Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Sr.: Floyd Jr.'s Best, Pound-For-Pound

Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Sr. both agree with Floyd Jr. that his return to the sport should be as boxing's best fighter, pound-for-pound.

"Nobody beat him. He's still undefeated. He's still Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's like your read a book and you're in the 10th chapter, and you close the book to take a nap," said De La Hoya. "You open the book, once again, when you wake up and you pick up where you left off. It's a continuation."

Sept. 19 will mark the return of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to the ring, when the unbeaten former champion takes on 36-year-old former champion, Juan Manuel Marquez, at a catchweight of 144 pounds at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Mayweather (39-0, 25 knockouts) retired after a 10th-round stoppage (watch video of the last round by clicking here) of England's Ricky Hatton in December of 2007, but will end a near two-year layoff when he enters the ring opposite Marquez, who is 50-4 with 37 knockouts.

Five months prior to facing Hatton, Mayweather had beaten De La Hoya by unanimous decision.

During a conference call last week, Mayweather let on that his primary motivation for the comeback is to supplant Philippines fighter Manny Pacquiao's present status as boxing's best fighter, pound-for-pound.

Floyd Sr. said that he agrees with his son that he already is the best, "Without a doubt."

"Without any question, Little Floyd is the pound-for-pound best. Right now, even with the two-year layoff," said Mayweather Sr. "I think the guys have a better chance against him, but, to me, Pacquiao, I wouldn't call him a good fighter at all. That's my opinion because I see too many things that he do."

Mayweather Jr. insisted that Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), boxing's 2009 Fighter Of The Year, defeated rivals he already had exposed when Pacquiao scored consecutive knockouts over De La Hoya and Hatton in December of 2008, and, May of 2009, in eight and two rounds, respectively.

"Once again, when I beat those guys, it wasn't nothing," said Mayweather Jr. "But when [Pacquiao] beat them, 'Oh, it's so unbelievable.'"

Mayweather has taken some criticism for naming as his comeback opponent the smaller man in Marquez, who has not fought higher than 135 pounds while Mayweather has competed at a weight as high as 150.

In Marquez, he should receive credit, said Mayweather Jr., for facing a man Pacquiao already has beaten just as the Filipino has in defeating De La Hoya and Hatton.

De La Hoya agreed with Floyd Jr.'s assessment that he was physically drained from weight loss during his loss to Pacquiao.

"Just to set the record straight: When I fought Floyd, I was in my weight class. I felt strong. Obviously, that fight was a good fight for me. I'm fighting the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Floyd and I was doing great. I was in the fight," said De La Hoya, who weighed 154 pounds when he lost to the 150-pound Mayweather.

"When I faced Pacquiao, I lost the fight before I got into the ring. I made the mistake of coming in below the weight," said De La Hoya, who was trained by Floyd Sr. against Pacquiao. "I made 141 pounds a month before the fight, which was a huge mistake on my part. There was nobody to blame but myself."

Floyd Jr. also believes that Hatton -- trained by Floyd Sr. at the time -- was a confused fighter who was in transition from a brawling style to that of a boxer when he was stopped by Pacquiao.

"[Floyd Jr.] probably did beat the best Hatton," said Floyd Sr. "Hatton is a good fighter, but he was limited."

In addition, said Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao has received credit for his two wars with Marquez -- one of which ended in a draw, and the other, in a decision for Pacquiao -- even as Marquez insists that he was the winner of both clashes.

"'Where was this guy Pacquiao when I was dominating in the 90s?'" asked Mayweather, referring to the fact that Pacquiao was twice knocked out in three rounds by Filipino countryman Rustico Torrecampo in February of 1996, and, Thailand's Medgoen Singsurat of in September of 1999.

"Floyd Jr. does have an argument. He hung up the gloves because he felt that he had accomplished everything that he wanted to accomplish," said De La Hoya. "He felt that he left the sport as the best and now, he wants to come back and fight again. I think, come Sept. 19, you're going to see the best Floyd and the best Marquez."

Marquez, who told FanHouse that he weighed 143 pounds during an exclusive interview, is coming off of consecutive stoppages of former champs, Joel Casamayor, and, Juan Diaz, respectively, in 11, and, nine rounds, while weighing 135, and, 134.5 in those bouts.

Although he supports Mayweather's assertion that he is boxing's premiere fighter, De La Hoya said that he is convinced -- after a recent visit to Marquez's training quarters in Mexico City -- that the underdog has the stuff to defeat Mayweather.

"I went down to Mexico and saw him train with my own eyes. I saw how much he bulked up. I saw how much strength he's gained. I saw how seriously he's taking this fight. I'm convinced he'll win this fight," said De La Hoya.

"Juan Manuel is looking sharp, he's looking fast, he's looking strong," said De La Hoya. "He knows that he has to put his life on the line and he's willing to do that. I just have this feeling after watching Marquez that he's going to pull it off."