Mayweather, Pacquiao Humbled By Aura Of The Event
Apr 29, 2015 • 8:16 AM ET
By Jake Donovan
You know an event is truly massive when even its stars are taken aback by what has taken place. Rather than brag about what they were going to do to each other in the ring, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao instead appreciated the surroundings heading into their long-awaited superfight, which takes place Saturday evening at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a joint Pay-Per-View effort between Showtime and HBO.
“This has been an amazing event, a truly amazing turnout,” observed Mayweather when taking the podium during the final pre-fight press conference Wednesday afternoon at MGM’s KA Theatre.
In addition to his role as the greatest fighter of this era, Mayweather (47-0, 26KOs) has also proven to be the best at marketing his own brand since Sugar Ray Leonard’s incredible during during the 1980s. The unbeaten welterweight and super welterweight king has generated more revenue from his events than another fighter in boxing history, doing so largely on the strength of willingly embracing the role of villain.
It’s a role he figures to assume in the court of public opinion as he heads into Saturday’s clash with Pacquiao, the perceived “good guy” in this promotion. There has certainly been no love lost between the two sides in the five-plus years it took to finally make this fight happen.
As far as Mayweather is concerned, though, such hostility can be left in the past.
“We had a great training camp. Freddie Roach (Pacquioa’s longtime trainer) has done a tremendous job and our job has done a tremendous job putting this event together,” noted Mayweather. “It’s time to fight now. You came to see excitement, you came to see a great event. I feel good, I feel strong. I’ll see you guys Saturday.”
The packed house for the final pre-fight presser even saw a humbled version of Roach, who has been the most vocal personality involved in the promotion leading up to this weekend.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” claimed Roach. The statement is incredible considering his fighter, Pacquiao is easily the second biggest star in the sport today, having headlined 20 Pay-Per-View events and serving as a hero in the Philippines.
Appreciative of the moment, Roach limited his conversation towards the opposition to a simple gesture of good sportsmanship.
“Floyd, best of luck. Manny, best of luck. May the best man win,” Roach concluded in his brief time spent behind the microphone.
Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38KOs) has spent recent years talking more about his relationship with God than what’s left to accomplish in his incredible career. A win over Mayweather—while still a big “if”, despite the ever-narrowing odds—would make Pacquiao a World lineal champion in a record five weight classes—six, when you consider Mayweather is still the recognized lineal junior middleweight king, although Saturday’s bout is contested at the welterweight limit.
Still, Pacquiao is more reflective than opportunistic these days. The majority of his time spent at Wednesday’s press conference was talking about the influence God has on his life, and hopes that Mayweather will join him in sharing beliefs after their fight.
Most of all, Pacquiao hopes this event—easily the biggest worldwide attraction since Ali-Foreman—serves as a reminder that none of life’s obstacles are insurmountable.
“I want to be an example… I used to sleep in the street starving,” Pacquiao recalls of his difficult childhood. “The Lord (elevated) me in this position. I can’t imagine that the boy who didn’t have food while living in the streets is raised to the level.
“We hope this fight isn’t just entertaining, but that we give inspiration.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
- Manny Pacquiao
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Mayweather-Pacquiao
- Mayweather vs Pacquiao
- HBO
- Showtime
- Freddie Roach
- Manny Pacquiao Jr.
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
