LAS VEGAS – Unbeaten. Age 18. Mentored by Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
A video reporter filmed Curmel Moton walking through Mandalay Bay accompanied by just one friend Saturday before he disposed of Renny Viamonte on the PBC on Prime Video undercard of Armando Resendiz’s upset of Caleb Plant.
That kind of low profile isn’t going to last for the Las Vegas lightweight who has shown such promise in building his record to 8-0 with 6 KOs before his 19th birthday this week.
“I’m trusting my team. Whoever they put in front of me, I’ll fight. I’ll get back in the gym Monday and be ready,” Moton told reporters following his victory.
Seen as a rare talent that promoter Mayweather has taken an interest in, similar to his former protege Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Moton is keenly aware of the expectations for him.
He’s driven “to live up to it. That’s why I work in the gym so hard every day. I make all the sacrifices I have to live up to the name I have. This is what I wanted. Keep climbing the ranks, keep upping the competition, moving toward a title shot.”
Although he’s fought at weights ranging from 127 to 137lbs, Moton said he will campaign as a lightweight – perhaps boxing’s strongest division that counts world champions Davis, Raymond Muratalla and Shakur Stevenson and contenders Lamont Roach Jnr and Abdullah Mason.
While Moton has proven he’s capable of finishing foes, he showed his interest in displaying patience and delivering a more sophisticated showing Saturday in winning by three 80-72 scores.
“If the [knockout] came, it came. I pressed the pace to slowly break him down,” he said.
Mayweather was there to watch in person, advising Moton to work the bout as the unbeaten Hall of Fame fighter often did, particularly during the latter portion of his career when he habitually cruised to victories by wide decisions.
“I got Floyd behind me. I can pick his brain at all times. He came to the corner, told me to take my time, be patient, slow down. I hurt [Viamonte] a few times. He was a game fighter. I put on a good show,” Moton said. “There’s times Floyd says to get on my toes. Different times, I can box ‘em.”
PBC will likely place Moton on one of its coming Prime Video pay-per-view undercards, with Manny Pacquaio’s return scheduled July 19 and Davis-Roach II coming August 16.
“I don’t know what’s next, but I’ll be waiting on the call,” Moton said, describing himself as the division’s best prospect and proving he’s learned quickly from Mayweather’s confident tone. “I work harder. I’m the total package.”