BOXING Mayweather ready to move up

The WBC lightweight champ has his sights set on Oscar De La Hoya.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Undefeated lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has his sights set on bigger game, which may lead to a fight with junior-middleweight star Oscar De La Hoya.
Mayweather, 26, who retained his WBC lightweight championship with a devastating seventh-round knockout of South African Phillip Ndou Saturday night, says he's ready to move up to the 140-pound junior-welterweight division and even campaign as a welterweight (147 pounds) or junior middleweight (154).
Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promoted Saturday's card, would like to see Mayweather, who was born in Grand Rapids, fight junior welterweight Arturo Gatti or welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga next.
"My hands have healed and my body is strong," said Mayweather, who dropped Ndou with a series of vicious lefts and rights to the head at 1 minute, 50 seconds of Round 7 at a rowdy Van Andel Arena. "I'm a more mature, smarter fighter now. I'm looking forward to Gatti."
Dominated title fight
Making his third 135-pound defense, Mayweather (31-0, 21 KOs) dominated Ndou from the opening bell, landing solid combinations against his taller opponent.
Ndou (31-2, 30 KOs), who came into the fight with the reputation of a big puncher, showed plenty of heart but rarely landed his right hand, which had been his best weapon in past fights. In the fifth round, Mayweather attacked Ndou with lefts and rights, backing his game opponent up against the ropes.
Unleashing a barrage of punches midway through the seventh, Mayweather put Ndou down. Referee Frank Garza wisely stopped the fight as Ndou's corner prepared to throw in the towel.
"I fought the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world tonight," said Ndou, 26. "He's the best -- something special. But this is only my second loss. I'll be back."
Mayweather, who said he was in the best shape of his career, praised Ndou. "He put up one heck of a fight in my backyard," Mayweather said. "This was a rugged fight, and we did a lot of head-banging."
Mayweather urged Ndou to keep fighting. "He can't quit -- he's going to be a world champion one day," said Mayweather, who is 13-0 in championship bouts.