?The Moment? is only 10 days away, and with the fight being so close, and the promotion heating up with the debut of All-Access last weekend, all that is left is to get the final thoughts from both boxers before they enter the ring. Floyd Mayweather Jr, boxing?s current p4p king recently sat down for an international media press call to share his views on the event ahead.
Mayweather spoke about the opponent in Maidana, how he plans to deal with ?Chino?s? aggressive style and his prediction for the fight. Floyd also commented on Manny Pacquiao?s recent return to the ring, and where the sport of boxing ranks in his life. Here are some highlighted quotes from Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Thoughts on Devon Alexander having success against Maidana
Floyd Mayweather Jr: I think what?s different is, Maidana may not be accustomed to fighting southpaws. That could have played a major key into his fight with Devon Alexander. I think with Maidana facing me, his confidence has built after he beat Adrien Broner because he feels both of the styles are very similar. He?s more confident now.
Leonard Ellerbe: I got first hand information in the Maidana-Alexander fight. Maidana was asked to pull out of the fight because he was very sick right before the Alexander fight. He was asked to pull out but he refused to. He?s not one to make any excuses, but the facts are what the facts are.
Thoughts on Manny Pacquiao?s performance against Timothy Bradley
Floyd Mayweather Jr: I did watch the fight. I hadn?t seen Pacquiao fight in years ? I?ve seen highlights, but I haven?t seen Pacquiao fight since he fought Miguel Cotto. Congratulations, he was the better man.
As far as Bradley, I think whoever he?s working with, they have to make a lot of changes because he?s lifting too many weights. He?s more worried about how he looks when he gets on the scale instead of how he performs inside the ring.
Bradley went out there and fought his heart out but I think he was throwing a lot of shots like an amateur. I think he was making a lot of mistakes and he was very fatigued early on. I think that he was making a lot of mistakes, falling off balance and fighting like an amateur.
I think both fighters fought like amateurs. I thought Pacquiao fought like an amateur also. I wasn?t pleased with his performance. I?m seeing something totally different with Pacquiao, but still that don?t make me say, ?I?m gonna go out there and fight him,? because he?s with Bob Arum and I?m with Mayweather Promotions.
Mayweather on his approach to the fight with Maidana, and what role body shots will play
Floyd Mayweather Jr: I can?t just go in there just looking to just go to the body. The guy could have been doing a lot of sit ups. Amir Khan could have just caught him with a good shot. My body is in very good condition, but sometimes a guy can hit me with a good shot and I can feel it.
How we?re gonna approach the fight is, we?re gonna take out time, if the guy leaves an opening on his face we?re gonna take it, if he leaves an opening on his body, we?re gonna take it. We?re gonna take our time and pick the guy apart. I think the gameplan is to sit in the pocket, make the guy miss and make the guy pay.
What does Maidana do best?
Floyd Mayweather Jr: It?s obvious he punches extremely hard if he got an 80% knockout ratio. It?s obvious that?s his best attribute, but a lot of times when a guy is swinging big shots and they?re not landing, you get fatigued like that.
How many times he?s been hurt in a fight
Floyd Mayweather Jr: I?m not really sure but you get hit with good shots sometimes, but any true champion just shakes it off and keeps fighting, that?s a part of the fight game.
Does he think Maidana can outbox him for 12 rounds?
Floyd Mayweather Jr: Adrien Broner is a good boxer and he roughed Adrien Broner up and got the victory. We can?t say what this guy can and can?t do. We can?t overlook this guy, because it?s not gonna be an easy fight for me.
What I got to do is make sure I?m at my best. May 3rd I gotta go out there and keep my composure, and be me. Everybody thinks he?s just gonna be a pushover but I don?t think so, and that?s why I?m training hard and pushing myself to the limit every day.
Is boxing more important in his life now than before
Floyd Mayweather Jr: Well boxing is very important to me and always will be because this has put me in a position to have everything that I have. Boxing is something that I love, that?s all we know, the fight game. I wanna help this sport live on; I wanna help this sport grow. That?s what it?s about.
Thoughts on Canelo vs. Angulo
Floyd Mayweather Jr: Canelo looked unbelievable against Angulo. I was like, ?This guy is back.? What else can I say? He?s back.
Floyd on getting the credit for his performances
Floyd Mayweather Jr: I think that I don?t get my credit that?s due because I think that I make A level and B level fighters look ordinary. That comes from having a sharp mind and just really pushing myself in training, so when it?s time to go out there and perform, everything is easy.
