Mayweather to come out of retirement in July

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Floyd Mayweather Jr will come out of retirement in July and fight Mexico's five times world champion Juan Manuel Marquez, the American said on Saturday.

"I'm ready to return to boxing and give people another dose of the Mayweather experience," said the 32-year-old, who will take on Marquez in a non-title welterweight fight on July 18.

"When it comes to fight time, I'll be ready physically and mentally. I just want to be the best that I can be," he told a packed news conference at the MGM Grand Hotel.

Mayweather, the undefeated five-division world champion, has not fought since his 10th round stoppage of Britain's Ricky Hatton in a WBC welterweight title bout in December 2007.

Widely regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, Mayweather announced his retirement from boxing for a second time in 13 months last June.

The American, with an unblemished career record of 39-0 with 25 knockouts, said he would not fight again because he had lost his desire for the sport but his passion has returned.

"I left on top and I came back on top," said Mayweather. "I'm here to fight and reclaim what is mine.

"When I made my decision to retire last year, I felt like it was time for me to go as I had been boxing my whole life and felt like I had done all that I could do.

"But after I had time to rest, enjoy life with my family and friends, I started to miss the competition and my fans."

Mayweather will face Marquez at the MGM Grand's Garden Arena where the best pound-for-pound fighter tag will be on the line.

FURIOUS SLUGFEST

Marquez stopped American Juan Diaz in the ninth round of a furious slugfest for the IBO lightweight title in February, along with the vacant WBA and WBO crowns.

"I want to thank Mayweather for giving me the opportunity to fight with him," Marquez, 35, said.

"To be the best fighter you need the best fight, and this fight is for who is the best number one right now."

In May 2007, Mayweather had announced he would quit boxing after beating fellow American Oscar De La Hoya on a split decision in Las Vegas to claim the WBC super welterweight title.

He changed his mind and was scheduled to meet De La Hoya in an eagerly-anticipated rematch last September after beating Hatton. He then announced his retirement from the sport in June.

"I retired from the sport but it was as if I had never made an announcement," Mayweather said. "Fighters were constantly calling me out and fans would stop me all the time and ask me to make a return.

"It feels good to be back and, trust me, I will deliver the same electrifying performances I always have throughout my career. Lately I have been running seven, eight miles a day and I'm in tremendous shape."

(Editing by Ken Ferris)