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Published: Sunday September 20, 2009 MYT 2:48:00 PM

Mayweather pummels Marquez in ring return

LAS VEGAS (AP): Floyd Mayweather Jr. returned to the ring with another emphatic victory, beating Juan Manuel Marquez in a unanimous decision Saturday.

Mayweather overpowered the smaller, lighter Marquez to maintain his perfect record in his return from retirement and a 21-month ring absence.

Mayweather knocked down Marquez in the second round and then peppered him with countless damaging shots to extend his career record to 40-0.

"Marquez is tough as nails," Mayweather said. "He's a great little man. He was really hard to fight, and he kept taking some unbelievable shots."

Mexico's Marquez fought at 64 kilograms (142 pounds), but just 18 months previous was fighting at 57 (125). He moved up two weight classes to be Mayweather's hand-picked comeback opponent at the MGM Grand Garden. At Friday's weigh-in, he was two kilos (four pounds) lighter than Mayweather, who paid a $600,000 penalty for missing the bout weight of 65 kilos (144 pounds).

The size disparity was obvious from the opening bell, but Marquez stayed on his feet for 12 one-sided rounds.

Mayweather had an astonishing edge in punch stats, landing 290 of his 493 blows (59 percent) while allowing just 12 percent of Marquez's 583 punches to land. Mayweather landed more jabs in each round than Marquez landed total punches, and just 16 percent of Marquez's power shots even got to Mayweather.

Mayweather often appeared to be toying with Marquez, who's generally considered among the world's top handful of fighters. Just 18 months ago, Marquez lost a narrow decision to Manny Pacquiao _ another mighty mite who's likely Mayweather's top choice for his next bout.

Pacquiao accepted a similarly mismatched challenge last year when he demolished Oscar De La Hoya, but the Golden Boy acknowledges his skills have diminished - and Mayweather clearly is still at the top of his game.

Mayweather was too heavy and too speedy for his undersized Mexican opponent in his first fight since stopping Ricky Hatton in December 2007. He then took a lengthy break from the sport that's dominated his life since he was a toddler, but returned for another eight-figure payday that should pay off his tax debts while setting up another megafight.

"I've been off for two years, so I felt like it took me a couple of rounds to really know I was back in the ring again," Mayweather said. "I know I'll get better."

Marquez was surprised by the first knockdown.

"He hurt me in that round, but not any other time," Marquez said. "I don't want to make any excuses, but the weight was the problem. He's too fast."

Judge Burt Clements gave every round to Mayweather, 120-107. Dave Moretti threw the eighth round to Marquez for a 119-108 total, while William Lerch gave two rounds to Marquez, 118-109. The Associated Press had a whitewash, 120-107.

On the undercard, Indonesia's Chris John retained his WBA featherweight title with a unanimous decision over American Rocky Juarez while Australia's Michael Katsidis took the interim WBO lightweight belt with a split-decision victory over American Vicente Escobedo.

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