LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Filipino World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao looked to have won the opening round of his rich once in-a-life time fight with American World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association counterpart Floyd Mayweather Jr. during Wednesday's final pre-fight press conference held at the AK Theater of the MGM Grand Hotel here.
The only man on earth to own 10 world championships in eight weight divisions again invoked God in his speech and seemed to have influenced the undefeated American, who at his turn at the microphone, likewise, thanked the Lord in making the fight realized.
Pacquiao promised to do his best as he expressed hope that his rival will also do the same. He invited his audience to watch the fight, which he assured will be a good one where all questions (left unanswered the past five years) will be answered. He thanked the media, who he said was also responsible for making the much-awaited long-overdue showdown happen.
The 'Fighter of the Decade' honoree of the Boxing Writers Association of America, likewise, expressed hope that Mayweather, after their historic confrontation, considered as the richest in the history of sweet science, can share with him their love for God.
Pacquiao refused to make a prediction on the result of the fight, except to say that "I'm excited and confident and felt for the first time that I'm ready to fight."
In a separate interview with media men before the press conference, Pacquiao said his only goal is to make the fans happy, reason why he prepared hard and long.
"The most important thing, I hope, the fight, will serve as inspiration to all the people in the world," he said.
"It's time to fight," Mayweather, for his part, said, at his turn in the pre-fight press conference interview. "Everything takes time, it's all about timing," the 47-0 win-loss record holder said. "I'm glad that we had the patience and didn't rush. The time is now, this is the right time for the fight."
"The only thing I can do is take it one day at a time", he said. "When the fight gets here, I will go out there and fight.
Mayweather and Pacquiao see each other face to face for only he third time, following their confrontation during the press tour in Los Angeles.
The five-division titleholder justified the five-year delay in his decision face Pacquiao, saying "from the beginning of my career, I've always had a game plan."
"It's just like chess. We make calculated moves in the ring and outside the ring. I got with the right team and surround myself with the right chess pieces," he said rather philosophically.
"I'm a lot wiser than I once was," he explained. "Our ultimate goal was to get to this point whether it was Manny or another.
This fight is about one fighter who is at the top fighting another fighter who is also at the top. It's about giving you guys, excitement."
"We don't know how the fight s going to play out, but I believe I am going to be victorious," Mayweather concluded.
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