By Carlos Arias

LAS VEGAS --- A large crowd filled the MGM Grand lobby to catch a glimpse of Floyd "Money" Mayweather as he made his grand arrival at the hotel on Tuesday afternoon for fight week.

"First of all I want to thank the fans for coming out here and showing all their support," said the pound-for-pound king. "It's so great. You guys have been brilliant for 18 years. I take my hat off to you guys. We're five days away from another big event. MGM Grand, Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions ... I mean, I couldn't ask for a better event. It's about the two companies coming together and giving the people what they want to see."

Mayweather puts his WBC welterweight title on the line against WBA welterweight champion Marcos Maidana of Argentina on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Showtime PPV.

"The key to where I'm at today is being very, very intelligent and very smart, taking my time and keeping my composure and coming up with brilliant game plans," Mayweather said. "Marcos Maidana is a guy that I cannot overlook. He got here somehow, some way. He's dedicated. He's hungry. He has a good knockout ratio. When you bring the two together, it's going to be very exciting."

Maidana said he was confident that he can be victorious against Mayweather when he arrived at the MGM Grand shortly before Mayweather.

"I think that's a great thing," Mayweather said of Maidana. "That's what it's about, the best fighting the best. I'm glad that he believes in himself. I'm glad he believes in his skills because that's what it's all about. Me, myself, I've been here a long, long time. I've faced every style, but I just have to see how the fight goes May 3rd."

Mayweather's fights always attract entertainment stars and pro athletes. He's even going to have rapper 2 Chainz performing at Friday's weigh-in at the MGM Grand.

"It's about great companies coming together, working together and doing something positive," Mayweather said. "The MGM Grand and all it's great properties I couldn't choose a better place to fight in the world. Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions work together hand and hand day in and day out to give people what they want to see ... the best. So it's champion vs. champion, country vs. country and that's what the people want to see."

Contact Carlos Arias on Twitter @PunchyMcGee.