Mayweather Defends His Title Against Aceves Tonight

How does one go about finding a world-class fighter?

That was hardly on Billy Baxter’s mind when the widely known Las Vegas boxing and gambling figure went to the Silver Slipper one night seven years ago for an evening of boxing.

But Baxter was certainly impressed with Roger Mayweather, a 20-year-old junior-lightweight from Grand Rapids, Mich., who was making his professional debut that night.

Fighters usually begin with four-rounders. Maybe five. But this kid was starting out with an eight-round bout that he won by decision.

“I asked myself, ‘Who in the hell is this kid?’ ” Baxter recalled.

He soon found out.

Mayweather’s manager, Frank Valenzano, was interested in selling half of the fighter’s contract. Baxter grabbed it for $12,500. Several months later, Valenzano was ready to sell out completely. Baxter bought the other half of Mayweather for $10,000.

The investment took seven years to pay dividends. Along the way, there were losses to Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez. But last November, Mayweather, with a sixth-round knockout at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, won the World Boxing Council’s super-lightweight title from Rene Arredondo. Arredondo went down three times before he was counted out.

Having fought once since, beating Marvin Garris on a seven-round knockout in a non-title bout in Las Vegas in January, Mayweather, with a 30-5 record and 21 knockouts, returns to the scene of his greatest glory tonight. He will defend his title at the Sports Arena in a 12-round bout against 27-year-old Mauricio Aceves of Mexico City. Aceves, 23-6 with 18 knockouts, is ranked No. 9 by the WBC.

Aceves has won nine in a row, eight by knockout, since losing in October of 1984 to Leoncio Peralta, who stopped Aceves in five.

Mayweather has fought four times as a 140-pounder and won all four by knockout.

Tickets tonight are scaled from $200 down to $20 with the first bell scheduled for 8 p.m.