MAYWEATHER VS. MOSELY LOS ANGELES PRESS TOUR QUOTES
Los Angeles (Thursday, March 4)…The whirlwind three-city press tour that officially announced the May 1 welterweight showdown between superstar Floyd “Money” Mayweather and WBA Welterweight World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley ended today as throngs of fans and media gathered at a unique outdoor press event in NOKIA Plaza at L.A. LIVE to see two of boxing’s best fighters kick-off the promotion leading up to this highly competitive mega-fight. With stops that rumbled through New York City, Washington, DC and Los Angeles, fans came out in droves to support their favorite fighter as they answer the question “Who R U Picking?”.
FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER
“I have been here before so I know what it takes. I have fought the best. Shane is a future Hall of Famer, and I am a future Hall of Famer.
“I have a great trainer, but our trainers can’t fight for us.
“I want to change this sport. I want to make sure it is clean that is why Shane and I are both taking random urine and blood tests leading up to the fight.
“I just want to work hard and be the best I can be. May 1 is going to be a blockbuster event.”
SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY
“This fight is on May 1. May 1 is going to be ‘May’s first [loss]. I will make sure of that.
“I want to thank Money Mayweather for accepting the fight. Before he was fighting everyone else, but he wasn’t fighting me. He has officially accepted the challenge.
“I want to thank the fans. I fought at Staples Center a couple of times and they were sell outs, so I appreciate that you guys (to the fans) always bring the love.”
ROGER MAYWEATHER, Mayeather’s Trainer
“This is going to be a tremendous fight. You have two tremendous fighters. This is what makes history. You have to challenge someone people think you can’t beat.
“This is how the world of boxing works. You have two very talented fighters and you will see what it means to be the best in the world. On May 1, you will pass down the judgment for who is the best of them all.”
NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Mosley’s Trainer
“You have people who are champions, you have people who are elite and you have people who are special. On May 1, you have two of the most special guys in the history of the sport facing off.
“My job is to dissect Floyd Mayweather and to implement an attack. Nothing is impenetrable, not even Floyd Mayweather.
“On May 1, we are going to convince this man to learn something new…how to lose!”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“I’ll tell you what; I am picking the guy with the undefeated record. Forty have come and forty have gone, and it will be no different on May 1.
“On May 1, Shane is going to bring his best, but his best won’t be enough.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“This is going to be one heck of a fight. I fought both guys and I lost to both guys. This isn’t going to be about who wants it more. This is going to be about the whole package. Mayweather is the best, and Mosley will fight anybody and come out on top.
“On Cinco de Mayo, let’s celebrate a great fight. Let’s celebrate two great fighters and lets celebrate a historic event.
“The undercard is going to be absolutely incredible. Tune in May 1.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“These kind of fights come along once in a lifetime and this is going to be one of the most promoted fights in the history of the sport.
“We are here to set new records and set new standards. We have NASCAR-like sponsors. This is going to be the most promoted fight in the history of the sport.”
BOB HALLORAN, Vice President of Sports for MGM MIRAGE
“We are very lucky to have these two individuals back in our building. There is no home field advantage at the MGM MIRAGE, because both have fought here many times.
“Save the date. The weekend of May 1, you will want to be in Vegas.”
MAYWEATHER VS. MOSLEY NEW YORK PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER
“It takes two to make a mega fight. Shane Mosley is one of the best welterweights of our era and I want to fight the best and continue to fight the best.
“I am not only in the fight business; I am in the check cashing business.
“When it comes to performance enhancement drugs, I stepped up the plate. I want to show the world that my sport is clean.
“I am able to generate millions of dollars. They say Shane is the WBA Champion, but we all know that belts do nothing but collect dust.
“You can hate it or love it, but this is a God given ability. I am taking these skills and showing the world that I am going to entertain.
“There’s always an excuse. If I beat someone, they say he’s over the hill. If I beat someone else, they say he is too slow. I can just be me and be the best.
“There is nothing cool about taking punishment. There is nothing cool about getting hit in the head.
“There is no blue print to beat me, and that is all that matters.
“You can’t judge a person before you know a person. I am just like every body else. I go home I love my children, I love my mother, but I also have a gift.”
SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY
“May 1 symbolizes something. After this fight, it is going to be clear. It is going to be the date of Mayweather’s first loss.
“It has been a long time since I have had a chance to show the world that I am the best fighter. I have wanted to be the best and have people understand that I am the best.
“I just want to say I am going to take my hat off to Mayweather. For a minute I wasn’t going to get a fight from any of these top fighters and now I will. I would like to say that it is going down May 1 and it is going to be me and Money Mayweather.
“After this fight there won’t be anything else to pick.
“It is going to be clear that there is an ass whooping and I am about to give it to him!”
NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Mosley’s Trainer
“You can’t really say one is better than the other. At this level they are both special. It’s proven.
“This will be one of the great ones. One-hundred-forty-seven pounds is a premiere weight class. May 1, Shane will matchup against one of the best athletes in the sport.”
“Picking a fighter is a lot like picking a partner to dance. You ask a young lady to dance. If she says “No” you move on to the next lady. Shane’s eagerness to fight sometimes hurts his negotiations. He is always so eager. ‘I’ll take the test.’ ‘I’ll fight with one hand, you fight with two.’ Floyd accepted the challenge.
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“Shane knows what’s coming. He just doesn’t want to admit it, but he knows. Floyd “Money” Mayweather is ready.
“This fight has been in the making for ten years. It’s going to be a hot, hot fight.
“There is a difference when you are talking about Floyd. Once you get your ass up in there, it is a whole different ball game.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“We are here in a big mega fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley. This fight reminds me of Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns, the classic fights we used to watch on TV.
“It’s like watching the Super Bowl or the NBA Championship. It’s boxing’s version of the World Series. It is the fight to watch for this year because not only are you going to get a great event, but you are going to get a great fight.
“I fought both fighters and I know what is going to happen. Do you want to know what I think? I know there is going to be a knock-out and it ain’t going to be pretty!”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“We can pick the fans as winners already. This is one of the best fights, one of the biggest in the history of boxing.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said we would make one million homes for Mayweather vs. Marquez. I wasn’t kidding. We did. This fight is going to break many, many records.
“This is the fight where one plus one equals three…the three stands for three million homes. We will break all PPV records with this fight!”
BOB HALLORAN, Vice President of Sports for MGM MIRAGE
“No offense to Mr. Mosley, when you’re 40-0 and no one has beaten you…you are the best. However, should this man win (Mosley), he will be the best and I think Floyd is well aware of that.”
# # #
Mayweather vs. Mosley is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Dewalt Tools and StubHub. The 12-round welterweight mega-bout will take place Saturday, May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View®.
BOXING SUPERSTARS FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER AND SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY SET TO MEET IN MAYWEATHER VS. MOSLEY: WHO R U PICKING?, AN ELECTRIFYING WELTERWEIGHT MEGA-FIGHT SET FOR SATURDAY, MAY 1 AT MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
NEW YORK (March 2) – “Who R U Picking?” “Who are you picking?” The buzz surrounding the biggest night of boxing this year has already started as superstar and six-time World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and welterweight mega-star, five-time World Champion and current WBA Welterweight World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley, are set to meet in Mayweather vs. Mosley: Who R U Picking?, on Saturday, May 1 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a spectacular bout which will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The bout, promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions, and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Dewalt Tools and StubHub,promises to be a spectacular display of talent and skill with Mayweather and Mosley will meet in a 12-round welterweight battle that is already being compared to other great and historic welterweight match-ups like Sugar Ray Leonard against Tommy Hearns and Oscar de la Hoya against Felix Trinidad.
“Ever since I came back to the sport I said I only wanted to fight the best and Shane Mosley is one of the best,” said Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO’s). “Not only does he have the skills, but he is also fast, strong and a very tough competitor. His speed and power won’t mean much that night against my will and determination to dominate him inside the square circle. When I compete against the best, I am always at my best; so on May 1 the fans will see one great performance.”
“I have always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather and now that dream is finally coming true,” said Mosley, (46-5, 39 KO’s). “Floyd is excellent at what he does, but my past record of beating the best competition and other great champions shows that he is just another one of my opponents I intend to beat. He has never faced anyone like me before and I think that will be a big factor on May 1 when I plan to show him just what it means to meet a true champion in the ring.”
“This fight has been in the making for a long time and now Floyd has the opportunity to showcase his skills against a great champion like Shane,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO, Mayweather Promotions. “It is these kinds of opportunities that elevate and excite Floyd. The people and the polls might be wondering who is going to win this fight, but on May 1, I have no doubt that Floyd is going to give them a dominant performance and continue to prove why he is the best fighter in the world today. “
“The theme of this fight is “who are you picking?” because when two champions of this caliber meet in the ring, you can expect nothing but an extremely competitive fight and an unknown outcome that will only reveal itself on May 1,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions. “Shane Mosley is one of the greatest fighters of this era and so is Floyd Mayweather, so it is a true gift that the fans will have the opportunity to see a fiercely competitive and fantastic night of boxing.”
“MGM Grand is thrilled to host two of the sport’s superstars,” said Richard Sturm, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE. “Mayweather and Mosley bring tremendous speed and skill to the ring and will no doubt electrify the fans on May 1.”
“Mayweather vs. Mosley is a showdown of superstars that fans have been talking about for years,” said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. “It has all the elements of a pay-per-view mega-fight.”
A 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist for the United States, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather 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 most elite fighters of his era. With dominating wins over the likes of World Champions Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, Mayweather was on a meteoric rise to hall of fame greatness when he announced his retirement from the ring in 2008. But he left the door open for a return if the right challenge presented itself and after 18 months of a much needed physical and emotional break from the ring, he returned to boxing on September 19, 2009 with a dominating and spectacular victory over future Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez. He now faces Mosley on May 1 in what will be one of his most challenging contests to date.
In addition to his boxing accomplishments, Mayweather has managed to become a crossover star, appearing in HBO®’s Emmy® award winning reality series “24/7″ three separate times as he provided cameras with an all access look at his training and personal life. Additionally, as a competitor on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, Mayweather was introduced to a completely new audience with over 35 million viewers tuning in each week.
It would be easy for Sugar Shane Mosley to be a satisfied man, but Mosley will not be content until he feels that he has climbed every mountain the sport has to offer, including beating Floyd Mayweather on May 1. His goal is to continue to win as this future Hall of Famer always has, compiling six world titles and having ruled the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions over his storied 16-year career. Mosley has defeated them all, including the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Fernando Vargas (twice), Luis Collazo and Ricardo Mayorga, but his most recent victory could be his most spectacular – a ninth round stoppage of Antonio Margarito in January 2009 to win the welterweight world title for the third time.
Mosley has a worldwide fan base and feels that he can continue to win, including one more world championship, his sixth, which is an amazing feat for any fighter, but seems easy when you’re a given the hallowed “Sugar” nickname, shared by Mosley with the legendary “Sugars,” Robinson and Leonard. He also hopes to ascend back to the number one spot on the mythical pound for pound list, which will only happen by taking on the best in the world, fight in and fight out.
Tickets priced are $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now and 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.
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and George Foreman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Phil Collins, Billy Joel, U2, ‘N Sync, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to the annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMA), Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game and the U.S. Open of Motocross.
The Mayweather vs. Mosley pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, 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®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Mosley fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.
Mayweather – Mosley Tickets on sale Tuesday
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FOUR DAYS TO GO… THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR THE HOTTEST TICKET IN BOXING AS TICKETS FOR MAYWEATHER VS. MOSLEY MEGA-BOUT GO ON SALE TUESDAY, MARCH 2 AT 10 A.M. PT
EXTRAORDINARY EXPECTED DEMAND FOR MAY 1 WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS FORCES TICKET LIMITS |
 LAS VEGAS, (February 26, 2010) – The countdown is on and the hottest night in boxing is about to get hotter as tickets for the much-anticipated mega-fight between Boxing Superstar FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER and current WBA Welterweight World Champion SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY are set to go on sale Tuesday, March 2 at 10 a.m. PT.
Tickets are priced at $1,250, $1,000, $600, $300 and $150 (not including applicable service charges) and will be 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. Mayweather vs. Mosley is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate, AT&T, Dewalt Tools and StubHub. The 12-round welterweight mega-bout will take place Saturday, May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View®. |
He’s not Mayweather, but Joshua Clottey might be good enough
By Norm Frauenheim
Mayweather – Mosley press conference open to the public
BOXING SUPERSTARS FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER AND
SUGAR SHANE MOSLEY TO HOLD NEW YORK PRESS CONFERENCE TO OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE MAY 1 WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
NOKIA THEATRE TIMES SQUARE
TUESDAY, MARCH 2 AT 12:00 P.M. ET
EVENT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
WHO: FLOYD MAYWEATHER, Six-Time World Champion in Five Weight Divisions
SHANE MOSLEY, Current WBA Welterweight World Champion
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
ROGER MAYWEATHER, Mayweather Trainer
NAAZIM RICHARDSON, Mosley Trainer
**Please note this event is open to the public. Free tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com (search Mayweather and/or Mosley).
11:00 a.m. ET – Media Check-In/Lunch
12:00 p.m. ET – Start
WHERE: NOKIA Theatre Times Square
1515 Broadway (Corner of 44th & Broadway)
MAYWEATHER VS. MOSLEY PRESS TOUR KICKS OFF MARCH 2 WHEN FIGHTERS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE MEGA-FIGHT SLATED FOR MAY 1 AT MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW®
Los Angeles (February 17) – Welterweight superstar Floyd “Money” Mayweather and WBA Welterweight Champion Sugar Shane Mosley are hitting the road to announce their May 1 mega-fight showdown with stops in New York City, Washington, DC and Los Angeles. The press tour will reflect the magnitude of this highly competitive and much-anticipated face-off between boxing’s biggest stars.
MAYWEATHER VS. MOSLEY: TOUR DATES AND CITIES
TUESDAY, March 2 New York City
NOKIA Theatre Times Square
WEDNESDAY, March 3 Washington, DC
The Lincoln Theatre
THURSDAY, March 4 Los Angeles
NOKIA Plaza L.A. LIVE
*All events will be open to the PUBLIC.
**Additional details (media call times, etc.) will be announced shortly.
# # #
Mayweather vs. Mosley is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. The 12-round welterweight mega-bout will take place Saturday, May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live on HBO Pay-Per-View®.
Whew, Mayweather signs to fight Mosley, but angst still there
By Norm Frauenheim
Anxiety gave way to relief Wednesday when it was announced that Floyd Mayweather, Jr., had finally signed for a May 1 fight with Shane Mosley, whose promotional point man, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, sounded as though the wait for Mayweather’s signature was a little bit like anticipating a dental appointment.
As it turns out, it was routine, a mere formality. Let’s just hope it stays that way until opening bell at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand for a May Day of a fight that won’t generate as much money as Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao would have, but promises to be as good, if not better.
The temptation is to say thanks to Mayweather for a convincing counter to everybody who parrots Bob Arum’s criticism that he is afraid of any threat to his unbeaten record. Well, Mosley, a natural welterweight, is that threat, bigger on a tale of the tape than Pacquiao, a relative newcomer to 147 pounds.
But you can never be sure with Mayweather. Schaefer’s angst, reflected in various news reports, sums up the uncertainty about a fighter with wonderful talents, yet as hard to pin down as he is to hit. Mayweather’s unpredictability is good for HBO’s 24/7, but exasperating for everybody else, including media quick to report that Mayweather had not signed only four days after the agreement — complete with Mosley’s signature — was announced.
The delay, not matter how brief, was enough to make everybody wonder what Mayweather was up to now. Plenty of skepticism is left in the messy wake of failed negotiations for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, which won’t happen on March 13 because Pacquiao said no to Mayweather’s demand for random, Olympic-style blood-testing. Everybody has been blamed, which only means that nobody’s reputation escapes unscathed.
Mayweather and Mosley now are scheduled to be in south Florida Sunday for the Super Bowl Sunday. It’s an interesting setting. Mayweather-Pacquiao had been called boxing’s Super Bowl. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees will never have to explain why the Colts and Saints couldn’t agree to a game. I’m not sure Mayweather will be able to explain why he couldn’t agree on a fight with Pacquiao. But it is safe say he will hear the questions and I’m sure he will blame Pacquiao, although familiar trash-talk might be punctuated with caution because of a defamation lawsuit.
Mistrust is everywhere. Mayweather-Mosley represents a real chance to move on. But it won’t be easy. In just a few days, the familiar jitters were there with questions about when – indeed, if — Mayweather would sign. The abortive talks for Mayweather-Pacquiao are just the latest reason.
In September, there was weight-gate before, during and after Mayweather’s unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez. At 146 pounds on the day before the fight, Mayweather failed to meet the catch weight, 144, and willingly wrote a check for $600,000 — $300,000 for each excess pound – to Marquez.
From a ringside seat the next night, Mayweather often looked like a middleweight, especially when his back was to me. I can’t help but think it was no coincidence that he refused to step on unofficial scales for HBO not long before opening bell. After the one-sided fight, he dissed anybody who wanted to know how he heavy he was.
There are some things Mayweather just doesn’t want anybody to know. No wonder Schaefer and many in the media were nervous.
Here’s a suggestion: Andre Berto withdrew from a bout on Jan 30 with Mosley because of concern for family caught in the Haitian earthquake. Tell Berto to stay in the gym. You never know.
NOTES, QUOTES
· According to various reports, Mayweather and Mosley will undergo Olympic-style drug testing. Given Mayweather’s demand in talks for Pacquiao, he will have to insist on the procedure from now on. For Mosley, it’s a significant step. He was linked to performance-enhancers years ago in testimony to a grand jury investigating Balco. What’s not clear is who will conduct the tests. The Nevada State Athletic Commission? The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency? And who will pay for the tests? The fighters? The promoters? The lousy economy would seem to preclude any state commission from taking on the expense.
· News from the World Boxing Association says it will investigate Beibut Shumenov’s controversial split decision over Gabriel Campillo for the light-heavyweight championship on Jan. 29 at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas. While the acronym is at it, how about a few questions asking how a fighter, Shumenov, with only 10 pro bouts could even qualify for a shot at so-called major title?
· Intriguing Jose Benavidez, a 17-year-old junior-welterweight from Phoenix, is scheduled for his second pro fight on Feb. 13 against an unannounced foe at the Las Vegas Hilton on a card, Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3, featuring super-flyweight Nonito Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs) against Gerson Guerrero (43-8, 26 KOs). There’s been some hope that Benavidez could help resurrect a Phoenix market, mostly dormant since Arizona began to enforce tough immigration laws. “I’d really love to fight in Phoenix,’’ Benavidez said. “Hey, it’s my hometown.’’
· And kudos to Chad Dawson, Guillermo Rigondeaux and Top Rank for promises to help in the Haiti relief. Dawson said he has started Champions Challenge. He has invested $5,000 of his money has asked other champs to match it. Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Cuba, says he will donate his purse from a fight Friday night against Adolfo Landeros in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to the Children of Haiti Fund. Top Rank announced it is setting aside a percentage of ticket receipts for the earthquake victims.
MAYWEATHER’S SIGNATURE SEALS THE DEAL FIGHT WITH MOSLEY FINALIZED AS BOXING SUPERSTARS AGREE TO MEET IN ELECTRIFYING WELTERWEIGHT MEGA-FIGHT ON SATURDAY, MAY 1 AT MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS LIVE ON HBO PAY-PER-VIEW
FIGHTERS AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN OLYMPIC-STYLE DRUG TESTING
LAS VEGAS (February 3, 2010) – It’s official. Boxing’s biggest superstar and six-time world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather made his upcoming fight with welterweight mega-star and five-time world champion Sugar Shane Mosley, official today when he signed the contract that pits the two fighters against each other on Saturday, May 1 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a mega-bout which will be televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View®.
“This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately,” said Mayweather. “I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won’t be great enough to beat me.”
“I have always wanted to fight Floyd and now it is finally coming true,” said Mosley, who signed his side of the deal last Friday in Las Vegas. “I am already in great shape and ready to show everyone on May 1 that I am stronger, faster and better than he is. I will have no problem beating him.”
In addition to the fight being one of the most competitive and talked about contests in each of the fighters’ careers, Mayweather and Mosley have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing for the fight.
“Floyd has been trying to make this fight for the last 10 years, so he is extremely excited about the opportunity to face Shane,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO, Mayweather Promotions. “He can’t wait to extend his undefeated record and perform at the highest level. More importantly, he is also happy to set the precedent for random blood testing in order to ensure fair and safe contests for all fighters.”
“When two champions of this caliber meet in the ring, you can expect nothing but excellence and that is what we are going to see on May 1,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions. “Shane Mosley is one of the greatest fighters of this era and I commend him for not only agreeing to the fight against Mayweather, but also agreeing to participate in a testing process that can only help the integrity of the sport.”
“Mayweather-Mosley is a showdown of superstars that fans have been talking about for years”, said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. “It has all the elements of a pay-per-view mega-fight.”
A 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist for the United States, Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 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 most elite fighters of his era. With dominating wins over the likes of world champions Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, Mayweather was on a meteoric rise to hall of fame greatness when he announced his retirement from the ring in 2008. But he left the door open for a return if the right challenge presented itself and after 18 months of a much needed physical and emotional break from the ring, he returned to boxing on September 19, 2009 with a dominating and spectacular victory over future Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez.
A future Hall of Famer with five world titles to his name, Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO’s) has ruled the lightweight, welterweight and junior middleweight divisions over his storied 16-year career and at 38 years old, the Pomona, Calif. native seems to be getting better and better as the years pass. Winner of seven of his last eight fights dating back to 2005, Mosley has defeated the likes of Fernando Vargas (twice), Luis Collazo and Ricardo Mayorga, but his most recent victory also was one of his most spectacular — a ninth round stoppage of Antonio Margarito in January 2009 to win the welterweight world title for the third time.
The 12-round welterweight battle is a highly competitive match-up that already has sports fans across the world buzzing to see two of the sport’s biggest names meet in the squared circle in the premier boxing match-up of 2010.
More information on Mayweather vs. Mosley, including ticket prices, HBO Pay- Per- View information and press tour dates and cities, will be announced shortly.
MAYWEATHER – MOSLEY IS ON!!!
According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the rumored bout between Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley has been agreed upon according to Leonard Ellerbe who is Mayweather’s advisor
Although the contracts are not signed, “all of the deal points have been agreed to,” Ellerbe said. “We still have to put pen to paper, but everything is agreed to. It’s with the lawyers. Shane is a great fighter, one of the best of his era, and so is Floyd. It’s going to be a great fight. It’s a fight fans have wanted to see for a long time.”
Ellerbe said that he expected the paperwork to be completed in the next few days with a formal announcement likely next week.
“The negotiations were very cordial and went very smoothly,” Ellerbe said.
“Floyd only wants to be sure of an even playing field no matter who he fights,” Ellerbe said.
ESPN News- Muhammad Ali visits San Francisco Giants' clubhouse March 9, 2010Muhammad Ali showed up in the San Francisco Giants' clubhouse as part of a campaign for his charity. […]Associated Press
- Judge dismisses felony coercion charge in battery case against Roger Mayweather March 9, 2010A court clerk says a judge dismissed a felony coercion charge against boxing trainer Roger Mayweather, who faces trial June 1 on allegations that he beat and choked a female boxer at a Las Vegas apartment he owned. […]Associated Press
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. associate faces charges in Vegas shooting March 9, 2010Police say an associate of boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been arrested on attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges in an August shooting outside a Las Vegas skating rink. […]Associated Press
- Promoter Bob Arum expects sellout for Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium March 9, 2010Promoter Bob Arum said he expects a sellout for the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight at Cowboys Stadium. […]Calvin Watkins
- Britain's Amir Khan to defend WBA light welterweight title against American Paulie Malignaggi March 9, 2010Amir Khan of Britain will defend his WBA light-welterweight title against American challenger Paulie Malignaggi on May 15 at New York's Madison Square Garden. […]Associated Press
- Devon Alexander stops Juan Urango to unify WBC, IBF light welterweight titles March 9, 2010Devon Alexander knocked out Juan Urango with a right uppercut at 1:12 of the seventh round to unify the WBC and IBF light welterweight titles on Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. […]Associated Press
- Vitali Klitschko to fight Albert Sosnowski in WBC heavyweight title defense March 9, 2010Vitali Klitschko will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Polish-born fighter Albert Sosnowski on May 29. […]Dan Rafael
- Victor Darchinyan wins decision, retains WBA, WBC super flyweight titles March 6, 2010Australian Victor Darchinyan scored an unanimous decision against Rodrigo Guerrero of Mexico City to retain his WBC and WBA super flyweight titles Saturday night at The Show inside the Agua Caliente Casino. […]Associated Press
- Boxing promoter Don King refutes rumors of a possible Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield fight March 5, 2010Promoter Don King shot down a rumor making the rounds Friday that he had a deal to promote former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a third fight with Evander Holyfield, but he was evasive about whether he was in talks with Tyson about a comeback. […]Dan Rafael
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. thinks he's in Sugar Shane Mosley's head March 5, 2010Floyd Mayweather Jr. could tell he was inside Sugar Shane Mosley's head from the moment Mayweather's last fight ended. […]Associated Press
- Muhammad Ali visits San Francisco Giants' clubhouse March 9, 2010
