By Chris LaBate

Four division world champion Erik Morales confirmed that he was recently approached by Golden Boy Promotions, to see if he was interested in facing WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2012. Mayweather is planning to return on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Morales was approached by Golden Boy's CEO Richard Schaefer, but the Mexican champion was never presented with a financial offer.

“There was no proposal, no offer,” Morales told the Philippine Star newspaper. “All Schaefer wanted to know if I’d be open to fight Mayweather and I told him why not?”

Morales, who fought Manny Pacquiao three times, sat ringside last Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and watched Pacquiao win a controversial twelve round majority decision over Juan Manuel Marquez. Morales scored the fight in favor of Marquez and had his countryman winning a comfortable decision.

“I thought Marquez won seven or eight rounds and deserved to win,” said Morales. “I really didn’t know whom to cheer for. Of course, as a Mexican, I wanted Marquez to win. But I also wanted Manny to win because of my Filipino friends and besides, I didn’t want to share the honor of being the only Mexican to beat Manny."

"It wasn’t the same Manny I know who fought that night. He wasn’t mentally focused. I could sense something was wrong inside. I don’t know if it’s a family problem or whatever. But it was a different Manny who fought Marquez. I predicted Manny would beat Marquez easily. I was surprised by what happened. Manny lacked timing. He came in with 1-2 combinations but couldn’t follow up because he was getting hit. Something was very wrong."