Mayweather’s possible finale means much to Jack

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s boxing career may or may not end Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden. But Badou Jack has no plans to join Mayweather in retirement that night.

The Las Vegas resident makes the first defense of his World Boxing Council super middleweight title on the Mayweather-Andre Berto undercard when he faces George Groves on Showtime Pay Per View. Jack (19-1-1, 12 knockouts) won the title April 24 with a 12-round majority decision over Anthony Dirrell.

"I had to work so hard to get this title," Jack said. "Now that I have it, I'm going to work extra hard to keep it."

Jack, one of Mayweather Promotions' top fighters, said that to be on the same card as his boss is an unexpected blessing. He initially was going to headline his own card Aug. 22 on a Premier Boxing Champions telecast.

"I'll get more exposure on Big Bro's card," he said, referring to Mayweather. "It's an honor to be selected to be part of what's going to be his last fight."

Jack said he's making sure his endurance and strength are at an optimum level for Groves (21-2, 16 KOs), whose only losses were to Carl Froch.

"He's a good fighter," Jack said of Groves. "I want to make sure my defense stays sharp and I don't make the same mistake I made against (Derek) Edwards."

Jack is referring to the only blemish on his record, when he was knocked out in the first round on Feb. 28, 2014, after getting careless and walking into a big right hand from Edwards that caught him flush on the temple and ended the fight.

"I made a mistake," Jack said. "I threw a lazy jab, and I paid for it. But it may have helped me. I didn't overlook (Edwards). But it reminds me that I need to always stay focused in the ring."

Jack, 32, sees himself moving up to light heavyweight at some point. But he wants to enjoy his reign as super middleweight champion.

"I'd like to defend the title a couple of times first," he said. "It's a great feeling to be a world champion. It's something I dreamed about from when I started boxing, so I want to enjoy it."

KING RETURNS — Hall of Fame promoter Don King returns to Las Vegas on Aug. 28 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center with a card featuring heavyweight Trevor Bryan (15-0, 11 KOs) against Derric Rossy (30-9, 14 KOs) in a 10-round main event on Showtime.

In the co-feature, middleweight Juan Ubaldo Cabrera (23-0, 16 KOs) meets Mike Gavronski (18-1-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout. The Showtime telecast will open with heavyweight Natu Visinia (11-1, nine KOs) facing Joey Dawejko (14-4-2, seven KOs) in an eight-round bout.

PBC ON FSN1 — Premier Boxing Champions and Fox Sports 1 announced a TV deal that will run on Tuesdays from Sept. 8 to June 30.

"Toe-to-Toe Tuesdays" debuts with former junior middleweight champion Austin Trout (29-2, 16 KOs) facing Joey Hernandez (24-3, 14 KOs) in the 10-round main event. The co-feature pits junior featherweight Jorge Lara (27-0-1, 19 KOs) against Jesus Rojas (21-1, 15 KOs).

On Sept. 15, Sammy Vasquez (19-0, 13 KOs) will face Jose Lopez (25-3, 15 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight main event. Thomas Williams (18-1, 12 KOs) will meet Umberto Savigne (12-2, nine KOs) in the 10-round light heavyweight co-feature.

The Sept. 22 card features junior middleweight Julian Williams (20-0-1, 12 KOs) against Luciano Cuello (35-3, 17 KOs) in the 10-round main event. The 10-round co-feature matches junior featherweights Moises Flores (23-0, 16 KOs) and Emmanuel Cusolito (21-1, 19 KOs).

On Sept. 29, world super featherweight champion Javier Fortuna (28-0, 20 KOs) defends his title against 2004 Puerto Rico Olympian Carlos Vasquez (19-1, 12 KOs) in the 12-round main event. And Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina (13-0, 10 KOs) will meet Domonique Dolton (17-0, nine KOs) in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.

Venues for the cards haven't been announced. Veteran boxing announcer Brian Kenny will host the telecasts.

STILL NEGOTIATING — The highly anticipated middleweight fight between Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 21 at Mandalay Bay and on HBO Pay Per View, has not been finalized.

There were reports last week that everything was set. But Cotto attorney Gaby Penagarciano said nothing has been signed, much to the frustration of Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya.

"Everyone's on board," De La Hoya, who promotes Alavarez, said last week. "Canelo's on board. Cotto's on board. The only one holding things up is Gaby Penagarciano.

"We still have time, but I want to get moving on promoting this fight. This is going to be a great fight, and I think it can do huge numbers. But we need to get this deal done."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj