said Ellerbe. "But he is coming back with a vengeance and clearly Marquez is a significant challenge for his return. It is going to be an extremely competitive and exciting fight."

"Floyd Mayweather is back and Juan Manuel Marquez is ready to fight," said Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. "Mayweather is clearly making a statement by accepting this challenge to fight the dangerous Marquez in his first fight back. Having seen Floyd perform live in his two previous fights, I know a big challenge brings out the best him. Boxing is in for a great night on July 18th."

"Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez has the potential to be one of boxing's all-time great fights," said Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "Not only are they two boxers destined for the Hall of Fame and two of the greatest technicians of this era, but they also both have a warrior's spirit that comes out when they get tested. I know that they'll push each other to the limit when they step into the ring July 18th."

"MGM Grand is thrilled to host Floyd Mayweather's return to the ring and welcome back the great Juan Manuel Marquez," said Richard Sturm, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE. "We anticipate this to be one of the hottest fights of the year and look forward to the exciting night of boxing these two champions will deliver to the MGM Grand Garden Arena."

"Floyd Mayweather is a special athlete and it's heartening to see him return in such a big fight against an accomplished opponent in Juan Manuel Marquez," said Ross Greenburg, President of HBO Sports. "Boxing fans will be intrigued by this mid-summer match-up."

For these two future Hall of Famers, all that really matters is what happens when the bell rings on Saturday, July 18 and with Mayweather's return to the ring in a quest to reclaim his pound-for-pound title by taking on Marquez, a man looking to add once again to his amazing legacy, this is a true mega-fight which will determine who is the premier boxer of this era.