Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his July 18 opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez, will conduct a public news conference today at 2 p.m. at the Los Angeles Central Library's outdoor plaza.
Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) hasn't fought since knocking out England's Ricky Hatton in the 10th round of their December 2007 bout in Las Vegas. He was in negotiations to have a rematch against Oscar De La Hoya last summer when he opted to retire.
In his absence, Manny Pacquiao became the 2008 fighter of the year, according to the boxing writers, and claimed the mythical title of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Pacquiao's second-round destruction of Hatton on May 2 affirmed that title.
But now Mayweather has the opportunity, in a welterweight bout expected to be fought at a 144-pound catch weight, to defeat the man who has fought Pacquiao tougher than anyone in recent years. Marquez, a world lightweight champion, fought Pacquiao to a draw in 2003 after surviving three first-round knockdowns, and then lost in a narrow split decision in March 2008.
The popularity of Mexico's Marquez was obvious at Sunday's public appearance at Olvera Street, and his toughness gained even more credibility when he defeated the younger Juan Diaz by ninth-round TKO in February. It should be a pro-Marquez crowd today at the library, 630 W. 5th St.
The question is how Marquez will handle another move up in weight (he fought Pacquiao last year at 130 pounds) and deal with the brilliant speed of Mayweather. And how will the layoff affect Mayweather?
Both fighters and their representatives are scheduled to stop by The Times today and we will ask them those questions for use here at the Fabulous Forum and latimes.com/sports.
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