Pacquiao: Making fans happy
The media event to hype the fight was in L.A. and had a serious air about it, befitting what is predicted to be the biggest fight in the history of the sport, with total revenue in the $250 million range. The fighters wore suits and did their version of the obligatory staring contest. They also stood, boxer to boxer, and addressed the hordes of cameras, notepads and mobiles.
First to talk was the 36-year-old Pacquiao and, humble man that he is, he spoke as much about the fan who’s waited for this fight as about himself. He is obviously looking forward to May 2 in Las Vegas to show the world that the five losses he has (57-5-2) don’t mean he isn’t the greatest pound for pound fighter of his era. And if he can beat the undefeated favorite Mayweather (47-0) he will indeed prove just that.
“I just want the fans to be satisfied,” Pacquiao said. “I am so happy we could make the fight happen. Thanks to the Mayweather Team and to Showtime and HBO. The fans of boxing were waiting for this for five years. We are both going to train hard and we will do our best on May 2 to make you happy.
“This fight is very important in boxing history,” he added. “We don’t want to leave a question mark in the minds of fans.”
Mayweather: Wants win badly
The 38-year-old Mayweather didn’t take as noble a route. While saying the fight had been “a long time coming” and he was glad it is finally here, he also made certain to let everyone know he expects to win.. Let them know that being undefeated at this late stage of his career means something: that he only knows one thing.
“Our plan is to be smart and take every fight as they come like all 47 fights,” Mayweather said. “I’m in the gym pushing myself to the limit, because I want to win this more than any other fight. But I know one thing about sport, and if you lose, it’s in your mind. I have always been a winner.
“I have never wanted to win a fight so bad in my life,” he added. “This is a fight the world can’t miss. I have a tough task in front of me. It’s always good to see the best fight the best.”
Negotiations for Superfight
As virtually every boxing fan on the planet knows, the last round of talks that lead to the contract at last being signed on Feb. 20, was quite likely the longest negotiations in the history of boxing.
The negotiations went on and on, with peaks and valleys throughout — they would fight, they would not, they signed, they had not signed. There was a meeting between the two fighters in Miami — the first time they’d met — and rumors of Mayweather backing out because he didn’t want to risk a loss.
But now it is almost here — only seven weeks away — and even the lone press conference is over. The boxers and their trainers, Freddie Roach for Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Sr. for Mayweather, along with their hired guns (sparring partners) are working hard. It has been six years in the making and all of it devoted to about one hour of action, maybe less.
“The waiting helped the fight,” said Pacquiao. “More people know the fight.” He may be right, but this is a fight that didn’t need much help.
