LAS VEGAS — American boxing prospect Curmel Moton had only been back in the US for a matter of days before he returned to training at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas.
Moton advanced his pro boxing record Saturday to 5-0 (4 KOs) with a first-round knockout win over Victor Vazquez in Mexico, on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s exhibition with John Gotti III.
With oversized shorts and a baby-face, 18-year-old Moton feinted, jabbed, and kept his body movement on point to evade Vazquez’s attacks. Before long, Moton had Vazquez all figured out, clubbed him to the side of the head with a thudding left hand, and saw his opponent crash into the ropes, and then onto the canvas, after hitting him with a flurry he couldn’t answer.
The referee began administering a count but as Vazquez got up to wobbly feet, waved the fight off. Moton celebrated by mounting the turnbuckle. He’d done it again.
The first person to enter the ring to join Moton’s celebrations was Richard Schaefer, the new CEO at Mayweather Promotions.
Schaefer replaced Leonard Ellerbe, who continues to work closely with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis at GTD Promotions, Rolly Romero who fights Manuel Jaimes on September 14, and Premier Boxing Champions, according to World Boxing News sources with knowledge of the situation.
Mayweather announced the news on Instagram, saying mid-June: “Our goal is to elevate Mayweather Promotions to global success.”
Schaefer first began in the boxing business in 2000, joining Oscar de la Hoya’s new business Golden Boy Promotions. He founded his own brand Ringstar Sports in 2016, merged with Hayemaker Promotions in 2017, and launched the World Boxing Super Series that same year. More recently, he launched Probellum in 2021, joined Anthem Sports Group in 2023 which has links to MMA firms, and is advisor to MMA GOAT Jon Jones. He joined Mayweather Promotions in 2024, to reignite a working relationship with Mayweather.
Moton didn’t meet Schaefer in the summer, World Boxing News understands. However, they met face-to-face in Mexico and Schaefer was full of praise for the red-hot teenage prospect, Moton told us. “I met him out there and we talked.”
One of the first things Schaefer told Moton was this: “You’re an amazing fighter, I believe in you, and I’m going to support you.”
Moton told us Schaefer also said to look at Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, a 65-fight veteran, four-weight world champion boxer, and pound-for-pound staple.
“The last big [boxer] I worked with when you were younger was Canelo,” Moton said Schaefer told him. “And you see where he’s at now.”
Because of Schaefer’s experience, and his long-time affiliation with Mayweather, and the Mayweather Boxing Club, Moton feels his career is being looked after in the best possible way.
“I trust him and Floyd,” Moton told WBN. “They have a plan for me, I’ll follow their lead, and enjoy the ride.”
Moton may already have learned a valuable lesson from Mayweather, a fighter renowned not only for his defensive prowess in the ring but his dedication to fitness outside of it, too. He really lived the life of an athlete during his heyday, regardless of whether he had a fight lined up, or not.
The 18-year-old is similar. World Boxing News has frequently visited the Mayweather Boxing Club since Moton turned pro in 2023, and the fighter has always been there — either training by himself, or watching his friends at the club spar.
And, just days after his knockout win in Mexico, he was back in the Mayweather gym, training, and staying sharp. It’s the key, he said, to staying humble.
“I’ll never forget where I come from, it’s my life,” said Moton. “I’m always here every day. This is what I do.”
Alan Dawson is World Boxing News Lead Writer, a 2 x Sports Journalist of the Year finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
