Las Vegas, Nevada: Boxing hall-of-fame legends and former rivals, Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and "Sugar" Ray Leonard, talked to the media on Friday, giving their thoughts and positions on the May 1 showdown between pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. and WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley. Photos by Chris Cozzone.

"I give the edge to Mayweather. How can I not based on his unblemished record? Mayweather is the man to beat and if there were any fighters that I thought had a chance to beat Floyd Mayweather, one would be Shane Mosley. We will find out on May 1st. One thing I personally know is that Shane has to become "Sugar" again to become victorious. Intriguing fight." - Sugar Ray Leonard, Seven-Time World Champion.

TOMMY "HITMAN" HEARNS, Six-Time World Champion

On Mayweather vs. Mosley

"Mayweather will try to dominate with slick punches. He may do well. Shane is going to try to test and see if Mayweather can take a shot. We have to see if he can. Shane has the ability to punch and Floyd will have to be smart and slick.

"This is going to be a very good fight. I think it is going to be a very competitive fight. It is going to be a chess match.

"I think Mayweather should do well with that style. I think Shane is going to try to test that and see how well he can get that shot in.

"I don't see it being the same as me and Ray. We set the standard and it's going to be tough to top what we did. I am proud to know Ray Leonard. Ray brought the best out of me and I think I brought the best out of him. It's going to be a great fight this Saturday night, but don't look for the same thing as happened in our fight. That was a different era.

"Shane has the ability to punch, and I think Mayweather is going to have to watch out for that."

On Leonard vs. Hearns

"As far as me and Ray Leonard, our fight was so huge that no one knew what the outcome would be.

"Ray said he has never danced before. I know he danced a few times when we fought.

"I believe in giving the fans what they paid to see. It wasn't about holding back or saving something for tomorrow or the next time. This is a moment. This is what you have to give them right now. You have to give your best

"Knowing his ability, I had to learn how to do things with my hands up and my hands down. I just kept making it that much easier for me.

"That was something that was meant to be. It wasn't something that we planned. The public wanted to see the match ups. You had to take on the next upcoming opponent. We weren't able to pick and choose who we wanted to fight. We didn't duck anybody even though we wanted to. That is what made our era so important."

Thoughts on the fantasy match-up of Leonard vs. Mayweather

"I think that Floyd would have been too small for us. We were big welterweights. Floyd is a small guy. I am not saying because he is small he wouldn't be able to do it, but it would have been very difficult. I think Ray knows more about that than I do."

On Mayweather calling himself the best

"The confidence thing is fine with me. It is good for him to have a great deal of confidence. There shouldn't be anything Shane can do to bring him down."