by David Greisman

Perhaps you can chalk it up to Leonard Ellerbe speaking in a way that will help sell Floyd Mayweather’s upcoming May 3 pay-per-view match, but the executive with Mayweather Promotions is talking up Mayweather’s opponent, welterweight titleholder Marcos Maidana.

“This is going to be a tough fight for Floyd,” Ellerbe said on an April 16 media conference call. “A lot of people have kind of paid attention to the odds, but when it comes down to a fight, we know that Maidana can end this thing with one punch. We almost saw it happen in the Shane Mosley fight [in the second round against Mayweather] a couple years ago. There was a nervous moment.”

Later, when the conversation turned to why Maidana might be able to do something that no one else has in defeating Mayweather, Ellerbe jumped in to add this:

“I think the difference in this fight is a lot of fighters in the past have come in, really, they say one thing, but this guy’s a little different in my eyes. I’m not paying attention, and Floyd’s not paying attention to no odds. We know that we’re in a tough fight, because, one, this guy brings it from the opening bell. A lot of people talk about it, and they get in there and they look and Floyd makes them miss the first couple times and they get frustrated.

“This guy, he continues to bring it and bring it and bring it and he doesn’t stop. So we have to be prepared for what he’s going to bring to the table. And Floyd hasn’t faced anybody like that before. And on top of that, his knockout percentage — like I said, it’s a known fact, when he hits guys they fall. And Floyd’s objective is obviously not to get hit with none of that, but like I said, we know what we’re in for, and that’s what Floyd’s preparing for, a very, very tough fight.”

Pick up a copy of David’s new book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon or internationally at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsworldwide. Send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com