Patient Mayweather ready for Pacquiao

SUPERFIGHT: The waiting is over as two of boxing’s best prepare to enter the ring to settle a longstanding rivalry

Floyd Mayweather has declared “the time is now” as the gaze of the boxing world turns to Las Vegas for a seismic showdown with Manny Pacquiao that will end five years of disillusion.

The welterweight rivals finally collide at the MGM Grand in the early hours of tomorrow morning, repairing the sport’s credibility after a succession of false dawns dating back to 2010.

Lawsuits, hostility between rival promoters and broadcasters and Mayweather’s blood testing demands prevented the two finest fighters of their generation from clashing until the breakthrough in negotiations came in February.

The answer to years of bar room debate will be delivered when the richest bout in history unfolds in the Nevada desert with unbeaten Mayweather knowing the delay in facing Pacquiao has doubled the value of the fight to an estimated £332 million.

“Everything takes time, it’s all about timing. I’m glad that we had patience and didn’t rush. The time is now, this is the right time for this fight,” Mayweather said. “This fight is not good versus evil, it’s about one fighter who is at the top fighting another fighter who is at the top. It’s about giving excitement.

“We don’t know how this fight is going to play out, but I believe in my skills. I believe I am going to be victorious.”

Mayweather is a defensive genius, admired for his technical brilliance rather than warrior spirit, and it is Pacquiao’s all-action style that will cause the heart to race.

The Filipino southpaw, who is two years younger at 36 but has engaged in 17 more fights, would be the popular winner with the bragging and ostentatious Mayweather happy to play the role of villain as he nears a fight that will determine his legacy.

Records already held by Mayweather for pay-per-view buys, gate receipts and closed circuit television revenue will tumble, setting a level of expectation that two outstanding but fading fighters will struggle to meet.

Mayweather’s precious 47- 0 unbeaten record, just two short of Rocky Marciano’s hallowed mark, is expected to face its greatest challenge yet against an opponent who was forced to rebuild after a dramatic knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012.

Pacquiao’s instincts are to attack, throwing rapid combinations and wearing down opponents, but pressure tactics have yet to succeed against the reigning pound for pound king.

“Everybody’s game plan is to come forward and throw lots of punches. They think it will work, but it hasn’t worked in 19 years and 47 fights,” Mayweather said.

We don’t know how this fight is going to play out, but I believe in my skills. I believe I am going to be victorious. FLOYD MAYWEATHER

Floyd Mayweather Jr, left, and Manny Pacquiao during the official weigh-in yesterday.