"I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won't be great enough to beat me" - Mayweather(credit:
Wikipedia)
Floyd Mayweather Jr has signed to fight WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley
The superfight will take place at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas on May 1st.
Mosley put pen to paper on contracts last week. Floyd chose to keep fight fans on tenterhooks for a few more days.
The fight is a hybrid of two scheduled bouts that fell by the wayside for very different reasons. Mayweather was originally due to meet Manny Pacquiao in a megafight next month, but negotiations between the fighters and their camps broke down over drug testing protocol.
Mosley was due to meet Haitian-American Andre Berto, the WBC welterweight champion in a unification bout last month, but Berto pulled out of that fight in the wake of the Haitian earthquake disaster that claimed the lives of several members of his family.
The resulting fight has captured the imagination of fight fans the world over. Mayweather will start a clear favorite, but Mosley has a history of causing huge upsets, and with his do or die spirit, anything is possible.
Boookmakers William Hill make Mayweather the early 1/4 favourite with Mosley 11/4.
Both fighters issued statements to the public late last night.
"This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn't going to waste anyone's time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately," said Mayweather.
"I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won't be great enough to beat me."
Mosley said; "I have always wanted to fight Floyd and now it is finally coming true. I am already in great shape and ready to show everyone on May 1 that I am stronger, faster and better than he is. I will have no problem beating him."
Both fighters have agreed to undergo Olympic-style drug testing for the fight.