Mayweather/Marquez Press Tour Kicks Off In LA

FLOYD MAYWEATHER AND JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ
KICK-OFF INTERNATIONAL MEDIA TOUR
SUNDAY IN LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles, CA (May 14, 2009) – The “press tour” to official announce the mega-fight between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez which will take place July 18th at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and live on HBO Pay-Per-View, kicks off this Sunday, May 17 and will span two continents in six days with stops in Los Angeles, New York and London.

“Now that Floyd is back, we need to let the world know it,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.  “The fight against Marquez will be one to remember and I am looking forward to getting on the road so the media and the fans can really get a sense of how great July 18th will be for the sport of boxing.”

“Mayweather and Marquez are two of the best, therefore it is fitting that they will be making appearances in three of the best cities in the world,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions.  “This fight has universal appeal with Mayweather stepping back into the ring and accepting the challenge of the great Juan Manuel Marquez.  I know fans around the country and around the world will want to be a part of this unprecedented night of boxing.”

Mayweather vs. Marquez: “Number One/Numero Uno,” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions in association with Marquez Promotions and sponsored by Cerveza Tecate and Southwest Airlines.  The 12-round bout will take place July 18th at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada and televised live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.

The press tour will begin in downtown Los Angeles with a rousing fan rally for Marquez at “Placita Olvera” (Olvera Street), which is part of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and known as the “birthplace” of the city of Los Angeles.  Highly touted prospect Victor Ortiz and other Mexican-American fighters will be there to support Marquez and fans are encouraged to attend and show their support for Marquez as he prepares to face Mayweather, who recently came out of retirement after 16 months away from the ring.

The Los Angeles leg of the tour will continue on Monday, May 18 with a bevy of interviews for the fighters and an outdoor, open to the public, press conference in front of the Los Angeles Public Library Central Library downtown before the tour caravan jets across the country to New York for the tour's next stop.

Immediately following the two days of media activities in Los Angeles, another two days worth of appearances in the Big Apple will be on tap, including a press conference at a site fit for a fight of this huge magnitude – the tallest building in New York – The Empire State Building.  Mayweather, who is the King Kong of boxing, will stand with Marquez on the 80th floor of the world's most renowned skyscraper to discuss their mega-fight which can only be described as a challenge of the tallest order in their respective careers.  Following the press conference, a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity will be staged on the 86th Floor Observatory, which is host to over 3.5 million visitors per year.

Following New York, the fighters will fly across the Atlantic to Londonfor a whirlwind tour of the capital of the United Kingdom.  With a press conference on Thursday, a Mayweather open workout on Friday and media appearances throughout, Mayweather and Marquez will spend two full days promoting this mega-event which will also be shown in the UK.