Pacquiao and Mayweather face off in Hollywood
Both fighters insist they will win megabout as they speak for only time in front of 600-strong press phalanx
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather came face to face on Wednesday for the first time since their May 2 mega-fight was announced, as Hollywood rolled out the red carpet for the richest bout in history.
“It’s been a long road but we’re here now,” said the unbeaten Mayweather, as the countdown began to an eagerly awaited welterweight world title showdown under the lights in Las Vegas that has been a long – and at times fraught – five years in the making.
Filipino ring icon Pacquiao countered: “The fight is on and we’re very excited. Both of us will undergo hard training and we will do our best on May 2 to make you happy.”
The celebrated duo seemed almost subdued – unusual for the often cocksure Mayweather – as they posed and chatted for a phalanx of about 600 media representatives who were recording their every move, in the only joint news conference they will conduct before fight week.
Mayweather, smartly clad in a dove gray suit and pale striped shirt, diamond cufflinks winking, showed only rare glimpses of his “Money” Mayweather swagger –but did predict he would emerge with his unbeaten record intact.