By Edward Chaykovsky
WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (43-0, 26KOs) discussed several topics during an interview with Showtime. Mayweather recently walked away from HBO and signed a lucrative six fight deal with network rival Showtime. Mayweather will debut on Showtime on May 4th against Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Thoughts On The Showtime Deal
Mayweather: I'm ready to go out there and perform and I want to show the the fans that I still have a lot left. I want to stay active. I haven't really been active. I want to continue to go out there and dominate. And continue to take my skills to the next level and show the world that Floyd Mayweather is still the best and go down as the best fighter who ever lived. That has always been the ultimate goal. I always came into this sport to be the best, so why not push myself to the ultimate level and test myself against these young hungry lions out there. Robert Guerrero is a young, hungry lion. He had done something thus far to get to the point, so we're going to see what he has. I'm very happy to be with my new family.
What a lot of people don't know. When I was with a company before I got to this company, Showtime/CBS, Floyd Mayweather has been a free agent since 2004, which people don't know. I cant wait to get out there and show my skills and show the fans what I have left.
Showtime/CBS, the biggest deal in sports history, not just boxing. Record breaking numbers. I want to say thank you [to Showtime].
Thoughts On Being a Trainer in The Future
Mayweather: I like to multi-task - being a promoter, being a fighter and being a trainer. I think some day I can be a top notch trainer in the sport, but like I said I can multi-task. I love it. I eat, sleep, and drink boxing.
Thoughts On The Performance Against Miguel Cotto
Mayweather: Miguel Cotto is of course a future hall of famer. He's tough, he's solid and I didn't want to fight Miguel Cotto at a catch-weight. I wanted Miguel Cotto at the best weight, which is 154 - where he is strong, solid. Of course I walk around at 147, no more than 150. And the fans want exciting fights. Styles make fights. You don't fight every fight the same, but you always have to find a way to win - if its toe to toe, if its boxing and moving, if its punching, if its outlsugging a guy - you always have to find a way to win and Floyd Mayweather will always find a way to win.
Thoughts On Facing Robert Guerrero
Mayweather: I don't really know much about Robert Guerrero. I saw him fight one time, against Andre Berto. And then today someone dropped pictures off to my hotel room and I saw picture of him fighting on my undercard when I fought [Carlos] Baldomir but I didn't get a chance to see the fight. Why not him? He's my mandatory. I know this is a young guy that I can not overlook. He's a tough, young, hungry lion. When he faced Andre Berto, he put on a hell of a show.
Mayweather Breaking Down Potential Opponents
Mayweather: Devon Alexander is a good, solid boxing southpaw. [Saul] "Canelo" [Alvarez] is young, strong 154-pound champion. [Canelo] will be facing [Austin] Trout. Trout is a guy who shocked the world against Miguel Cotto, which I thought was a lot closer, but I cant take nothing away from the guy. Timothy Bradley, I never really had a chance to watch too many of his fights. He's a good solid boxer. His body is always in good, tip top condition. Manny Pacquiao, once again he has to get past Timothy Bradley and [Juan Manuel Marquez] Marquez [in order to fight me]. All of these guys are solid.
Thoughts On Marquez vs. Pacquiao 4
Mayweather: I didn't get a chance to see the fight. When it was live, I didn't get a chance to watch it. I'm not going to support Top Rank [by buying their pay-per-view]. I'm not going to put any money in [Top Rank CEO] Bob Arum's pocket. So obviously I'm not going to support Top Rank. Afterwards I seen the fight. Once it came on demand I had a chance to go watch it and Marquez went out there and did what he had to do and came out victorious.
Thoughts On One Day Facing Pacquiao
Mayweather: If my legacy was defined off one fight, then why have 43 fights. I would then go in there, have one fight and go down as one of the best fighters who ever lived.