(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) LAS VEGAS, NEV. (Sept. 11, 2013) – Eight-time, five-division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Super Welterweight World Champion and Mexican Superstar Canelo Alvarez were all business during Wednesday’s final press conference at KA Theatre at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, just three days before Saturday’s historic “THE ONE: MAYWEATHER vs. CANELO.”
Canelo’s WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine Super Welterweight World Championships and Mayweather’s WBA Super Welterweight Super World Championship will be at stake on SHOWTIME PPV in the most significant boxing showdown in recent memory.
Here’s what the fighters, promoters and trainers had to say during the event:
FLOYD MAYWEATHER:
“Its fight time, what else can I say? If the game plan is to keep pressure, I can handle it. If the game plan is to out box me, nobody can out box me. You have to be able to out match me mentally, and I’m the strongest mental fighter in the sport of boxing.
“I’ve been here before so I know what it takes. He’s 42-0, but he hasn’t faced 42 Floyd Mayweathers because he’d be 0-42. I’m at the pinnacle. I’m the face of boxing and I’m dedicated to my craft.
“I’m Floyd Mayweather; I can turn any fighter into a star. I don’t worry about running out of opponents. I’ve got guys under my banner I can turn into stars and fight.”
“September 14 is just another stepping stone, another opponent to me. But he knows he’s facing Floyd Mayweather; I’m facing just another opponent.
“Career-wise, I’m OK, no matter what the outcome is. I never worry about the outcome. When I go into any fight, I’m not focused on the money or anything. I’m focused on going out there, performing well, and giving the fans what they want to see – excitement. That’s what it’s all about; it’s about the fans winning. He’s still got a lot of weight to get off. My weight is made, I woke up this morning 150 (pounds).
“I guess other fighters look at it as you win some, you lose some. Me, I look at it as I want to win them all. I’m a winner. I don’t lose.
On how he knows Canelo still has to cut weight:
“I know it, because it’s my job to know it. My job as a fighter to know everything about any opponent I’m facing.”
On his most important advantage:
“Being able to just make changes and adjust instantly. It’s no different from you seeing Shane (Mosley) hit me with a good shot. I say it’s not a problem, because Shane isn’t going to cut me on my face, I’m not going for that. But Shane is a future Hall of Famer; I can’t take anything away from Shane. And someday Canelo will go down in the Hall of Fame, as one of the opponents I beat.”
CANELO ALVAREZ:
“I don’t care about his record. I’m not coming to make a good fight, I’m coming to win.
“When you fight Floyd you have to be ready for every aspect of a fight. You have to be able to adjust mentally as well as physically. I have to be very, very smart and ready to change my plan at any time.
“You’ll see how I do it. You’ll see how I beat him. I’m calm and I’m just ready to fight.
“We’ve prepared like never before. Floyd is a fighter who throws like five punchers a round and he lands them – that’s why he wins rounds. But we’re prepared for that; we’re prepared for everything.
“I’m ready for the best Floyd possible. He can change his game plan and I will be ready.
“I’ve studied him. I know his style and I know what he’s going to do. “I’m confident I will win because I know everything about him. I’ve prepared for everything.
“It’s important from the opening bell to fight smart and not fall into his game plan. I need to stick to my plan, not fall into his.
“He’s a very good counterpuncher but I’m ready for that. I have to be smart with his counterpunching but I’m confident we can handle it.
“It’s important to throw combinations. You have to know how to apply them and you have to hit the head and the body. That will be key.
It truly is a pleasure to be part of this. I appreciate all of the support for this fight. I want to thank my team for working hard with me. On Saturday night, I will be victorious.”
On having all of Mexico rooting for him:
“There’s no pressure whatsoever. It’s motivating to have all of Mexico rooting for me.”
On why Floyd hasn’t talked much trash leading into this fight:
“I think it’s because his other opponents want to talk trash. I respect everyone except when we get in the ring.”
RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“The WBC has produced a very special belt for this occasion. It’s a first time that they have melted a big gold bar into the belt. This is a belt made of pure gold.
“Our sponsors put over $40 million of activation behind this promotion. Corona is our lead sponsor and they spent 50 percent of their conventional ad buy on our promotion.
“Boxing is the highest rated television programming in Mexico. Mexico’s government and the tourism board have put their promotional efforts in the sport of boxing. They have become a great partner and ambassador of this promotion and Golden Boy Promotions.
“In addition, we have sponsorships and partnerships with Fathom, Nature Nutrition, Fred Loya Insurance, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T and Valvoline.
“Fathom is going to be showing this promotion live on 550 screens. This is our sixth fight with Fathom. We’ve already sold out many theaters already. There are more than 26,000 seats for closed circuit at the MGM Mirage Resort properties as well as many bars and restaurants across the country.
“In Australia, the pay per view has already broken all-time records with three days before fight night.
“This fight has been off the charts. This fight is something special. Celebrities are calling us to purchase tickets.
“We hope to set the all-time pay-per-view record come Saturday night.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“Floyd is the face of boxing, the highest paid athlete in sports. He’s accomplished everything, broke all the records. Come Saturday night, you guys will see the same old Floyd Mayweather, the one that always wins.
“This has been a wonderful promotion so far and the fans will be the real winners.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, EVP SHOWTIME Sports
“Thank you to the MGM for its hospitality and Richard Schaefer and Golden Boy Promotions.
“This is the biggest and best event—THE ONE. We have the biggest live gate. We have a great line-up of sponsors. We are live streaming all of our events leading up to the fight. CBS has had 150 radio stations across the United States promoting the fight.
“None of this happens without Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez. This event doesn’t happen without their commitment
“For those of you who are college football fans, I urge you all to tune in to the start of this Saturday’s college football game on CBS at 12:30 PT/3:30 ET. Be sure not to be late because there will be a surprise for boxing fans at the top of that broadcast.”
JOSE “CHEPO” REYNOSO, Trainer of Canelo Alvarez
“This is a historic fight, but the time for talking is over. On Saturday night Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will make history and he will be victorious.
EDDIE REYNOSO, Co-trainer of Canelo Alvarez
“It’s a great pleasure to be a part of this historic event. Obviously, as a Mexican, we always come out to demonstrate that we win can and on Saturday it will be no different. We will prove that we can.”