By Carlos Arias

LAS VEGAS --- Marcos Maidana received a hero's welcome when he arrived at the MGM Grand on Tuesday. The fans that filled the lobby of the hotel chanted his name with soccer-style cheers.

"I didn't expect that much," said Maidana, who faces Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night on Showtime PPV. "But it was spectacular to hear from the people and at the fight it should be a lot more."

Maidana is using all the support as fuel.

"I think it should be helpful to have all of the crowd behind me," Maidana said. "I'm going to go out to win this fight and I'm going to go please the crowd."

It's not just the Argentine fans that support Maidana. He has developed a large following among Mexican fight fans too.

"I know I have all the Latinos behind me," Maidana said, "so this motivates me, too, to come out and take the win."

Maidana has been enjoying all the attention and has been having fun with the "All Access" show.

"I'm just letting the days go by," Maidana said, "and every time I remember it's closer and closer. Every time I remember it's one day closer. Days go by quick."

What would a victory over Mayweather mean to Maidana?

"It's big for me, for my country," Maidana said, "and for boxing people it would be historic."

Contact Carlos Arias on Twitter @PunchyMcGee.