Mayweather return looms over Hatton-Pacquiao fight

by Jim Slater

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, (AFP) - Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr reportedly will announce his return from a 17-month layoff just hours before Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton meet Saturday to decide which is his top rival.

Stealing the thunder from a long-awaited showdown for the pound-for-pound throne that Mayweather abdicated by retiring in December of 2007, the Los Angeles Times and ESPN reported that the 32-year-old American will fight again in July.

Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer has scheduled an afternoon news conference only six hours before Britain's Hatton and Filipino star Pacquiao fight for the Englishman's junior welterweight title.

The announcement is expected to be the return of Mayweather, 39-0 with 25 knockouts, on July 18 against Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4 with one draw and 37 knockouts at the same MGM Grand arena where Pacquiao will face Hatton.

ESPN reported that talks concluded Friday with a deal struck to stage the bout at a catch weight of 144 pounds, less than Mayweather's former undisputed 147-pound division crown but well above 135-pound champion Marquez's weight.

During the week leading up to Hatton-Pacquiao, Mayweather was a looming shadow. His return diminishes Pacquiao's claim as pound-for-pound champion and follows a 10th-round stoppage of Hatton 17 months ago.

"I would love another crack at him," Hatton said before news of Mayweather's return. "It would be a different outcome."

Mayweather's father, Floyd Mayweather Snr., serves as Hatton's trainer and had said last week that his son was back in the gym. A major question will be if father will help defeat son, something Mayweather Snr would not do when his son fought Oscar de la Hoya in 2007.

"This is a business," Mayweather Snr said. "He doesn't take care of me, so I have to take care of myself."

Pacquiao, seen as pound-for-pound king in Mayweather Jnr's absence after beating de la Hoya last December, said this week he would welcome a chance to fight Mayweather, also likely to come at a catch weight.

"I would fight him if he decided to fight again," Pacquiao said. "I can fight at different weights. It depends on the fighter."

Mayweather Snr taunted Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, with his take on the prospect of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight should Hatton lose Saturday.

"I know Freddie Roach does not want Manny Pacquiao fighting my son. He knows what's going to happen," Mayweather Snr said. "You know he ain't going to see Floyd. He's going to get knocked out by Ricky. Trust me."

Roach said he had no problem with the idea.

"Manny is not afraid of anyone," Roach said. "Whatever comes next comes next. If Floyd comes out of retirement, OK."

Mayweather played the loud-mouth role to the hilt against de la Hoya to help spark the richest fight in boxing history and also against Hatton in another huge pay-per-view moneymaker.

De la Hoya's large Hispanic following and Hatton's loyal British supporters were the financial engines driving the bouts.

But the challenge of Mayweather spurred profits and his return could help the sport now that de la Hoya has retired to focus on promotion and economic conditions worse than before.