Floyd Mayweather Jr credits a trip to the Bahamas with his mother for sparking his comeback this week.

The undefeated American will face Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in a non-title welterweight bout in Las Vegas on Saturday, his first fight since beating Britain's Ricky Hatton in December 2007.

Mayweather, a former world champion at five different weights, retired after that fight because he had lost his desire for the sport.

"I was going to the gym, playing basketball and partying a little," said Mayweather. "I travelled a lot."

It was on one of those trips, according to Mayweather, that his mother Deborah said to him: "Everyone on the island keeps asking when you're going to fight again."

Having mulled over those words, the American returned to his home town of Las Vegas where he went to the boxing gym and sparred eight rounds. After sounding out several friends, he decided to fight again.

"After I had time to rest and enjoy life with my family and friends, I started to miss the competition and my fans," said Mayweather.

Marquez has won 50 of his 55 contests but Mayweather added: "I don't worry about no fighter. Fighters have to worry about me."