Mayweather vs. Márquez - Number One/Numero Uno will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2009. It is a boxing superfight set at a catchweight of 144-pounds set to take place inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bout will mark the return of boxing's former "pound-for-pound" kingpin "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he has returns to action for the first time in 21 months to take on Mexico's pound-for-pound champion Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Márquez. The bout will take place in conjunction with Mexican Independence Day, traditionally a big boxing weekend. Interestingly, Mayweather Jr. announced he was coming out of retirement to face Márquez one day before Manny Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton on May 2nd of this year. Many speculate that Mayweather Jr. was not only motivated by money, but to reclaim his crown as the sport's "pound-for-pound" king, which is the mythical boxing status that Pacquiao seized in his absence.

During Mayweather Jr.'s time away from boxing, however, he had no trouble remaining in the headlines due to pro wrestling appearances in the WWE, a stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars", financial troubles with the IRS, and other legal woes that were reported as recently as last month. In that time, he has also rekindled the never-ending rivalry between Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts by making racially disparaging remarks about MMA fighters, stating that boxing is dominated by black and Hispanic fighters and that "white" fighters have nowhere else to fight, so they do MMA. More recently, Mayweather Jr. drew the ire of UFC president Dana White by criticizing the abilities of Rich Franklin and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (two main event fighters at UFC 103 on Saturday night), while posing the question: "If so many people want to watch those guys (MMA fighters) fight, then why isn't Dana White paying them like it?" Needless to say, the Mayweather vs. Márquez boxing event will be interesting outside of the ring as well, as it is the first time a major boxing event goes head-to-head on PPV against a major UFC card.

While Mayweather Jr. (39-0, 25 KO's) has always raised many questions due to his controversial nature, comments, and legal problems, he has never left any doubt inside the squared circle. His impeccable defensive, counter-striking style may not be the most exciting display of pugilism around, but it is unparalleled in the eyes of boxing purists, as he is a technician with worthy adversaries few and far between. On Saturday night, he will be facing one of the few men on the planet that is worthy of being mentioned in the same top "pound-for-pound" list, Mexico's favorite son Juan Manuel Márquez. After years of being overshadowed by his flashier countrymen Antonio Margarito, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Erik Morales, Márquez has finally earned the spotlight. His storied 55-fight pro career (50-4-1, 37 KO's) was recently enhanced in February, after he dismantled and KO'd the much younger, stronger, and aggressive Juan Diaz in Diaz' hometown of Houston, Texas. He came back to KO Diaz in the 9th round to defend his Ring lightweight title, and claimed the WBO, the WBA, and the IBO lightweight championship titles as well. He weighed-in at 134.5 pounds for that fight and will literally and figuratively face the biggest challenge of his career by moving up to face Mayweather Jr. at 144-pounds.

Other than "pound-for-pound" bragging rights and a mega-fight possibility against the winner of the Pacquiao-Cotto bout in November, there will not be an official title on the line between Mayweather and Márquez. The undercard, however, will feature two title bouts. Indonesia's Chris John defends his WBA featherweight title against the United States' Rocky Juarez. This will be a rematch after a controversial draw that many felt John should have won in Juarez' hometown of Houston, Texas, which was on the undercard of Márquez vs. Diaz bout in February. The other title fight will feature Australia's Michael Katsidis meeting the United States' Vicente Escobedo. Both men have competed in the Olympics and will vie for the vacant WBO interim lightweight title. Mayweather vs. Márquez - Number One/Numero Uno will air live on HBO - PPV at 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. PST.


The following are 20 key boxing categories and who I feel will have the edge in each during the Mayweather vs. Márquez bout:


Jab: Mayweather

Hook: Márquez

Cross: Mayweather

Uppercut: Márquez

Body Punching: Márquez

In Fighting: Mayweather

Combinations: Márquez

Defense: Mayweather

Hand Speed: Mayweather

Foot Speed: Mayweather

Strength: Mayweather

Ring Generalship: Mayweather

Versatility: Mayweather

Chin: Mayweather

Stamina: Mayweather

Motivation: Márquez

Finishing Ability: Márquez

Heart: Márquez

Superfight Experience: Mayweather

Fan Support: Mayweather