MAYWEATHER/MARQUEZ RESCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 19TH IN LAS VEGAS

Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s return to the ring against tough Juan Manuel Marquez has been rescheduled for September 19^th at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena.  The fight was originally slated for July, but that date had to be postponed after Mayweather injured his ribs in training.  The new date should also boost the box office for the event, as it will fall on the weekend immediately after Mexican Independence Day (September 16^th).

The fact that Mayweather is favored in the fight isn’t surprising, due to his long held status as one of boxing’s ‘pound for pound’ best fighters.  More surprising is just how heavily ‘Pretty Boy’ is favored against the rugged veteran Marquez—Mayweather is a -420 chalk, with the takeback on underdog Marquez set at +340.  The over/under round prop has yet to be posted for the bout.

Mayweather injured the cartilage around his ribs in training, forcing the postponement to be announced in early June.  Both fighters agreed to honor a rescheduled date, and Mayweather indicated that he’s happy the bout has a new date set:

"I am relieved to be cleared to fight, as I was already looking forward to getting back in the ring. Trust me, September 19 is a great weekend for boxing, and all of my fans -- of which there are many Mexicans too -- can certainly hold on to their hats and sombreros when I get back into the ring."

A confident Marquez also indicated his excitement about the rescheduled date coming near Mexican Independence Day:

"I am happy that Mayweather has been cleared to fight and we can get down to business. This weekend is not just an important weekend for boxing, but even more so for all of the Mexican and Mexican-American people I will be fighting for. They will have a great reason to celebrate my win over Mayweather, which will be for all of the people and for the entire country of Mexico that night."

Marquez concluded his statement by appropriating a phrase more commonly associated with the campaign of US President Barack Obama:

"I am sure of victory and si se puede. Yes we can and yes we will."

Mayweather hasn’t fought since his knockout victory of Ricky Hatton in December 2007.  When he announced his retirement, few expected it to last and he reportedly opted to return to the ‘squared circle’ to cash some more big paychecks and reclaim his status as ‘pound for pound’ best in the world which most now confer upon Manny Pacquaio.

He didn’t exactly pick an easy opponent for a tuneup fight—Marquez is also on most fight observers’ ‘best pound for pound’ lists and will enter the fight with an impressive record of 50-4-1 with 37 by knockout.  Marquez has performed well in two fights against Pacquaio, earning a draw and losing a narrow split decision.  He has ended his last two fights—against Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor—in impressive fashion, knockout out both men.

The fight will be contested at a catchweight of 143 pounds, which will represent the lightest weight that Mayweather has fought at since facing Arturo Gatti at 139 pounds in 2005.  It will be eight pounds heavier than Marquez has ever fought at previously.