LAS VEGAS (June 12, 2009) - Floyd Mayweather, a six-time world champion and a proud member of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team,  is back, and hopes to breathe new life into the long-standing tradition of American dominance in the sport of boxing. In recognition of his heritage and in celebration of two of America's upcoming holidays-the nation's Flag Day, June 14, and Independence Day, July 4-Mayweather has wrapped his Las Vegas-based boxing gym (see photos below) with an American flag and will host an early July 4 barbecue for Las Vegas youth on Wednesday, July 1 when he opens training camp to the media covering his upcoming bout with Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday, July 18, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas live on HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

"I embrace my patriotism and feel boxing has lost a bit of its 'American' luster, which I intend to change immediately," said Mayweather. "We have dominated the sport which, like the United States, has always stood for hard work and dedication, and I intend to use my comeback as a way to bring it back around and remind everyone that the best fighters are American and it will always stay that way."   

Each June 14, the President of the United States makes a proclamation to the citizens of the United States asking them to fly the flag and support what it means to be an American. To this day, the flag preserves the deep dedication to independence, equality and opportunity made by the founding fathers of the United States. The stars and stripes red, white and blue design is known around the world as a beacon of freedom and hope.

"The American flag is a symbol of everything my family and I stand for," said Mayweather, "I live in the best country in the world, and on Flag Day and the Fourth of July I'm going to show off my American pride."

Mayweather will also host an early July 4 barbecue for local Las Vegas youth on Wednesday, July 1, when he also opens his training camp to media members covering the fight.

"We will be cooking up a storm-both in and out of the gym," said Mayweather.  "I have been known to charbroil a perfect hot dog, as well as several of my opponents throughout my career."

Mayweather, who also invited President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to his first fight back after an 18-month sabbatical that started after his last fight against Ricky Hatton in December 2007, is looking forward to celebrating both holidays with his family and friends, all the while keeping his intensive training schedule on track.

"Obama once said, 'Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek,' and I could not agree more," said Mayweather. "On July 18, I will show the world of boxing what it has been missing and bring back the American flare that the sport is crying out for."

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 welterweight bout will take place Saturday, July 18, at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tickets priced at $1,000, $750, $600 and $300, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now.  Ticket sales at $1,000, $750, $600 and $300 are limited to a total ticket limit of 10 per person.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800)745-3000.  Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Mayweather vs. Marquez pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $49.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Mayweather vs. Marquez fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com.

HBO's  Emmy®-Award-winning all-access reality series "24/7" returns to HBO® with an all new edition as "Mayweather/Marquez 24/7" premieres Saturday, June 27 at 9:30 p.m. The four-episode series will chronicle the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their July 18 pay-per-view showdown.