Floyd and Pacquiao trade first punches
THE carpet was red. Not in memory of all the Oscar winners who walked it down the Hollywood years but for the bad blood soon to be spilt by the two greatest boxers in the world.
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao took this starry detour en route to their appointment with destiny in Las Vegas on May 2.
The academy awards have outgrown the Nokia Theatre now but this landmark still plays host to those who dream of immortality.
ultimate stardom can bring out the best or worst in fighting men and Pacquiao had said that it would be good for boxing if he can defeat Mayweather, who he sees as bloated with arrogance by success and wealth.
So the man who calls himself Money presented himself in a quiet suit and a modest demeanour, speaking with admiration of his challenger as the best pound-for-pound man in the ring. even though he does expect to win the richest fight of all time.
and although he dubs himself The best ever, he was full of respect for the legends who preced him in the lighter-to-middling weight divisions.
‘When i saw Thomas Hearns versus Martin Hagler i thought to myself there would never be a bigger fight, ever. They were great. yet here we are today. getting ready to make some history.’
There was no trash-talking. Floyd said of Manny: ‘He’s a great fighter. To reach where he has in the sport of boxing, to be here now, he has to be doing something right. This is part of the fascination of this fight.
‘i can always figure out an opponent instantly and i will have to do it again.’
He also predicts — in addition to ‘my emerging victorious yet again’ — that this event will live up to it’s gigantic hype. He says: ‘i’m excited.
He’s excited. it’s gonna be eexciting. Styles make fights. i can’t wait. Manny is a very interesting fighter but i’ve only seen him fight live twice in the last five years — i’m more of a football and basketball fan these days — but i will find the key to Mr Pacquiao. Just as we’ve beaten all the other top guys.’
Nor does he accept the widespread perception that, with him aged 38 and Pacquiao 36, the fight has come five years too late.
He says: ‘everything is always in the timing. When we met each other for the first time at that basketball ball game the other night and then talked man to man in his hotel room, the time was right to make this fight. We’ll see if we’re too old. i feel good. i look forward to looking good.’
Of his alleged vulnerability to southpaws, of which the PacMan is the prime example. Mayweather says: ‘ i’m eight wins in a row against southpaws in my 47 victories. For me it’s business as usual.’
Pacquiao’s promoter bob arum questioned that: ‘When Floyd was with me, Floyd Snr (his trainer and father) used to say “No southpaws, no southpaws”.’
Nevertheless Mayweather denied there had ever been serious differences between himself and arum: ‘There’s never been animosity. it was just that the time had come for me to be my own promoter.’
Pacquaio admits he has been preparing mentally for this during the ever-lasting negotiations.
He says: ‘it’s been five years and i’ve been thinking about it all that time. i am 100 per cent confident i will win. in truth, i was more worried about boxing Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto than i am about this fight.’
Pacquio stressed the importance of a victory to his country, where he is an elected Congressman: ‘if you take a video camera to the Philippines on May 2 you will see everyone in my country watching the fight — and their amazing reaction when i win.’