Mayweather-Marquez set for July 18; Floyd comes back as the best fighter in the world

Floyd Mayweather is ready to reclaim his throne as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and will take the first step with a July 18 fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser, confirmed the bout in an exclusive interview with The Press today. Ellerbe said the Grand Rapids native and six-time world champion immediately reclaims the title as boxing's best.

"He left the sport as the best fighter in the world, he comes back as the best fighter in the world," Ellerbe said. "(Manny) Pacquiao was never considered the best fighter while Floyd was active, so why should anything change?"

Pacquiao will face Ricky Hatton tonight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Pacquiao-Hatton winner is rumored to be in line to face the winner of Mayweather-Marquez later this year.

"I left on top, and I came back on top," Mayweather said at a news conference in Las Vegas on Saturday. "I'm here to fight and reclaim what's mine."

Mayweather, 32, is 39-0 with 25 knockouts in his career. Marquez, 35, of Mexico, is 50-4-1 with 37 knockouts.

The fight will be at the catch-weight of 143 pounds. Mayweather reportedly wanted to fight at 147, while Marquez didn't want to go above 140.

"It's going to be tremendous event. (Marquez) has been and still is one of the best fighters in the sport. He's one of the top two fighters in this sport," Ellerbe said. "This is the best versus the best. Floyd wasn't going to come back just to fight anyone.

"The sport has truly missed him. He is the face of boxing. The whole world has been waiting for him to come back."

Mayweather hasn't fought since scoring a 10th-round technical knockout of Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8, 2007.

Ring Magazine had ranked Mayweather as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world from July 18, 2005, through June 2, 2008. He also was honored as Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year twice, in 1998 and 2007.

If Mayweather beats Marquez, will he face the Pacquiao-Hatton winner?

"We're not focusing on anything other than July 18," Ellerbe said. "The road to (the pound-for-pound title) comes through Floyd Mayweather."