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Floyd Jr. scraps retirement plan

As expected, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is ready to fight again. Maybe the briefest retirement in boxing history lasted less than three months.

Mayweather said Friday he will come back to face Ricky Hatton in a battle of unbeatens on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.

"I had to come out of retirement extremely quick," Mayweather said. "The fans are demanding it. The fans keep asking me to come back. We all know the sport of boxing needs Floyd Mayweather."

Mayweather (38-0, 24 knockouts) will meet Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs) at 147 pounds. The venue has yet to be announced, but the HBO pay-per-view bout probably will be at the MGM Grand Garden.

After winning a split decision over Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC super welterweight title on May 5 before a sellout crowd of 16,700 at the MGM Grand, Mayweather said, "Yes, I'm going to retire. I'm going out on top."

The 30-year-old "Pretty Boy" also promised De La Hoya would be his last opponent, leaving the door open for a rematch.

Mayweather's intention to retire was greeted with skepticism.

"I truly did believe Oscar would be my last opponent," Mayweather said. "But it's business, and I understand business."

De La Hoya-Mayweather was the largest-grossing fight in boxing history, and De La Hoya also will get a piece of Hatton-Mayweather, which will be put on by Mayweather Promotions and De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.

One week ago, De La Hoya said he was interested in a match with the 28-year-old Hatton, "The Hitman" from Manchester, England.

"We all know Oscar is just trying to keep his name out in the press," Mayweather said. "He just wants to take HBO on a roller-coaster ride for dates.

"I'm the biggest guy in boxing, and Oscar is No. 2. I put De La Hoya in his biggest-money fight. I respect Oscar because I do business with him. One thing about Oscar is he's a hell of a businessman, and I take my hat off to him for that."

Hatton retained his IBO super lightweight title by knocking out Jose Luis Castillo with a body shot in the fourth round on June 23 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

His next order of business was to challenge Mayweather by calling him a boring fighter.

"Ricky called Floyd out, and this is what boxing needs, a fight like this," said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's business adviser. "You've got two undefeated fighters at the top of their game coming together.

"He's in for a rude awakening if he thinks Floyd is like any other fighter he's faced. He's going to get exactly what he asked for, and when Floyd is done with him, he will think he was fighting four people at the same time."

Hatton's knockout of Castillo meant nothing to Mayweather.

"I saw Castillo get hit with a body shot, turn around and take five steps and sit down," Mayweather said. "It wasn't a big victory to me. I wasn't impressed.

"I've been in the ring against a lot better competition. You must realize, I'm giving Hatton the opportunity to be in the biggest fight of his career. I'm giving him a payday. I don't have to fight him."

Hatton met Castillo at 140 pounds. The bout at 147 could be for Mayweather's WBC welterweight title or his Ring Magazine title -- that detail and the venue might be decided by Monday, Ellerbe said.

The Thomas & Mack Center is booked on Dec. 8 for the National Finals Rodeo, and the MGM Grand Garden is the largest arena open on that date.

Since defeating De La Hoya, Mayweather has raised funds for various charities, spoken to kids and finalized his appearance on "Dancing With the Stars" on ABC this fall.

"Floyd hasn't even had a chance to take a vacation," Ellerbe said. "People see the flashy and flamboyant stuff. The other side of Floyd is he's a giving person."

Mayweather promised to give fans a show when he fights Hatton.

"I'm an entertainer," he said. "Ricky doesn't want to trash talk with me because no fighter can outtalk me. He can't fight with me, either. I'm the man in this sport."

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