Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Marcos “El Chino” Maidana hosted their final press conference at the Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand before their rematch on SHOWTIME PPV Saturday. Check out all the photos and quotes here, as Mayweather talks about wanting to score a knockout, comments again on the Ray Rice incident and much more.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
“Tunein and watch the fight because I’m going to be Floyd Mayweather and do what I do best and come out and win. I’ve been here before and I know what it takes to win at this level.
“We put it all on the line in the first fight. The fans demanded the rematch so we owe it to them to put it all on the line again. Maidana’s rugged. He’s a cool fighter and we’ll see how it plays out on Saturday.
“I have to focus on my fight. I can’t focus on anything else going on, I have a tough fighter in front me and he needs all my focus.
“We’ve had a remarkable training camp. Truly unbelievable. I feel a lot stronger than last time. It’s about hard work, dedication, prayers, belief and a good team.
“I know I’m almost 40, but I’m still going strong. I want to go out there and perform.
“The first fight was very interesting. Hopefully this time around the fight is even more exciting.
“Maidana is always in top shape. He absolutely deserves this rematch. I commend him for stepping up and making it happen again. I’m a true champion and a true champion never backs down.
“I need a knockout and I’m going for it. I need it to make a statement. First for myself, I want to do it for me.
“Robert Garcia can say what he wants to say. My dad can say what he wants to say. Both teams can go back and forth and bicker all day. In the end it comes down to skills, smarts and adjustments.
“We sparred with some guys who have similar styles to Maidana’s. Guys who threw a lot of looping, wild shots. Very strong rugged guys. We had a lot of good solid work with these guys.
“I don’t know who has the advantage in the rematch. I know I’m sharp, I know he’s sharp. I was able to make the adjustments in the first fight and we’ll see if he can make the adjustments this time.
“I don’t condone what happened. If I offended anyone, I apologize. I have this tough, rugged fighter in front of me and that’s what I have to focus on. I’m not perfect, I make mistakes and I don’t condone that at all.”
MARCOS MAIDANA
“I just know that I have to win. I’m focused on winning. I am going to take out any doubts in my mind about the first fight. I’ve adjusted now and I think I’ll be ready.
“I haven’t talked to Carlos Rios or Carlos Baldomir about their Mayweather fights but I have watched their fights. I noticed that being aggressive and attacking him is what makes him uncomfortable.
“I think I did get tired in the first fight. I have to pace myself a little better and this time around I will be better.
“If the knockout comes great, but I’m ready to go the distance as well. I’m ready to make history.
“I have to use my distance a little more and pick and choose my punches. I wasted too many punches last fight. I have to work my distance correctly and get leverage.
“I think Floyd got pressured by the press and I think that he knows the first fight was close so he’s giving me the rematch and I have to take full advantage.
“I actually had two full months to prepare this time. I worked very hard and that’s probably why I look a little skinnier this time.
“I think Floyd is going to run but I’m going to have to do a good job of cutting off the ring.”
LEONARD ELLERBE
“We’re expecting a very exciting fight in this rematch; both guys have a tremendous amount of confidence and had excellent training camps leading up to the fight.
“Marcos Maidana is coming in really believing he is going to win this fight.
“You can’t say enough about Floyd Mayweather. He’s become the face of boxing and often he is the guy who wears the target on his back. No matter what he does people tend to form an opinion, but that comes with the territory.
“Floyd has had a phenomenal career, he’s the best fighter in the world and he’s been a world champion since 1998. He’s beaten a number of world champions and in my eyes he will go down as the best to ever do it.
“Floyd has made several hundred millions of dollars, but money doesn’t motivate him. He’s able to get up in the wee hours of the morning, putting in the groundwork like he’s never earned a dime.
“He has a tremendous dedication to the sport and we will all miss him when he’s not fighting. When he goes into that ring he gives it his all and he’s dominated A-level fighters and made them look ordinary.
“The fans demanded the rematch and Floyd said no problem, lets put him in there. If the fans didn’t think I got it right the first time, I will this time. There will be no more questions left unanswered after the Mayweather-Maidana rematch.
“What other athlete in sports can you say, that has dominated everyone in front of him for so many years? We must find a way to acknowledge greatness when we see it. There will never be another fighter like him.”
