With just two weeks until The Fight of the Century between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., both boxers this week held the only open media day workouts before the showdown on May 2.
More than 200 accredited press members across the globe on Tuesday, April 14, visited Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas to watch the undefeated champion during a 90-plus minute workout; on Wednesday, April 15, more than 300 accredited members of the press from around the world stopped by Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles to ask the Filipino boxer, his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum about the upcoming fight.
At their respective media days, both fighters expressed confidence in their abilities.
“Pacquiao is strong and solid but I don’t know if he can make adjustments like I can. I feel tremendous,” Mayweather said.
“Anyone can get hit with a great shot, but I can make more adjustments and Manny can’t.”
Arum called Mayweather a “defensive specialist” who is an “extraordinarily good fighter,” but highlighted Pacquiao’s foot speed and the number of punches he throws. Arum and Roach also credited Pacquiao for the strength in his jabs.
“Manny has really raised the bar in this training camp. He’s a different Manny Pacquiao than I have seen him going into previous training camps. He is punching so much harder in training for this camp,” Roach said.
Pacquiao, on Wednesday, said he knows what to expect, as he has sparring partners whose fighting styles are similar to that of Mayweather.
“I have watched tape on Floyd to make sure that our strategy and technique in training camp is correct,” he said.
Before his training session on Tuesday, Mayweather responded to questions from the media inside a tent in a parking lot outside the gym and cited his undefeated record.
“I’m still going strong. The last time I looked, I was 47 and 0,” he said.
The showdown between Mayweather and Pacquiao has been called ‘The Fight of the Century’ and has been highly anticipated for years.
“Everything in life is about timing. I have no regrets that this fight didn’t take place five years ago. I didn’t think it was that big then, but it continued to get bigger and bigger. Not just in boxing, but outside of the sport. Pacquiao has continued to grow outside of the sport. We didn’t need to rush anything,” Mayweather said.
Pacquiao also commented on the timing of the bout, saying it has led to more excitement.
“More people are interested and informed about this fight now than they would’ve been five years ago,” he said.
Roach said he didn’t believe Mayweather wanted the fight and was pressured into agreeing to it by the public and media.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Floyd pulled out now,” he said.
Mayweather, however, told reporters he would be the champion on May 2.
“We’ll see what happens when the fight starts. But when all is said and done I’m going to be the winner,” he said.
Mayweather also drew attention when he wore a Philippines-inspired shirt to his media day, Inquirer reported. The shirt had an image of the fighter covered in the colors of the Philippine flag and with a yellow sun behind his head.
“I love the Philippines. I love all the Philippine fans,” Mayweather said in an interview with GMA News.
Inquirer also reported that the boxing sensation arrived late to his training session, which elicited a jab from Pacquiao. He told Fred Sternberg (@Toofred), a sports and entertainment relations man he works with, that he would would arrive promptly on his media day workout to win a bet.
“I promise to not only arrive on time for my media day but EARLY to make @Toofred pay @FreddieRoach and me each a hamburger,” Pacquiao wrote on Twitter.
On his media day, the Filipino boxer said he looks forward to giving fans an exciting fight.
“For me, boxing is my passion. I enjoy boxing and giving honor to my country of the Philippines…. My first concern going into every fight is how will [I] be able to entertain my fans, give them enjoyment and make them happy.”
The live pay-per-view telecast of the bout will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View and SHOWTIME PPV.
(With reports from Inquirer)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(OCIE April 17-23, 2015 Sec. A pg.1)