Pacquiao-Mayweather news conference: ‘We don’t want to leave a question mark’
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Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. held an invitation-only news conference at L.A. Live’s Nokia Theatre on Wednesday to promote their May 2 super-fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Our reporters were on the scene.
7 more weeks of hype begins now
We've heard a lot of hyperbole today from the promoters of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. That leaves seven more weeks of hype before the two face off on May 2 in Las Vegas. To review the day's events, just scroll. For the latest updates, go here . And if you can spare $1,500-$7,500, then you can try buying a ticket.
Thanks to Floyd Sr.
That's another $25
'This boxing family'
Pacquiao happy with underdog role
Jae C. Hong / Associated Press
Pacquiao's camp made several concessions to get the fight done, reportedly agreeing to a smaller split, allowing Mayweather's name to appear first in any pre-fight publicity and, apparently, allowing Mayweather to go first in Wednesday's press conference.
But Pacquiao said he's OK allowing the favored Mayweather (47-0, 26 knockouts) to take the spotlight
“I like being the underdog,” said Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs). “I think it's going to make me more motivated.”
-- Kevin Baxter
The news conference has begun
Keeping things interesting
Watch the mouth of Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao and his fans
Pacquiao's been talking some smack
Arum talks tickets, biggest fights
Mellow Mayweather confident of victory over Pacquiao
John Gurzinski / AFP/Getty Images
Mayweather spoke softly and thoughtfully, without the cockiness and braggadocio that sometimes surface in his pre-fight media events.
“I believe in my skills,” he said flatly. “And I believe I'm going to be victorious.”
But he said the fans are going to be victorious no matter who wins.
“I know the fans can't wait,” he said. “We finally made it happen. It took a while but we made it happen.”
-- Kevin Baxter
Mayweather tells his boxing strategy
Mayweather doesn't really watch Pacquiao fights
Mayweather's father on Pacquiao: 'He's just an opponent'
Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
Floyd Mayweather Jr. won't meet Manny Pacquiao in the ring until May 2, but the hype for the super-fight has already started. And not surprisingly it was Mayweather's father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., who threw the first punch Wednesday in front of Nokia Theatre L.A. Live.
“What do I think about Manny Pacquiao?” Mayweather Sr. said. “To be honest with you, he's just an opponent. Floyd's going to be throwing the punches, not Pacquiao."
-- Kevin Baxter
Even Bob Arum is impressed by the hype
Jonathan Moore / Getty Images
“I've never been through anything like this,” said Arum, who has handled some of the sport's most iconic bouts including the 1975 “Thrilla in Manila” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
-- Kevin Baxter
Pacquiao-Mayweather toe-to-toe
The fighters' official news conference is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. in Los Angeles. But first there will be a stream of red-carpet arrivals that will likely feature the fighters standing toe-to-toe for cameras.
The Times' Lance Pugmire, Kevin Baxter and Bill Dwyre will all be reporting from Nokia.
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