Meet Floyd Mayweather's 17-year-old protege who boxing legend wanted to challenge for world title in
FLOYD MAYWEATHER has such high hopes for his latest boxing protege he put him forward to challenge for a world title on his debut.
Curmel Moton is the No1 ranked in Team USA with an astonishing 18 amateur titles to his name.
But he has now set his sights on turning professional and is set to do so on Saturday night when Canelo Alvarez fights Jermell Charlo.
Moton has been mentored by American great Mayweather since he was a boy and idolises the Hall of Fame champion.
And Mayweather believes in his talent so much, he called out WBA featherweight champion Leigh Woods on Moton's behalf.
Mayweather told FightHype: "Leigh Wood – I’ve got a 126-pounder Curmel Moton that would be a good match now.
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"He’s turning professional. We take chances to be great. Eddie Hearn is a good businessman, and I’m a good businessman.
“Our guy is 0-0; we’ll take the fight. I’ll put all the money up for both sides. My guy’s 17, he’s destined to be great.
"Remember I told you that. Listen, we take chances to be great. All I’m saying is this, that’s a good match-up."
Wood responded by instead calling to fight retired Mayweather, while Moton prepares for his first professional bout.
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Canelo, 33, defends his undisputed super-middleweight titles against Jermell Charlo, also 33, in Las Vegas.
And it helps pave the way for Moton to make his debut.
Most states in America will only license a professional from the age of 18 onwards but Vegas permit 17-year-olds.
Moton has already sparred sparred world champion and pound-for-pound star Gervonta Davis, with the two already being compared.
The prospect has also received the backing of current champs Errol Spence Jr., Shakur Stevenson and Rolando Romero.
But perhaps the greatest honour of all, he is being touted as the sport's next big thing by its former pay-per-view king.
Mayweather, 46, said: "We don't know who's going to be the next Floyd Mayweather.
"But I truly believe this could be the next Floyd Mayweather."
Despite the praise coming in thick and fast for Moton, the teen talent remains cool, calm and collected.
He told FightHype: "I can handle the pressure. I've been putting work in my whole life and I'm used to it.
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"I've been doing this since a little kid so it's nothing new to me."
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