Confidence Brewing For Mayweather & Pacquiao

Today was the pre-press conference for the upcoming Mayweather vs Pacquiao super fight. This was the only promotional event they have scheduled leading up to one of the most anticipated fights of all time. Red carpet for all the press and participants, full blown food buffet and service —he whole nine yards.

The pre-press conference is a more intimate setting with the fighters and hand picked media outlets. It’s actually the real press conference.

There was many long time faces from our musty gritty and yet totally addicting sport. The blend of the promotion and the networks has brought the entire gamut of boxing’s media all stars into one arena. For the entire industry that was present whom i’ve known for the better part of the last twenty years of my life this was the big one. Certainly the biggest of the last twenty years and the excitement permeated throughout the entire event with everyone.

Mayweather was pleasant and sat on a stool with longtime friend and peer Leanoard Ellerby. I asked him about fighting on the first day of camp (which is a ritual to him to see if he still has “it”) and how it went. He responded by telling me he’s sparring eight to nine minute rounds against Zab Judah and Darryl “Chop Chop” Corley but that he plans to increase his intensity as the fight gets close so he can be at his peak come May 2nd. He already looked completely in shape.

After Mayweather departed making room for his counter part, Pacquiao with Freddie Roach and long time promoter Bob Arum had a light’er energy. Brimming with confidence and all smiles they took their seats on the three stools in front of the press. There was some slight back and forth between Roach and Pacquiao as Freddie had to give Manny $25 each time he cursed.

Arum gave insight into how the principle points of the deal was made with himself and CBS President Les Moonves.

Related: 14 Facts To Know Before The Mayweather-Pacquiao Fight

Manny was playful and like his team he was beaming with confidence. They talked about training and how the fans have always wanted this fight etc… But one thing that stood out about training was Freddie Roach started talking about how Mayweather dips right into Manny’s power punch. And he does. Mayweather dips to the right from fighting mostly regular right handed guys throughout his remarkable career. Well, that moves right into the range of Manny Pacquiao’s “money” punch. No pun intended.

The overall atmosphere was as good as it gets in boxing and with the confidence that’s brewing on both sides I think it’s going to live up to the hype.