INQUIRER Sports

LAS VEGAS—HE LEFT AS NO. 1, THINKS HE’S still the man, and insists he’s untouchable up to now.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. begins his quest to reclaim the world’s best pound for pound title when he tangles with Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

The official announcement of Mayweather’s return from his self-imposed retirement and details of the bout dubbed Number One vs Numero Uno was held Saturday morning (Sunday in Manila) at the Hollywood Theater.

“I left on top, and I came back on top,” he said. “I’m here to fight and reclaim what’s mine.”

The distinction of being pound for pound king now belongs to Manny Pacquiao, who wrested Ricky Hatton’s International Boxing Organization light welterweight crown with a second-round knockout Saturday night also at MGM Grand.

Unbeaten in 39 bouts
Mayweather, unbeaten in 39 bouts with 25 knockouts, and Marquez, holder of a 50-4-1 record with 37 knockouts, will fight at the catchweight of 143 lb.

The 32-year-old Mayweather reportedly wanted to fight at the welterweight limit of 147, but Marquez, 35, the WBC lightweight (135 lb) champion, didn’t want to go above 140.

It will be Mayweather’s first fight since stopping Hatton in the 10th round on Dec. 8, 2007.

“A small good man can’t beat a better big man,” said Mayweather, referring to Marquez, who was also in the press conference.

Talks have it that Pacquiao wants to face the winner between Mayweather and Marquez.For now, however, the two technically gifted fighters will have to sweat it out to come up on top.

Mayweather even bared that he’s very much in shape as he had been running seven to eight miles a day while waiting for the right time to announce his return.

“Realistically they feel it’s the best fight for them. Juan Manuel can’t wait to get the next best fight as he knows a (Manny) Pacquiao fight is still in limbo. Floyd is also eager to come back and knows Juan Manuel is the best fighter to shake off ring rust,” said a Las Vegas source days before the official announcement.

Sparred with RP prospect
Las Vegas-based trainer Tony Martin recently told the Inquirer that Mayweather Jr. has been training the last three months and even sparred with Filipino prospect and former amateur star Mark Jason Melligen in a Las Vegas Gym.

“Floyd liked Melligen the first time they sparred because the Filipino is young, skillful and eager. Floyd actually told Melligen to be one of his sparring partners once he goes full blast in training for his comeback fight,” Martin said.

Melligen saw action the other night in Las Vegas where he scored an eight-round unanimous decision victory over former David Diaz foe Ramon Montano of Mexico.

The 35-year-old Marquez (50-4-1, 37 knockouts) knocked out former undisputed champion Juan Diaz in the ninth round to claim the world lightweight crown in their 12-round fight last February at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Marquez has tools
De La Hoya said Marquez, who fights under his Golden Boy Promotions, has the tools to upset Mayweather Jr.

“Can we believe that now the bigger man is always going to win? When I fought Floyd it was competitive. When I fought Manny he stopped me. When Juan fought Manny— I don’t care what they say—Juan beat him. So I believe Juan can beat Mayweather. Marquez can never be counted out,” said De La Hoya.