J'Leon Love Wants To Meet Mayweather's Expectations

By CARLOS ARIAS

LAS VEGAS - Floyd Mayweather made a big point to highlight J'Leon Love at Wednesday's news conference for his fight against Marcos Maidana on Saturday at the MGm Grand on Showtime PPV.

Mayweather called Love, who is on The Money Team, one of the most talented fighters in the sport and a future world champion. Love, who is 17-0 with 10 KOs, faces former world-title challenger Marco Antonio Periban for the vacant WBA International super-middleweight title to kick off the pay-per-view telecast.

"It's the greatest feeling," Love said of Mayweather's high praise. "It's definitely a blessing. Right now, I want to live up to all those expectations. When somebody like Floyd Mayweather has so much confidence in you, you got to be able to perform. I love it. It makes me a better fighter. I put the hard work in day in and day out. I do have the skills to do what i have to do. Right now, it's all about going out there and performing well and putting on a show."

Love said he has learned so much while training with Mayweather.

"It's been great and like I said a blessing," Love said. "I'm a sponge. I'm soaking up as much as I can. You know, this man teaches me so much about the business aspect, the training aspect, just so much. I'm blessed to be in a position to see what I'm seeing."

Love said Mayweather is constantly giving him advice.

"All the time, I'm always right there learning first hand," Love said. "I'm always there in a good position. I'm 26 years old. I'm not a baby, but I'm not old. Learning from a great ... you know, I'm from Michigan. He's always been one of my favorites. To be where I am is like crazy. It's unreal. I never imagined it would be like this. I want to keep it like this though, so this Saturday I have to out there and do what i gotta do."

Contact Carlos Arias on Twitter @PunchyMcGee.