A final press conference with fighters of the century Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. unfolded on Wednesday, April 29, in Las Vegas, bringing the two face-to-face once again before their Saturday showdown at the MGM Grand.
“It’s time to fight now,” said Mayweather, who carried a serious demeanor at the event. “You guys came out here to see excitement, you guys came out here to see a great event and I think that’s what both competitors bring to the table.”
The press conference was filled with gratitude from members of both camps, who thanked sponsors and the boxers for making the fight a reality.
“We really owe a deep debt of gratitude to you for taking on this historic challenge,” said Ken Hershman, president of HBO Sports.
Although name-calling occurred a number of times in the years leading up to the bout, Pacquiao and Mayweather offered no harsh words to one another at the press conference and took the opportunity to thank God in their speeches.
The Filipino boxer told media in Las Vegas that his strength to accomplish all his feats he has thus far has come from God.
“I just want to be an example and inspiration to everybody, how my life [was] before I became a boxer. I used to sleep in the street, starving, hungry, and now I cannot imagine that the Lord raised me in this position, and He blessed me [with] these blessings that I cannot imagine that the boy that [didn’t] have food and [slippers] and sleeping in the street that he raised me this level of life,” Pacquiao said.
As for who will win on Saturday, he said only God can answer the questions in the minds of spectators when Saturday comes along.
The Filipino boxer’s trainer, Freddie Roach, also spoke no negative words on Wednesday.
“We have a good team, we’ve put together a great strategy and we’re ready for the greatest fight of our life,” he said.
Steven Espinosa, executive vice president and general manager of Showtime sports, said big events such as the upcoming showdown often create a buzz that clouds the purpose that generates the commotion.
“A funny thing often happens on events this big. With all the hoopla, the crowds, big business, the promotions. Sometimes we forget why we’re here. Sometimes we forget what this is all about,” he said.
“This is about two world class athletes, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, who have been working for weeks and weeks, all of their lives really, to get to this precise moment.”
Espinosa added that only Mayweather and Pacquiao can take credit for their preparation for the fight.
“No one goes out and runs eight miles in the middle of the night for Floyd. Floyd does that,” he said.
“When the bell rings Saturday night, nobody’s going to fight for Floyd. Floyd will do that alone.”
With the years of hype finally leading up to the main event on Saturday, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum said the interest in The Fight of the Century appears to have boosted interest in boxing overall.
He also told media Pacquiao means much to people around the world.
“We know what he means to the Filipino people whether they live in the United states or in the Mid East, or in Hong Kong and in Macau or in the Philippines. He is the national pride,” Arum said.
Arum added that Pacquiao appealed to the president of Indonesia in a written letter to spare the life of a Filipina, Mary Jane Veloso, who was accused of being involved in a drug trafficking-related incident. Pacquiao explained he was going to fight on May 2. Reports this week stated that Veloso was not among eight who were executed.
“That’s the type of influence this man has,” Arum said.
Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council, also praised the fighters for representing their countries and the sport.
“It is a fact that both fighters will be remembered for what happens May 2,” he said.
Sulaiman brought a handmade belt containing 3,000 emeralds to the conference and said whoever wins the fight will take it home. Sulaiman allowed Pacquiao and Mayweather to briefly touch the belt after his remarks.
On Saturday, the fight will be jointly televised by Showtime and HBO and will be available for $90 to $100 via pay-per-view.
HBO Sports President Ken Hershman said there has been tireless work put into making the fight look and feel like a superbowl. He also advised those ordering the fight to do so soon, as the ordering systems are expected to be overwhelmed.
“[We] want to make sure everyone gets their order in and be part of this event,” he said.
Mayweather and Pacquiao will come together again before the fight on Friday, May 1, when they weigh in, which will also take place in Las Vegas.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Las Vegas April 30 – May 6, 2015 Sec. A pg.1)
