Wednesday, April 29, 2015

MAYWEATHER VS PACQUIAO: Pacquiao: "I'm Excited"; So Are His Teeming Fans


Boxers Manny Pacquiao (R) from the Philippines and Floyd Mayweather from the US pose during a press conference on March 11, 2015 in Los Angeles, California, to launch the countdown to their May 2, 2015 super-fight in Las Vegas ©Frederic J. Brown (AFP)

The build-up to the epic welterweight showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao burst into life on Tuesday when the Filipino staged a fans' rally at the Mandalay Bay.

A crowd of around 1,500 turned out to watch Pacquiao speak publicly for the first time as the countdown to the richest fight in history - worth a staggering £330million - continues.

A noisy and colourful warm-up ceremony complete with a Filipino dancing band, singers and DJ filled the time until his appearance on stage 44 minutes late with trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum in attendance.

Press Association report continues:
"I'm feeling excited and confident. Are you nervous? Don't worry, I'm the one who will be in the ring," Pacquiao said.

"I want to win. That's my goal."

The event opened a busy day in Las Vegas with attention then turning to the fight hotel, the MGM Grand, where Mayweather makes his grand arrival.

Speaking at an invitation-only press conference following the fans' rally, Pacquiao vowed to inflict the first defeat of Mayweather's immaculate 47-fight career when they collide in the early hours of Sunday morning.

"I'm different to the 47 opponents he has fought before. I'm faster than them and I'm content for the fight. I believe this is the moment he will experience his first lost," Pacquiao said.

"I can't say Mayweather is the most dangerous opponent of my career because I've fought guys like Oscar De LA Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel and Marquez and other boxers.

"He's a difficult opponent but my confidence is different for this fight. I have no nerves, maybe the people get nerves but I'm excited, this is it.

"At this point it's not personal to win, but personal for boxing fans. We have to prove something to the fans and that's personal for us.

"This is one of the most important fights for my boxing legacy. I want to make this fight for my boxing legacy. I want to win, that's my goal."

Pacquiao enters the fight as the underdog for the first time since his eight-round destruction of Oscar De La Hoya in 2008, but he relishes the role.

"I have to prove something. Every time I'm the underdog, I like that because my killer instinct, my focus is there. This is what I want," Pacquiao said.

"We're not working one strategy, but we have two or three. If he wants to fight me, that's good for me.

"But if he's running and running and moving around the ring, we've prepared for that.

"I always trust the commission and the judges because our focus is not just on the knockout, but throwing a lot of punches in case it goes the distance."

Mayweather was only six minutes late for his arrival at the MGM Grand's Garden Arena, appearing following a bombastic build-up conducted by MC Doug E Fresh.

His entrance was preceded by a marching band who filed on to the stage before Mayweather himself, clad in a white cap and tracksuit, arrived in a black Mercedes van adorned with 'The Money Team' logo before greeting a crowd in the region of 5,000 beneath a giant screen showing footage of his fights.
"Everybody who is in this arena is The Money Team. I make a lot of money, but I also want to give back to the American people," Mayweather said.

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