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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)
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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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