The handlers of almost all gifted prospects are careful to ease them along the road to greatness. And for good reason: One slip up can spoil the best laid plans.
That’s why Floyd Mayweather Promotions’ approach to the young career of 17-year-old junior lightweight Curmel Moton is so striking. They expect the Hall of Famer’s protégé to accomplish special things in a matter of months, not years.
Moton has only one pro fight under his belt.
“We’ve surveyed the landscape and timing-wise we feel very comfortable saying he’ll be a world champion by the end of [next] year,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe told Boxing Junkie.
Moton became one of the U.S.’ top amateurs not long after his father introduced him to boxing at 5 years old and moved the family from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, where he caught Mayweather’s eye and quickly became a mainstay at his famous gym.
The prodigy won 18 national titles and says he finished his amateur career with a record of 144-6, leaving little doubt about his skillset.
He had his first professional test on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card on Sept. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he stopped overmatched Ezequiel Flores (4-1, 3 KOs) only 1 minute, 48 seconds into the scheduled six-rounder.
That was enough time see that he was no ordinary rookie, although he acknowledged that he had butterflies before the fight.
“The day of the weigh-in I was nervous,” Moton told Boxing Junkie. “The morning of the fight I was nervous. Then I put on my uniform (matching red-and-white shirt and trunks) and looked at myself in the mirror. I thought, ‘This is fresh!”
“I started feeling like [I belong here].”
The big question is whether Moton will ultimately belong among the best fighters in the world.
Ellerbe and Co. certainly believe so, which is why the company has sponsored him and surrounded him with some of the best fighters in the world since he was a child. They like everything about him, his ability (speed, power, instincts), his work ethic and the way he carries himself outside of the ring.
Ellerbe doesn’t want to compare him directly to Mayweather, which would impose unnecessary pressure on the young man. However, he sees potential greatness in him.
“Young fighters can get sidetracked,” Ellerbe said. “[Moton] just stayed the course and worked really hard to get to this point. I’m just really, really happy about what his future holds. He just has to continue to stay humble. That’s the key.
“As success comes he has to continue to work hard, stay focused, listen to his team. And the sky’s the limit.”
All this is why Moton will be fast-tracked along the lines of two-time Olympic champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, who fought for a major world title in his second professional fight.
He probably won’t emulate the feat of Wilfredo Benitez, who won a world title at 17. However, few in history have turned the trick at 18.
“Me personally and Floyd, we’ve had this conversation a number of times recently,” Ellerbe said. “This kid is special. And we’re going to handle him accordingly. His path is going to be a little different from most fighters his age who are good.
“He’s really, really special.”
Moton appreciates those words.
“I want to be one of the youngest world champions ever,” he said. “I want to make history, do great things in the sport.”
The top fighters in and around Moton’s weight are officially on notice.
