May 18, 2009 – Los Angeles, CA at the LA Public Library
May 19, 200 9- New York City, NY at the Empire State Building
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
“July 18th you are going to see the best Floyd Mayweather, because I am truly back.”
“My uncle Roger and I, we have a tremendous game plan, and I’m going to be more than ready for this fight. Training camp is going amazingly well. I am weighing in around 146 or 147 and I know I will be ready on July 18th.”
“Marquez is a great Mexican warrior who is going to be in tremendous shape. He is a hell of a guy and he is a hell of a fighter.”
“I like to hit, but I don’t get hit. Marquez hits and gets hit. He seems used to it and still comes out on top 90 percent of the time.”
“I expect a great fight. If Marquez is aggressive it could turn into a brawl and that is exactly the type of fight fans love to see.”
“I want to be the best. They say to be the best you have to beat the best and Marquez is one of the best in this sport.”
“I’ve got nothing but love for the Mexican fans; they are some of the most loyal fans in boxing. Mexican fans really know boxing inside and out.”
“I can’t wait for this fight, and I am really dedicating myself to be ready for it.”
“Please continue to support boxing. July 18, make sure you tune in. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I’m not overlooking Juan Manuel Marquez, and I hope he’s not overlooking me. He knows I’ve been off awhile so he might think I’m rusty, but I’m not. I’ll be ready.”
JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
“I am preparing myself mentally and physically for this fight.”
“When Golden Boy Promotions asked me do you want to fight Floyd? I said ‘yes let’s do it.’ I don’t like easy fights.”
“I know that this fight very important for my career and for my life, and I am going to be fully prepared on July 18th.”
“I have a tough fight with Floyd, I’m training right now and will go up to the mountains to build muscle for the fight. It isn’t exactly my weight but that only means I’ll have to eat more Tacos, Burritos and Carnitas.”
“My fans here and all of my fans in Mexico will help me come out on top, the support they have showed today and at the fan rally yesterday has been amazing.”
“Everyone knows I don’t like to talk outside of the ring, I do all of my talking inside of the ring.”
ROGER MAYWEATHER, Trainer of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I know what’s going to happen, and I’m sure all of you know what’s going to happen.”
“Marquez is a good boxer, but in boxing it’s about more than being good. Anyone can be good, but there are only a few out there that are great, and Floyd is a great boxer.”
“The best boxers in the world come from where I’m from, the Midwest. Floyd is also from there so you know he’s one of the best.”
“It’s going to be a great fight and I know that this guy over here [Floyd] is going to come out on top.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“Now that Floyd is back, he has come back to take his crown. He is coming back to be the best out there and to be the best out there you have to beat a fighter like Marquez.”
“Marquez fought two great fights against Pacquiao, and in the eyes of many beat him both times.”
“As soon as tickets go on sale (this Friday), you need to get them because it is going to be a tremendous fight.”
“Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has the greatest global impact of any fighter. In 2007 Floyd fought in the two biggest fights of the year.”
“The reason Floyd is back is because he is in love with the sport; he’s always been in love with it.”
“No matter where he goes, fans are always coming up to him asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ Well, he’s back now and is ready for this tremendous challenge.”
“He has a lot to prove. There are always the naysayers out there who say he cant get back on top.”
“He represents boxing to its fullest.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“This fight will pit the best fighter from the United States against the best fighter from Mexico.
“Styles make fights and Marquez’s style will beat Floyd’s on July 18th. With the support of all his fans, Marquez will come out on top.”
“I don’t care what people say, Marquez beat Pacquiao. He got knocked down three times and came back to win every round after that.”
“Mayweather has beaten everyone he has ever fought. He retired as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world and now he’s returning to fight one of the best fighters in the world.”
“Marquez has already been training in the mountains, and he is ready to go.”
“This is truly a fight that the fans want to get behind. In my eyes, Mayweather is the best in the world, who is about to meet the number one Mexican fighter in the ring to duke it out and show who is truly number one.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“Fight fans around the world have been waiting for this for a long time. Floyd said he is coming back to fight the best and Juan Manuel Marquez is the best.”
“Juan is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the sport today on July 18th he will be carrying the hopes and dreams of 160 million people on his back, the people of Mexico.”
“Floyd Mayweather is the undefeated and undisputed pound-for-pound champion. He is the number one pay-per-view star. With 250 million dollars, that is a quarter of a billion dollars, in receipts from his last two fights, Floyd Mayweather is definitely a star.
“July 18 is going to be the biggest pay-per-view event of the year. It’s called number one because everywhere you look you are surrounded by the best.”
(To Floyd) “On behalf of the millions of fight fans around the world, thank you for coming back. You really bring energy to the sport of boxing.”
“Even when he wasn’t fighting he was a tremendous asset to the sport of boxing.”
“Floyd talks the talk, but he does walk the walk as well? He has a huge group of people who love him and adore him and respect him for his accomplishments. Then he has the ‘haters.’ The people who cant wait to see him lose, but the good news is that both of those people will buy the pay-per-view.”
“This really is the showdown between Number One and Numero Uno.”
ROSS GREENBURG, President of HBO Sports
“Floyd Mayweather, the mouth that roared, is back and he is going into the lions den.”
“I have seen Marquez in the ring and in rounds 6-12, you better watch out.”
“Move over Paris Hilton and the Kardishians; Donald Trump, empty out the boardroom, and survivors get off the island because Money Mayweather is back on 24/7 and the first episode premiers June 27th.”
“We will load you up again with 24/7’s all access. We are always excited when Floyd Mayweather is part of the series. We are also excited to go down to Mexico to join Juan Manuel Marquez. All access 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week. Whatever it takes, we will be there.”
MARK TAFFET, Senior Vice President of HBO Sports and HBO Pay-Per-View
“The year 2009 is shaping up to be a fantastic one for boxing. In January, we had a great fight in Margarito vs. Mosley. Then we had Marquez vs. Diaz, which was an impressive fight, and a few weeks back we had Pacquiao vs. Hatton.”
“In Mayweather vs. Marquez, we have one guy that is returning to the ring while the other is more ready than ever. One that is representing the United States and the other that has Mexico on his back. One has had six world championships in five weight classes and the other has held five world championships in three weight divisions.”
“Mayweather vs. Marquez is one of those events you will not want to miss.”
BOB HALLORAN, Director of Sports, MGM MIRAGE
“Representing the MGM Family and having this fight at the historical MGM Grand Garden Arena, we are elated.”
“We have now had a long association with Golden Boy Promotions, Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya and they keep making better and better fights.”
“We’ve had both fighters fight at the arena a few times before and every time we did they had some great fights. I don’t think there is any question that this will be a sellout.”
# # #
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