By Carlos Arias

LAS VEGAS --- Floyd Mayweather has absorbed some big shots during his career, but none of his opponents have ever been able to put two or three together and move in for the finish. It's a tribute to Mayweather's amazing defensive skills, speed, reflexes and talent.

Marcos Maidana, who beat Adrien Broner to land his shot against Mayweather on Saturday at the MGM Grand on Showtime PPV, believes he has the power in his punches to hurt Mayweather and the wherewithal to move in for the finish when he does so.

"I like at the situation like this and not taking anything away from Adrien Broner," Mayweather said, "you know, me, myself, I was at 130 (pounds) and I gradually moved up. You know, making smart moves. You got to gradually move up. Adrien Broner was a lightweight or a junior lightweight that moved all the way up to welterweight. He did not knock Adrien Broner out.

"Now, you gotta look at like this. You gonna tell me this is a blown up lightweight that you couldn't knock out? Knock down, but you couldn't finish the job. So, you know, I just look at way different scenarios like that. That's what I do. We'll see what he bring to the table come Saturday."

This will be Maidana's sixth fight at welterweight, while Mayweather has five fights at 147 pounds and four at 154 pounds.

"In my case, I don't really think it's about the weight," Mayweather said. "I think it's just about mentally being strong. it's about mental with me. You got a lot of guys, like said before, in the past and I want you guys to listen to me. You got guys that hit hard. You got guys that's fast. You got guys that's strong. But when it comes to mentally, I mean, I don't think guys can go to that level that I'm at. Guys can't go to that mental level that I'm at."

Contact Carlos Arias on Twitter @PunchyMcGee.