VIDEO: All Access: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Epilogue Trailer

Mayweather – Guerrero does over 1 million PPV Buys

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the May 4th showdown that saw Floyd Mayweather record a unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero did over 1 million Pay Per View Purchases

“We still don’t have complete numbers, but we’ve seen the dish numbers and some of the cable numbers to be comfortable saying we will definitely exceed 1 million buys,” said head of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza on Friday. “We can’t tell how much it will exceed 1 million, though. That’s going to be determined by the reporting [from cable systems] that will come in over the next few weeks.

“We are absolutely satisfied,” Espinoza said. “We are pleased with the result. From a financial perspective, we are completely satisfied. We consider it a success. From a programming and fight fan standpoint, we consider it to be a very successful event.

“Looking at the numbers, for Floyd do to a million buys, and conceivably more, when it was one of his lesser-known pay-per-view opponents in the last six or seven years, that is a testament to his drawing power. Would we have liked to match the Cotto numbers or the De La Hoya numbers? Absolutely. Was that realistic? No, not with an opponent not nearly as well-known as Cotto or De La Hoya.

“I would have loved to [do 1.5 million buys] but the more accurate fight to compare it to is Ortiz. I take nothing away from Guerrero. He was a game competitor. He fought hard and belongs in the top tier at 147 pounds, but from a pure business perspective, he is not particularly well known and [has] not been in huge, marquee fights. So we are happy with the results.”

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Espinoza said of getting a Mayweather-Alvarez fight finalized. “There’s a lot of negotiating left to do, but often the biggest hurdle is convincing one fighter or the other to take the fight. That hurdle has been cleared. I truly believe Mayweather wants Canelo and that Canelo wants Mayweather, and that’s half the battle.”

Canelo scores biggest win in Mayweather’s decision over Guerrero

Canelo Alvarez emerges as the biggest winner from Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s predictable and perhaps necessary victory over Robert Guerrero. Argue you all you want about the merits of Mayweather’s dominance. Get over it. Doesn’t matter. Besides, what did anyone really expect?

If dollars are the most reliable path in boxing or any other business, it was no surprise. Follow the purses. According to contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Mayweather’s guarantee was $32.5 million. Guerrero’s was $3 million.
Mayweather’s compensation was 10.83 times more than Guerrero’s paycheck. That’s a long way from the widening gap that separates CEO from employee in today’s America. According to various sources, that number is bigger by 350 to 354 times, or more canyon than gap.

No matter how it’s calculated, here’s the bottom line: Guerrero did what he was hired to do. He was virtually Mayweather’s employee. He might as well have come into the ring on May 4 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand wearing one of those caps that say TMT, the Mayweather logo that stands for The Money Team.

Guerrero clocked in at opening bell and clocked out after 12 rounds of work. He allowed Mayweather to shake off some rust and re-establish a working relationship with his dad, Floyd Sr., who is back as his trainer. Above all, Guerrero was a vehicle for Mayweather to test his readiness for a Showtime contract worth $250 million if he fights five more times over the next 30 months. So far, so good.

But the tune-up Mayweather needed left a potential problem. Guerrero is everything that Alvarez is not. Alvarez continues to emerge as a Mayweather equal at the box office with proven drawing power absent on May 4. As of Thursday, pay-per-view numbers had yet to be released. If – as rumored – they fall short of expectations, Alvarez’ importance to Showtime’s deal with Mayweather grows.

Even if the numbers are better than speculated, Alvarez-Mayweather is the fight Showtime must have if the deal is to succeed. Alvarez, of Guadalajara, is the red-head Pied Piper for Mexican fans. He brings the Mexican audience. No demographic is more important in boxing. Mayweather seemed to forget that on May 4 when he tried to appropriate the popular Cinco de Mayo holiday for himself. On fight posters, the celebratory weekend was called May Day.

In 2007, Mayweather wore a sombrero and Mexican colors into the ring before a split-decision on May 5 over Oscar de la Hoya. That might have been a little over the top, but it worked because it acknowledged an audience that has helped him make all that Money. His tip of the sombrero was noticed then. Six years later, I can’t help but think there’s annoyance at suddenly seeing his signature on the same weekend that is Mexican history.

In a savvy move, Alvarez displayed business smarts usually associated with Mayweather when he decided not to fight on the May 4 card, because he couldn’t be guaranteed a Mayweather fight on September 14. Instead, he moved into the main event in a victory on April 20 over Austin Trout in San Antonio. A crowd of nearly 40,000 showed up at the Alamodome. Ticket prices were cheaper than they were in Vegas for Mayweather-Guerrero. But would 40,000 have shown up for Mayweather-Guerrero in San Antonio?

It’s impossible to say what the pay-per-view audience would have been on May 4 if Alvarez had been on the card. But it’s fair to assume they would have been better than whatever the official tally winds up being. Talks for Alvarez-Mayweather reportedly are already underway. At this point, the proposed financial split is anybody’s guess. But here’s a good one: Alvarez won’t fight for $3 million. Multiply Guerrero’s guarantee five times, add a substantial percentage of the Mexican television revenue to Alvarez’ purse and you might get a deal.

We say might, because it’s hard to know how Mayweather will react. He has a history of dictating terms, a factor in the abortive talks for a fight with Manny Pacquiao. If Home Box Office had signed a Showtime-like deal with Mayweather, HBO might still be counting its losses. An HBO deal with Mayweather would have needed Pacquiao then as much as Showtime needs Alvarez now.

Time could be pushing Mayweather to an Alvarez fight sooner than anyone might have expected. At 36, Mayweather is probably a step or two beyond his prime. He said after beating Guerrero that he is five fights from retirement. His best chance might be now instead of later against the 22-year-old Alvarez, who is still approaching his prime.
Meanwhile, the ambitious Alvarez might pay for some youthful impatience. He continues to lobby for Mayweather. Alvarez fights at 154 pounds. Mayweather, comfortable at welterweight, could demand a fight at 147, forcing him into a diet and regimen that could weaken him. There are warnings that Alvarez is getting ahead of himself. Friends and associates are telling him to fight Miguel Cotto first. They are asking him to wait.

But time, money, Mexican fans, Canelo’s ambitions and his emerging role as a make-or-break component in Showtime’s deal with Mayweather are creating momentum hard to stop.

SHOWTIME® WILL AIR BOTH MAY DAY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS: FLOYD MAYWEATHER vs. ROBERT GUERRERO & DANIEL PONCE DE LEON vs. ABNER MARES

NEW YORK (May 7, 2013) – This past Saturday, undefeated boxing superstar and undisputed No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world Floyd “Money” Mayweather produced a magnificent performance en route to winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero on SHOWTIME PPV® before nearly 16,000 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

This Saturday, May 11, SHOWTIME will air the fight, along with unbeaten Abner Mares’ exciting ninth-round technical knockout victory over defending WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon in the co-featured bout at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

Making his first start in a year, a dominant Mayweather (44-0, 26 KO’s) showed no signs of ring rust while displaying the trademark speed and quickness, ring generalship, accuracy, intelligence and defensive mastery that he’s been known for since his pro debut 17 years ago.

“Money” received rave reviews. Here’s a sampling:
From Tim Dahlberg of Associated Press, “On the canvas where he does his best work, Mayweather painted a boxing masterpiece only he could produce.”

“…once he found his groove, the multi-division champion put on a bravura boxing clinic. By the end of the night, no one could have any doubts that the pugilist from Grand Rapids, Mich., is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet,” wrote Gordon Marino in the Wall Street Journal.

Said Greg Bishop of the New York Times, “When it ended, Mayweather hardly celebrated. He thumped his chest and hugged his father… He made it look easy, and it had been. He had landed a staggering 60 percent of his power punches.”

“The countdown to the end of Floyd Mayweather legendary career began with a brilliant performance in a victory over Robert Guerrero. Mayweather rolled his record to 44-0 and kept alive a dream to end his career with a perfect mark,” wrote Kevin Iole on Yahoo! Sports.

“MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,” a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, was promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. The mega-event took place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and was produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®. Also featured was WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon taking on Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares in a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship.

Five More: Mayweather wins opening salvo in Showtime deal that points to Canelo

LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t exactly easy money. More like seed money.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. planted what he hopes will blossom into five
more Showtime fights for $250 million with a decision more one-sided
than unanimous Saturday night over Robert Guerrero in a welterweight
bout at the MGM Grand.

“Five more to go,’’ Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs) said. “Let’s do it.’’

Can he? That answer was the key to Mayweather’s first fight since
his release from jail late last summer and his first bout since
beating Miguel Cotto a year ago.

Guerrero (31-2-1, 18 KOs) was there, perhaps, because he is as
tough as he was overmatched. His lack of speed and limited athleticism
made a Mayweather victory likely. It was the same on all three cards.
Judges Julie Lederman, Jerry Roth and Duane Ford scored it 117-111,
each for Mayweather.

On the 15 Rounds card, Mayweather was a 120-109 winner with
Guerrero failing to win a round. 15 Rounds scored the first round
even. Guerrero appeared to be winning the second, but that proved to
be the beginning of the inevitable when Mayweather stole the round by
landing the first right hand in what turned into avalanche of rights.

Guerrero wound up bloodied above one eye. The ringside physician
looked at the eye after the eighth. But the doctor decided that
Guerrero could continue.

“He was hard to hit,’’ Geurrero said. “But I’ll be back. Maybe
back for a rematch.’’

Guerrero was hurt, yet upright. In hindsight, that’s why he was
picked to be Mayweather’s first opponent in the Showtime deal. Every
new vehicle needs a test drive. Mayweather got the full, 12-round
drive, shaking off some initial stiffness and establishing some
familiar fluidity later.

There were also no hitches in the reunion with his dad, Floyd
Mayweather Sr., as his trainer. Roger Mayweather, his uncle and his
lead trainer for years, wasn’t in the corner, although he was in
middleweight J’Leon Love’s corner for a controversial victory on the
undercard.

“My father provided defense,’’ Mayweather Jr. said. “The less you
get hit, the longer you last.’’

Durability is the key if Mayweather hopes to collect the $250
million that is there if he fights five more times over the next 30
months. Even in the Guerrero fight, he might have suffered a
problematic injury. He complained of pain in his right hand, which he
said he hurt midway through the bout.

“I feel bad I didn’t give the fans a knockout,’’ said Mayweather,
who was guaranteed $32 million, more than 10 times Guerrero’s $3
million, according to contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic
Commission. “I was looking for it. I hurt my right hand.’’

It wasn’t known late Saturday whether the hand was hurt bad enough
to prevent him from fighting in September.

“I plan to fight in September, yes,’’ Mayweather said a couple
hours after defeating Guerrero.

Even if healthy, however, Mayweather’s history indicates that five
more fights over the term of the deal are unlikely. He hasn’t fought
twice within 12 months since 2007.

Canelo Alvarez, the popular Mexican red-head, has called out
Mayweather repeatedly. After beating Austin Trout in San Antonio,
Alvarez again said he wanted to fight Mayweather. For Showtime, a deal
without Canelo-Mayweather would seem to be a bad one. Showtime, Golden
Boy Promotions, Mayweather and Canelo have 30 months to get it done.

If there is a Mayweather fight in September without Alvarez, there
are other possibilities. Danny Garcia, the current junior-welterweight
champion, was mentioned in Saturday night’s aftermath. Welterweight
Devon Alexander was another possibility.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer talked about somebody special.

A “red-headed” somebody, he said.

Schaefer didn’t have to say who.

After what happened Saturday night, talk about Mayweather-Alvarez
took on a momentum all its own.

Best of the Undercard

It was friendly fire, the toughest kind of all.

But a contract between longtime pals and sometime sparring
partners, Abner Mares and Daniel Ponce De Leon, had to be fulfilled.

It was.

In full.

Mares (26-0-1, 14 KOs) made sure of it with a brilliant display of
versatility and surprising power for two knockdowns in a ninth round
TKO of Ponce De Leon (44-5, 35 KOs) for the World Boxing Council’s
featherweight title.

“He’s my friend,’’ said Mares, whose friendship with Ponce De Leon
includes the same manager, Frank Espinoza. “I wanted him to stay down,
especially after I dropped him the second time. You just don’t want to
keep hitting a friend.’’

There was some mild controversy over whether Mares should have
been allowed to. After dropping Ponce De Leon with a right in the
ninth, Mares pursued and caught him along the ropes with succession of
blows. At 2:20 of the ninth, referee had seen enough. Jay Nady ended
it, despite Ponce De Leon’s pleas for more.

“I don’t feel the fight should have been stopped,’’ said Ponce De
Leon, who also said he wants a rematch.

Friendship’s perks might get him one, although that would still
leave him with an impossible task. In Mares’ first fight at 126
pounds, he knocked down Ponce De Leon with a left in the second and a
right in the ninth.

“I think I confused him,’’ said Mares, who dedicated the victory to
his father. His dad suffered a stroke nearly a month ago.

The Rest

· A move up in weight embellished Leo Santa Cruz’ emerging
status as perhaps the best fighter in the 118-to-126-pound range with
an overwhelming stoppage of ex-flyweight champ Alexander Munoz of
Venezuela in a junior-feather bout. Santa Cruz, of Los Angeles,
dedicated his victory to an ailing brother. “He’s fighting for his
life,’’ Santa Cruz (24-0-1, 14 KOs) said. He fought for him, knocking
down Munoz (36-5, 28 KOs) in the third, rocking him with head-snapping
punches in the fourth and finishing him off with a right-left
combination at 1:05 of the fifth. Santa Cruz landed an astonishing
219 punches before five rounds were complete, according to CompuBox.
Santa Cruz might be next for Mares, according to Golden Boy Promotions
CEO Richard Schaefer.

· Las Vegas middleweight J’Leon Love (16-0, 8 KOs) got no love
in getting a split decision, booed loudly and often, over Garbriel
Rosado (21-7, 13 KOs), who lost despite scoring a knockdown in the
sixth round with a right. “It is what it is,’’ Love, a Mayweather
Promotions prospect, said after the 10-round victory over Rosado, a
Philadelphia fighter who sat on top of the ropes in his corner and
shook his head as if to say it was lousy.

· Las Vegas super-middleweight Ronald Gavril (4-0, 1 KO) closed
the non-televised portion of the pay-per-view card with a sweeping
right hook that appeared to leave Roberto Yong (5-7-2, 4 KOs) of
Phoenix defenseless and without a chance. Referee Russell Mora
stopped, making Gavril a TKO winner at 2:12 of the third round.

· Super-middleweight Luis Arias (5-0, 3 KOs), a Cuban
super-middleweight now living in Las Vegas, relied on a solid right
to survive some rocky moments and repeated left hands from DonYil
Livingston (8-3-1, 4 KOs) of Palmdale, Calif., for a six-round victory
by majority decision.

· Las Vegas light heavyweight Badou Jack (14-0, 10 KOs) of
Mayweather Promotions landed a right-handed body punch that put
Michael Gbenga (13-8, 3 KOs) to one knee in the third. Gbenga of
Silver Springs, Md., complained that the punch was a low blow. Video
said otherwise. Jack stayed unbeaten, winning a third-round TKO.

· Las Vegas super-middleweight Lanell Bellows (4-0-1, 4 KOs)
won a fourth-round stoppage over Matthew Garretson (2-1, 1 KO) of
Charleston, WV.

Mayweather to earn $32 million

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Floyd Mayweather will earn a minimum of $32 million for his fight tonight against Robert Guerrero in Las Vegas.

That was the number submitted on his contract that was filed with the Nevada commission.

“I think when you see a total like that it speaks for itself,” Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, whose company will pay Mayweather, told ESPN.com. “He has established clearly that level of $32 million as a guarantee and remember: He will make much more after everything is counted because he keeps 90 percent of the profit from the event. The $32 million is just the contract minimum. The bulk of everything else goes to him.”

“It speaks to his popularity. He generates that money,” Schaefer said. “Love him or hate him, they watch him. I’m very happy for him. He deserves it.”

“It’s just a great feeling to know that he is the highest-paid athlete in the world,” said Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser and the CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “With Floyd being the highest-paid athlete in the sport, he can just continue to bring awareness to boxing and help make it a mainstream sport once again. That’s a lot of money. It’s truly a blessing.

“He was highest-paid athlete last year and guess where he’ll be again this year?

No More Rehearsals: Mayweather-Guerrero fight to say it all

LAS VEGAS – It was a weigh-in noteworthy for what didn’t happen. Ruben Guerrero behaved himself. Sort of.

Expectations for a brawl before opening bell weren’t fulfilled Friday in a pre-fight ritual that went off almost as if it had been rehearsed. Robert Guerrero was at 147 pounds, the welterweight limit, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was one pound under at 146 for a bout on Showtime’s pay-per-view television Saturday night at the MGM Grand.

Escalating trash talk had set the stage for one of those confrontations that often send weigh-ins spinning into some unregulated violence. Ruben Guerrero, Robert’s dad and trainer, fueled much of it with insults that went viral Wednesday when he repeatedly mocked Mayweather and his jail sentence last summer for domestic abuse.

If the insults bothered Mayweather, however, there were no signs of it when he took his turn on the scale. He smiled at a noisy crowd of a few thousand fans. He blew kisses at them as he walked onto the stage. Mayweather has been CEO cool and calm, almost eerily so, throughout the buildup for his first bout since his last fight, a victory over Miguel Cotto a year ago.

There’s been a lot of amateur psychology floating around, suggesting that Mayweather (43-0, 26 KOs) is a different person. Even his dad and lead trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., has said jail changed his son. Maybe.

In the pre-fight proceedings for Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KOs), he’s been more careful with what he says and how he says it. If anything, he relinquished his trash-talk title to Guerrero’s dad, Ruben, who was watched by vigilant Golden Boy Promotion officials throughout the weigh-in. They didn’t want an ugly incident.

The stare-down after both stepped off the scale lasted about a minute. It ended when Golden Boy matchmaker Eric Gomez pulled Guerrero away. In bit of a surprise, Robert appeared to be more animated than anybody, even his dad. He was asked about what he was thinking while looking into Mayweather’s unblinking eyes.

“Thinking about getting down, that’s what I was thinking about,’’ Guerrero said with an edge of excitement in his tone. “Got to beat him down. Got to take full advantage of it.’’

There’s been speculation that Guerrero might get overwhelmed in his first experience on boxing’s biggest and richest stage. According to contracts filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Mayweather is guaranteed $32 million for his first fight under a Showtime deal worth a potential $250 million if he fights six times over the next 30 months. Guerrero will get $3 million.

Maybe, that helps explain his father’s antics. Dad has been diverting some of the attention and subsequent pressure onto himself and away from his son. Maybe.

Both fighters enter the ring with their own back stories. Guerrero has his wife, Casey, and his role in her fight against leukemia. He also has his faith, an element that stands in contrast to Mayweather’s flamboyant lifestyle, summed up by his nickname, Money. Yet, controversy also is part of Guerrero’s tale of the tape. He’s facing gun possession charges in New York, for allegedly trying to bring a weapon onto a flight in checked baggage.

Mayweather’s crazy family is never from his story. His dad, often estranged, is back in his son’s corner. As of late Monday, it still had not been determined whether Roger Mayweather, his uncle, would work the corner with Floyd Sr. Roger has diabetes. Floyd Jr. said at times it affects his uncle’s vision. The only certainty Friday was that Floyd Sr., would run the corner. A reunion between father and dad has been an element to the Mayweather story for Guerrero. It’s as if Floyd Jr. is using the bout as way to repair a dysfunctional relationship.

At opening bell, however, there will be only Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Robert Guerrero.

“He’s flat-footed,’’ said Mayweather, who also has called Guerrero a hypocrite for talking about his faith. “He fights like a grappler.’’

In Mayweather, however, Guerrero sees a 36-year-old fighter who appeared to have lost his foot speed in a bruising victory over Cotto. Mayweather likes to say that there’s no blueprint on how to beat him. Nobody has. But Guerrero, a left-hander, doesn’t believe it. He has spent a career humbling his skeptics and his faith tells him he can do it again.

“Not just to humble Floyd, but to humble the boxing world,’’ Guerrero said. “You get a lot of people out there that think Floyd’s like a god, the way he acts, the way he lives, the way he spends money, the way he boasts about stuff. You get everybody thinking that he’s unstoppable, that nobody could beat him. That with Floyd, there’s no blueprint to beat him. You can’t break him down. But you know what? Being a big believer in God, there’s a blueprint for everybody.”

DANIEL PONCE DE LEON, ABNER MARES, LEO SANTA CRUZ, ALEXANDER MUNOZ, J’LEON LOVE & GABRIEL ROSADO FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES

LAS VEGAS (May 3, 2013) – The six fighters who will compete on the pay-per-view undercard portion of “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” this Saturday, May 4 on SHOWTIME PPV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. participated in their final press conference on Thursday in front of a packed media center at MGM Grand.

Undefeated Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (43-0, 26 KO’s), of Grand Rapids, Mich., defends his WBC Welterweight World Championship against Six-Time and Four-Division Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO’s), of Gilroy, Calif., in a 12-round bout that will also be for the vacant RING Magazine World Championship in the eagerly awaited main event.

On a stacked undercard preceding Mayweather vs. Guerrero on pay-per-view, Daniel “Ponce” De Leon (44-4, 35 KO’s), of Cuauhtemoc, Mex., risks his WBC World Featherweight World Championship against Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO’s) of Guadalajara, Mexico; Leo Santa Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KO’s), of Los Angeles, opposes Alexander Munoz (36-4, 28 KOs), of Caracas, Ven., in a 10-round bout for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship; and J’Leon Love (15-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas, faces Gabriel Rosado (21-6, 13 KOs), of Philadelphia, in a 10-round fight for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

See below what the fighters and executives said Thursday:

PONCE DE LEON, WBC Featherweight Champion

“First of all I want to thank God, Frank Espinoza, my manager, Golden Boy, Mayweather Promotions, MGM, SHOWTIME, my team and everyone involved for making this fight possible.

“This is going to be a great fight. I’m very prepared. I’ve fought many times at MGM. Everyone wants to see a battle and that’s what I’m ready for. Don’t miss it.”

ABNER MARES

“I want to thank Golden Boy, Mayweather Promotions and SHOWTIME. My last five or six fights have been on SHOWTIME. People know me because of SHOWTIME. What can I tell you; this fight alone is a main event so, really, you have two main events on one card. It’s going to be a tremendous fight.

“I want to thank Ponce for this opportunity. You guys know me. I’m ready. I’ll fight anyone as long as we give fans a good fight, I’m with it.

“I’ve dedicated this fight to my dad, who suffered a stroke a month ago.

“I’ve trained hard and I’m ready. I actually added something to my training; I call it Mexican judo: ‘ju’ don’t know if I’m going to box and ‘ju’ don’t know if I’m going slug, but ‘ju’ know I’m going to win.”

LEO SANTA CRUZ

“First of all I want to give thanks to Golden Boy, Richard (Schaefer), Mayweather Promotions and especially Al Haymon, my manager. Ever since I signed with him, everything changed for me. He has helped me a lot and is always there for me.

“Thanks to him, I was able to get my mom her first house. I owe it all to him and I’m going to repay him by giving him my best. I’m going to show the world who Leo Santa Cruz is.

“I’m very excited to be on this undercard. I know Munoz is an extremely strong fighter who comes forward. I’ve trained hard and worked hard. It’s going to be a war and I’m going to try and finish him before the 10th round.”

ALEXANDER MUNOZ

“I’d like to thank all of you for being here. They’ve put together a very good fight. We know Santa Cruz is tough. I’m prepared for this and I want to make all the fans in Venezuela proud.

“I’m excited about this fight and this opportunity.”

J’LEON LOVE

“I want to thank everyone involved for this opportunity…Al Haymon, my fight team and Mayweather Promotions. This will be a good fight. We have much love for Team Rosado. There is no bad blood.

“Both of us have a lot to prove. He came up a little short in his last fight, but he’s a tough guy. A lot of people are also saying this is a big step up for me, but I’m a fighter and this is what I do.

“It’s going to be a very good fight. We’re going to both put it on the line, but I will be victorious.”

GABRIEL ROSADO

“I want to thank God, Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions for making this fight happen. I’m excited for this opportunity. I fell a little short in my shot at a world title, but I got a taste of the big stage.

“I don’t think he has the experience I have and I’m hungry and determined. I had a great camp and I’m prepared to leave it all in the ring.

“I expect to have a lot of Philadelphia fans on hand here. I can’t wait to open the show and give the fans a great fight.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“On behalf of Mayweather Promotions, we would like to thank you all for coming out. We have a great main event and a great undercard. Ponce De Leon-Mares is a main event in itself. We have what fans want to see…a strong lineup of fights.

“In the first fight on pay-per-view we have two guys who will put it all on the line. J’Leon Love told me he wanted this fight, that he wanted to fight Rosado and then asked if I could go out and make it. I said ‘sure.’ Personally, I think this is a tremendous fight to open the show.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“What’s better on Cinco de Mayo weekend than ‘MAY DAY?’ This is the week for boxing. Mayweather is back with a vengeance, facing a very difficult, tough, young, hungry Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. The main event is a highlight but the undercard is just as important.

“Match Mares against Ponce and you’ve got a real fight, a war. Mares is a smart guy, intelligent with great boxing skills and a big heart who goes forward with a passion. He’s fighting a guy, Ponce, the champion, who is known for his punching power and is ready for the fight of his life. Neither guy wants to hear this, but I can see a trilogy.

“We have a tremendous fight with Leo Santa Cruz, who when we think of him, we instantly think about action, excitement and fighting with passion against Munoz, who a lot of people don’t know, but who’s here to win. I’m really looking forward to this one. There’ll be guaranteed action and fireworks.

“In my eyes, the first fight on pay-per-view is another interesting match, one you don’t want to miss, between Love and Rosado. Both have an opportunity to seize. It’s there for both of them.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“When we, Richard, Oscar, Floyd, Al and Leonard, first started talking about this event, we immediately came to the conclusion that a world-class main event deserved a world-class undercard, and that’s what we put together. These aren’t filler fights. These aren’t no-name fighters. These are ‘name’ fighters in tough, meaningful fights. Top to bottom, this is the highest-quality undercard for any event I can remember.

“I’m extremely excited and extremely proud to be involved with these three fights. I’m especially proud because several of the fighters have been groomed and developed on SHOWTIME. J’Leon Love was featured twice on SHOWTIME EXTREME, Leo Santa Cruz actually hit the trifecta last year: he fought on SHOWTIME EXTREME, SHOWTIME and CBS and Abner Mares has fought on SHOWTIME his whole career and is a staple of the network.

“The weigh-in on Friday will be televised live on CBS Sports Network and SHOWTIME. Also, for the first time in recent history there will be a live post-fight show, thanks to CBS Sports Network, on Saturday night. We are pulling out all the stops with the newest technology. There will be 16 cameras, the most ever used in the history of network.

“As you can tell, I’m very excited. See you on Saturday.”
# # #
ABOUT “MAYDAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO”:
“MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,” a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Also featured will be WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon taking on Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares in a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship, former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz facing veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship and rising star J’Leon Love squaring off against recent world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight battle for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

Remaining tickets for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” are still available for purchase with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and will also be available for purchase by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

TWO DAYS OF CLASSICS & ALL ACCESS ON FOX DEPORTES LEAD UP TO “MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO” ON MAY 4

LAS VEGAS, May 3 – Just a day away from the Saturday, May 4 showdown between Eight-Time and Five Division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Six-Time and Four-Division Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, FOX Deportes will wrap up fight week with back-to-back classic fights and an “ALL ACCESS” look into the biggest event of 2013.

On Friday, May 3, the Classics will showcase memorable wins by both Mayweather and Guerrero. Guerrero’s battle against all-action warrior Michael Katsidis which took place on April 9, 2011 will open the telecast and Mayweather’s thrilling knockout over then undefeated British superstar Ricky Hatton, which took place in December 8, 2007. The Classics telecast will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Finally, on fight day, Saturday, May 4, all four episodes of SHOWTIME’s critically acclaimed documentary series ALL ACCESS will be aired in succession beginning at7:00pm ET/4:00 p.m. PT, leading fight fans right into the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” live event which will be produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

# # #

“MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,” a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Also featured will be WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon taking on Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares in a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship, former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz facing veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship and rising star J’Leon Love squaring off against recent world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight battle for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and will also be available for purchaseby phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online atwww.ticketmaster.com.

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com
or www.FOXDeportes.com, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing
or www.twitter.com/FOXDeportes visit us on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page or
www.facebook.com/FOXDeportes.

MONEY MAYWEATHER V GHOST GUERRERO LIVE and EXCLUSIVE in the UK on BoxNation, Saturday night from 1.30am

Floyd Mayweather Jr., the world’s greatest fighter, faces one of his toughest challenges to date as he defends his WBC Welterweight World title against Robert Guerrero. There’s been a war of words in the build-up to the fight, including Mayweather accusing Guerrero of using his wife’s recent battle with cancer to sell the fight and Guerrero’s father calling Mayweather a “woman beater”.

This Saturday night the talking stops and the action begins as Mayweather and Guerrero go toe-to-toe in the MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, in one of the biggest fights of the year! We’ll bring you all the action, including the WBC World Featherweight title clash between Daniel Ponce de Leon and Abner Mares LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on BoxNation.

And you can see the full televised running order here.

PLANNING ON RECORDING THE FIGHT?
Manually add time to your recording to make sure you don’t miss the end of the fight!
Did you know you can manually add more time to your Sky or Virgin Media recordings to make sure you never miss the end of a fight that you have recorded?

We strongly advise you to do this for this Saturday night’s show, and here’s how to do it if you’re on Sky or, click here now for Virgin Media instructions.

It’s your channel. Be a part of it. Are you in?

MAYWEATHER PROMOTIONS RISING STARS TO BE FEATURED ON “MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO” UNDERCARD THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4

LAS VEGAS, May 2 – A bevy of undefeated Mayweather Promotions rising stars will get the crowd ready for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” when they compete in undercard bouts that will lead into the four-fight SHOWTIME PPV telecast taking place this Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Warming up fans watching at home will be “MAY DAY Live: Countdown to Mayweather vs. Guerrero” which will include up to two live preliminary fights, special ALL ACCESS features and exclusive interviews and will air live on SHOWTIME at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT.

In the “MAY DAY Live: Countdown to Mayweather vs. Guerrero” main event, undefeated Las Vegas light heavyweight Badou Jack (13-0, 9 KO’s) will put his unblemished record on the line against knockout artist Michael Gbenga (13-7, 13 KO’s) of Silver Springs, Maryland by way of Accra, Ghana in an eight-round bout. Plus, time permitting, a six round matchup between rising super middleweight star Luis Arias (4-0, 3 KO’s) of Las Vegas will go toe-to-toe Palmdale, California’s DonYil Livingston (8-2-1, 4 KO’s) will also be featured.

A member of the 2008 Gambian Olympic team, Badou “The Ripper” Jack now fights out of Las Vegas, where he has made a strong impression in the fight capital of the world as an exciting prospect with championship potential. Unbeaten in his two fights thus far in 2013, the 29-year-old Jack is eager to shine in his adopted hometown this Saturday.

Thirty-three-year-old Michael “The Amazing” Gbenga rallied from a rocky start to his career to win nine of his last 11 bouts and, like all of his previous contests, each of those victories ended by way of knockout. Excited for his Las Vegas debut this weekend, Gbenga’s intention is clear when he faces Jack…he’s looking for the knockout.

One of Mayweather Promotions’ most promising up and coming prospect, Milwaukee native Luis Arias has gotten off to a fast start in his professional career, winning all four of his fights since making his pro debut in November of 2012. The 22-year-old former amateur standout has every intention of making it five in a row when he steps into the MGM Grand Garden Arena ring against Livingston.

A native of Tulsa now making his home in Palmdale, California, 28-year-old
DonYil Livingston is looking to get back on track after tough losses to Elie Augustama and Paul Mendez. Prior to those defeats, the talented Livingston was on the fast track to the top, and after a hard training camp, he’s revving up to resume his quest for a world title.

In other undercard bouts, Las Vegas’ Ronald Gavril (3-0) risks his unbeaten professional record in a super middleweight four round fight against Phoenix’ Roberto Yong (5-6-2, 4 KO’s), and opening the event in a four-round super middleweight bout will be Las Vegas’ Lanell Bellows (3-0) facing Charleston, West Virginia’s Matthew Garretson (2-0, 1 KO).

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts at ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York, are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

ATHLETES, ENTERTAINERS AND EXPERTS PICK THE WINNER OF SATURDAY’S “MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO” MEGA-FIGHT FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS AND LIVE ON SHOWTIME PPV

LAS VEGAS (May 2, 2013) – The stars and scribes always come out when Floyd “Money” Mayweather fights, and there will be an abundance of both when the Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion returns to the ring to face Six-Time and Four-Division Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in the highly anticipated main event of “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” this Saturday, May 4 live on SHOWTIME PPV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

So who is going to triumph? The experts overwhelmingly like Mayweather to be victorious, but none expect it to be simple or easy. Mayweather is the favorite as always, but most expect a competitive, hard-fought scrap, and no one foresees a blow-out.

Here’s how they see the Mayweather-Guerrero fight:

ATHLETES

Terry Bradshaw, NFL Hall of Fame QB who’ll be performing at The Mirage in June (Mayweather): “Mayweather is a proud fighter who wants to remain undefeated. He knows how to win big fights…and he won’t lose a fight in Vegas!”

Marlon Byrd, New York Mets Outfielder (Mayweather): “Floyd’s going to knock him out in the eighth round.”

Ed Davis, Memphis Grizzlies Forward (Mayweather): “Because his record is 1,000-0 and he will NOT lose. Floyd by knockout in the sixth round.” Twitter: @eddavis32

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors Guard/Forward (Mayweather): “Floyd might have to work a little bit, but at the end of the day Floyd is going to be Floyd and finish him off. He wins by eighth-round knockout.” Twitter: @DeMar_DeRozan

Braylon Edwards, NFL Wide Receiver (Mayweather): “Never bet against Floyd.” Twitter: @officialbraylon

Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees Outfielder (Mayweather): “I have to say Floyd’s going to keep that zero in the loss column.”

DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles Wide Receiver (Mayweather): “My big bro Floyd is going to win.”

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers Outfielder (Mayweather): “Floyd by decision. He’s too fast for Guerrero.”

Kevin Krigger, Jockey of Goldencents in the KentuckyDerby (Mayweather): “I’ve seen some of Guerrero’s fights and he didn’t impress me that much. He didn’t look like a guy who could beat Mayweather. It depends on what Mayweather wants to do with him. He might want to use him to prepare for his next fight. Mayweather will win by knockout in the sixth.”

Andrew McCutchen, Pittburgh Pirates Outfielder (Mayweather): “It will be a good fight and it will go the 12-round distance, but in the end, Mayweather will be victorious by a unanimous decision!”

Shabazz Muhammad, Former UCLA Basketball Guard/Forward (Mayweather): “Floyd knocks him out in the fifth.”

Jermaine O’Neal, Phoenix Suns Center (Mayweather): “Floyd will be a little rusty to start the fight off because of the long layoff, but will pick-up a lot of steam around the third round. Then he will begin to beat Guerrero up and ultimately knock him out by the sixth.” Twitter: @jermaineoneal

Doug O’Neill, Trainer of Goldencents Santa Anita Derby winner and one of the top contenders in the May 4 KentuckyDerby (Mayweather): “Floyd is an experienced, cagey veteran. He will find Guerrero’s weaknesses and win by fifth-round knockout.”

Metta World Peace, Los Angeles Lakers Forward (Mayweather): “Mayweather will rally late in the fight to win a decision, eight rounds to four.”

Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens Running Back (Mayweather): “By the eighth round, Mayweather will have worn him out and will capitalize with a knockout.”

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback (Mayweather): “I think it’ll be a good fight, but Money always makes the right adjustments so I don’t see him losing. Floyd wins a unanimous 12-round decision.” Twitter: @mikevick

Dion Waiters, Cleveland Cavaliers Guard (Mayweather): “Hardwork and dedication are the keys. I spent some time with Floyd in Las Vegas last year and he is the hardest-working athlete I’ve ever seen. I can’t see him losing now or ever. He wins by fifth-round technical knockout.” Twitter: @dionwaiters3

Maalik Wayns, Los Angeles Clippers Guard (Mayweather): “Floyd Money Mayweather is the greatest of all time. Enough said. Fourth-round technical knockout.” Twitter: @maalikwayns2

Thaddeus Young, Philadelphia 76ers Forward (Mayweather): “Mayweather is too fast for Guerrero and will win a 12-round decision.” Twitter: @yungsmoove21

ENTERTAINERS

Jahlil Beats, Super Music Producer (Mayweather): “Mayweather gets the W. He’s the greatest of all time.”

Justin Bieber, Pop musician, Actor and Songwriter (Mayweather): “I’ve got Floyd all day.” Twitter: @justinbieber

Sean Cooper, FANTASY at Luxor Comedian (Guerrero): “Mayweather needs to hype up the fight he needs to lose. Money for the Rematch. Guerrero wins!’’

DeRay Davis, Comedian/Actor (Mayweather): “It’ll be a fourth-round knockout for the champ. He’s going to make an example of him.”

The Game, Rapper (Mayweather): “Floyd in 4.”

Brad Garrett, Comedian and Host at Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club at MGM Grand (Mayweather): “Mayweather in 9. ‘Money vs. The Ghost’…sounds like my divorce.”

Marquez Houston, Singer/Actor (Mayweather): “Floyd definitely wins. I’m going with a ninth-round knockout.”

Jinsu, Rapper (Mayweather): “Floyd by sixth-round TKO. Win No. 44 (will be) light work.”

Jackie Long, Actor (Mayweather): “Floyd will win by knockout in the fourth or fifth round.” Twitter: @jackielong

Mario Lopez, TV Personality (Guerrero): “It being Cinco De Mayo weekend and me being Mexican, I have to go with the upset and pick Guerrero by split decision in an entertaining and spirited fight.” #VivaMexico”

Lorena Peril, FANTASY at Luxor Star Powerhouse Vocalist (Mayweather): “Floyd will win a decision. He is a great champion and always brings his best into the ring.”

Da Problem, Rapper (Mayweather): “We all know Floyd going to go to work on his ass!”

Busta Rhymes, Rapper (Mayweather): “Floyd is gonna bust his ass”

Chris Shiflett, Lead Guitarist of Foo Fighters (Guerrero): “I think Mayweather is WAY overrated. Look at his record. Every elite fighter he’s ever been in there with was shot except Victor Ortiz (who was giving him problems until the whole thing melted down). De La Hoya was handling Mayweather with the jab. Mosley almost knocked him out. Cotto was winning that fight but gassed out because he’s shot. Everybody else Mayweather has faced was a bum. Guerrero is young, fresh and motivated. I don’t think he’s going to let Mayweather get in his head or be overwhelmed by the moment. The Ghost by decision.”

MEDIA

Matthew Aguilar, El Paso Times (Mayweather): “Guerrero’s youth may present Floyd with some middle-rounds problems, but ultimately he doesn’t have Floyd’s skills. Mayweather by unanimous decision.’’

David Avila, Riverside Press-Enterprise (Guerrero): “Robert Guerrero’s got the athleticism, ability and attitude to dethrone Mayweather on a decision.”

Ron Borges, Boston Herald (Mayweather): “Mayweather wins a decision. He will be in tough for a while, but he has too much speed, knowledge and defensive skills for Guerrero.”

JT The Brick, Talk-Show Host, Fox Sports Radio (Mayweather): “Speed and experience wins it for Mayweather via eleventh-round technical knockout.”

Damian Calhoun, Orange CountyRegister (Mayweather): “I see this being a close fight. Guerrero’s toughness and determination will cause Mayweather some problems at times, but I expect Mayweather to use his smarts and defensive skills, and then adjust to be able to secure a victory by unanimous decision.”

Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal (Mayweather): “Mayweather by decision. With only five fights left in his career, I expect Floyd to be ready to fight and not tarnish his legacy. While southpaws have given him some trouble in the past and Guerrero hits harder than people give him credit for, I don’t think he can do enough damage over 12 rounds to beat Floyd.”

Mike Coppinger, USA Today (Mayweather): “It may end up being the toughest fight of Floyd’s career, facing a southpaw who likes to rough up his opponents, but it’s hard to pick against the greatest fighter of this generation. Guerrero will find a lot of success in the early rounds, but as Mayweather always does, he’ll make the necessary adjustments. Mayweather will counter Guerrero and turn his aggression against him. Floyd will begin to land more and more as the fight winds down, leading to a close, unanimous decision.”

Percy Crawford, FightHype.com (Mayweather): “I think it will look a lot like the Ortiz fight minus Guerrero doing something as crazy like not protecting himself at all times. Floyd will use Guerrero’s aggression against him and pick him apart over 12 rounds with Guerrero having one or two moments in the fight.”

Tim Dahlberg, Associated Press (Guerrero): “All fighters get old, and Floyd Mayweather is no exception. Jail and not fighting for a year at a time takes its toll. This is the fight he suddenly ages, and gets his first loss. Guerrero by decision.”

Flattop, Fightnews.com (Mayweather): “Floyd’s speed, power and class will be too much for Guerrero, who’s tough and has skills, but Mayweather has been the total package his entire career. Guerrero will be competitive for a few rounds until Mayweather decides to turn up the heat. Guerrero will be knocked down a few times and he will get back up each time. I could see his corner throwing in the towel once it becomes a ‘May Day’ exhibition; otherwise Mayweather will score a lop-sided decision or late-round knockout.”

Lyle Fitzsimmons, The Fight Network (Mayweather): “Admittedly, Guerrero is young, tough and powerful, but unless Mayweather gets old overnight, Guerrero is also still vulnerable to precisely the sort of precise punishment ‘Money’ has dished out to the myriad of foes who have entered with the same ‘I’ll rough him up’ promises. A la Arturo Gatti, the ‘Ghost’ gets beaten up in a lot of his wins and, like Gatti, he’s in over his head with Mayweather, who wins by tenth round tecknical knockout.”

Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com/The Ring (Mayweather): “Guerrero will make things interesting for a while with pressure and toughness. The toughness might surprise Mayweather, but the pressure won’t. He’ll counter it with patience and then precision. Mayweather’s right will land, occasionally early and with damaging frequency later. It might not score a knockdown, but in the end, however, Mayweather’s accuracy will bruise, cut, exhaust and force a tenth-round technical knockout stoppage.”

Karl Freitag, FightNews.com (Mayweather): “Mayweather by unanimous decision. Guerrero hasn’t stopped anyone north of lightweight and Mayweather is more than happy to go the rounds, so in a fight that seems certain to be going the distance, it’s hard to pick against Floyd, who is a big favorite for a reason.”

Leighton Ginn, The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, Calif.), (Mayweather): – Mayweather will win by ninth round technical knockout. He was a heavy favorite, but now even more so with Guerrero facing legal problems in New York.”

Kevin Iole, Yahoo (Mayweather): “I think it’s going to be a closer fight than a lot of people believe and I would have given Guerrero a better shot were it not for the arrest in New York that took a few days out of his training and has to have had some kind of impact upon his focus. Mayweather’s legs aren’t the same, but nobody sees punches coming more clearly than he does. He’ll have to fight hard to keep Guerrero from mauling him, but Floyd is slick at using his elbows to create space, as he did in the Ricky Hatton fight. In a fiercely contested fight, I expect Mayweather to win by decision.”

Steve Kim, MaxBoxing.com (Mayweather): “Mayweather will win by decision. Bottom line, I think unless Floyd has gone backwards physically, he’s simply too sharp and accurate for the hard-charging Guerrero.”

Bill Knight, El Paso Times (Mayweather): “Floyd may have a little rust, but he is still too quick, too good and will wear Guerrero down and win by ninth-round technical knockout.”

Ryan Maquiñana, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (Guerrero): “Up until this year, I’d have to go with the untouchable Mayweather if I was forced to pick, but given Guerrero’s southpaw tools, busy hands, ring IQ and fearlessness, it feels like the perfect storm for an upset. If he can take advantage of the 36-year-old Mayweather’s inactivity and aging legs, the ultimate question is whether Floyd will still fight with the fire of a king who doesn’t care there’s a $30 million check waiting for him, win or lose. Guerrero takes a 12-round decision.”

Gabriel Montoya, MaxBoxing.com (Mayweather): “Mayweather is not looking to get beat in the first of a massive six-fight, $300 million deal. Supremely skilled, but with all 36 years showing in his increasingly less mobile legs, Mayweather faces in Guerrero, a determined, skilled and experienced boxer. At 147, Guerrero is not a power puncher nor particularly fast, but he’s a strong southpaw who understands that style can be troublesome for the shoulder roll defense Floyd employs at times. The first few rounds will be clinch-filled as the fighters search for their rhythms. Floyd’s age combined with a year-long layoff might make for some exciting moments for Guerrero fans, but ultimately, Guerrero will find the speed and accuracy of Floyd unmanageable as “Money” finds his range and pot shots his way to a unanimous decision. One down, five to go.”

Gordon Marino, Wall Street Journal (Mayweather): “I think Robert is too vulnerable to the right hand and Mayweather’s is whipsaw fast. Also, unlike Andre Berto, when Guerrero pins Mayweather to the ropes, Mayweather is not going to square up. Eighth round technical knockout for Mayweather.”

David Mayo, MLive.com/The Grand Rapids Press (Mayweather): “In losing a step and fighting in front of opponents, Mayweather has made himself more dangerous and put himself in more danger. No one solved the early version and no one has solved the latter version either. Guerrero’s a solid pro’s pro, but he isn’t the best to have tried and Mayweather has to get old before our eyes to lose. That will happen if Mayweather fights long enough, but I’m guessing this isn’t the night and he breaks down Guerrero with typical technique and precision until he gets a chance to finish later in the fight. Mayweather wins in nine.”

Robert Morales, Los Angeles News Group (Mayweather): “Even though I believe Mayweather has slowed down just a bit, I don’t think it will be enough for Guerrero to land enough clean punches to win the fight. Mayweather wins a decision.”

Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN.com (Mayweather): “Guerrero will make Mayweather fight. He will swarm him, hit him on the arms, shoulders, hips, wherever he can. He’ll slow him down and keep Mayweather in front of him and that’ll be his downfall. Floyd may not have the legs he once had, but his hand speed is still tremendous and his accurate punches carry weight. Guerrero will be in close, head down, and constantly vulnerable to flashing Mayweather uppercuts inside. They’ll gradually wear him down and one will finally drop him, leading to a Mayweather barrage and a tenth round technical knockout, but Floyd will be hurting for days afterward.”

Rick Reeno, BoxingScene.com (Guerrero): “This is the first time I’m picking against Mayweather, but I believe the stage is set for Guerrero to pull off the ‘Upset of the Year’ (and possibly the decade). Unlike some of Mayweather’s past opponents, Guerrero has chased this fight for several years. He is fresher, hungrier, throws a lot more punches, has a good chin, is very physical and does have the ability to adjust. He’s certainly Mayweather’s most difficult opponent in several years. As long as Guerrero controls the pace and prevents Mayweather from making it a technical boxing match, the fight is his to win by close 12-round decision.”

Martin Rogers, Yahoo Sports (Mayweather): “Mayweather is too strong, too skilled and too clever and he will win by decision.”

Mike Rosenthal, The Ring Magazine (Mayweather): “I think Guerrero is a very good all-around fighter and tough as nails, but Mayweather is a great fighter even if he has slipped a tad. Mayweather by unanimous decision.”

Jon Saraceno, USA Today (Mayweather): “Floyd shakes off the rust and wins a decision.”

Lem Satterfield, The Ring Magazine Online (Mayweather): “There will be some treacherous moments for Mayweather simply due to his relative inactivity compared to Guerrero’s. Mayweather will have been out for nearly a year since his last fight against Miguel Cotto on May 5 last year, but I believe that he will have enough determination and savvy to elude significant damage on the way to a victory on points over 12 rounds.”

Tim Smith, New York Daily News (Mayweather): “Guerrero is no slouch as he proved against Andre Berto, but Mayweather is no Berto. Mayweather is one of the best boxers and most skilled defensive boxers of this generation. He won’t be standing in one spot for Guerrero to tee off on him. Everyone thinks they have a plan against Mayweather, but he is so adaptive in the ring that plans unravel and boxers are left grasping at straws just to stay in the ring with him. I don’t think Guerrero is the tactical match for Mayweather, but I think he has a good enough chin to withstand what Mayweather can throw at him. Mayweather by decision.”

Bob Velin, USA Today (Mayweather): “Guerrero is one of the toughest fighters in the business, and has a will to win that is second to none in the sport. But he has never faced anyone like Mayweather. Mayweather is the best there is at defending himself, as in, avoiding punches. Guerrero will likely try to make Mayweather fight his fight, which is a ‘toe-to-toe, I-can-wear-you-down-before-you-can-wear-me-down’ style. Guerrero may get to Mayweather’s left shoulder, but it’s unlikely he will do much damage to Mayweather’s head or body. Mayweather’s patience will frustrate Guerrero and take him out of his game. Meanwhile, Mayweather will counter Guerrero at every opportunity and end up winning on points.’’

Mark Whicker, Orange County Register (Mayweather): “Mayweather by ninth round technical knockout. He has adjusted to age and become a far better offensive fighter.”

Michael Woods, ESPN NewYork.com (Mayweather): “Floyd gets the W, same as last time, and the time before, and the time before that. Guerrero is willing and skilled, but limited. Floyd gets the unanimous decision, but his face will tell you after that he’s been in a fight.”

ABOUT “MAYDAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO”:
“MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,” a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Also featured will be WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon taking on Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares in a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship, former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz facing veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship and rising star J’Leon Love squaring off against recent world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight battle for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE GETS HEATED AS FATHERS OF FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER & ROBERT “THE GHOST” GUERRERO NEARLY COME TO BLOWS

LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2013) – Tensions flared, insults flew and blows were nearly exchanged during the final main event press conference Wednesday for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” this Saturday, May 4, live on SHOWTIME PPV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

No, Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and Six-Time and Four-Division Champion Robert “The Ghost ‘’Guerrero didn’t go at it three days before they’ll get paid to do so, but their trainers, who also are their fathers, Floyd Sr. and Ruben Guerrero, got into it during a heated, intense verbal exchange. This time, Ruben was the instigator. Before he even made it to the podium to speak, he was hurling insults at Floyd Jr., who was seated at the dais.

Later, it was Floyd Sr.’s turn. After the speaking portion of the press conference had concluded, the fighters had already posed for photographs and Floyd Jr. was doing an interview with SHOWTIME when Floyd Sr. approached the stage, screaming at Ruben every step of the way.

Floyd Sr. had watched the proceedings from the media section (at Floyd Jr.’s insistence). Once he made it on the stage, the fathers were quickly separated and order was restored.

See below what the fighters, their fathers and executives said Wednesday:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion

“I want to thank God, my entire team, Golden Boy, CBS, SHOWTIME, everybody behind the scenes for doing a tremendous job.

“Obviously, Robert Guerrero has done something right to get here. He’s the best out there. I’ve pushed myself to the limit. I’ve done all I can do to be the best I can be.

(Regarding his decision to keep Floyd Sr. off the dais): “Just to avoid any conflict. That’s why I let my father sit down low, in the audience, because I don’t want any conflict. I’m trying to avoid anyone getting hurt. If I’m up here and Robert’s up here, and my dad and his dad get to fighting, and they fall on him or fall on me, somebody’s finger gets broke or something happens, somebody gets cut, then we’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars down the drain

“I think I made a smart decision. I don’t have to fight his father. I’m here to fight the fighter. Like I told my dad, just carry yourself in a classy way.”

(Regarding the addition of his father to his corner after the Miguel Cotto fight): “It was an exciting fight, but I feel there are certain things my father can see that maybe Roger can’t. When you have diabetes, your vision gets bad. I can’t afford for somebody’s vision to be bad in a big fight like this.”

ROBERT GUERRERO, Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion

“First off I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m ready. I’m excited. You guys talk about this being Floyd Mayweather’s home, we’re doing a home invasion (on Saturday).

“Like my father said, ‘I am who I am, I’m going to be who I am.’ That’s who he (Ruben) is. I can’t tell him what to say and tell him what not to say. That’s my father. He’s going to do what he does.

“That 0 has to go. Records are made to be broken. On May 4, that record is going to be broken. He’s going to have his first loss. You better believe that because I’m ready to go. I can’t wait.

“My dad is pumped up. That’s the real Mr. ALL ACCESS right there. It’s good you have security here and the officers because he’s not all talk.

“I’m relaxed and ready to go. It’s fight time. That’s what I’m here for. It’s time to make it happen

“Anytime is the right time to catch Floyd. It’s just a matter of getting the fight. You’ll see a new WBC world champ on Saturday. I’m taking over. Records are made to be broken and we’re going to give him his first ‘1.’”

FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR.

(Regarding his son prohibiting him from sitting at the dais): “He knows how I am. He knows I’m the kind of guy I am that I won’t be listening to that B.S. and that I’m gonna attack.

“The head trainer is always supposed to be up there on the podium. I guess they didn’t want me up there. Why is his daddy up there and I’m down here?’’

(On whether the Ruben Guerrero tiff may spill over to Saturday): “The thing about it, when his son gets his butt whupped, you know he’s not going to want to get his whupped too. I don’t think it’s going to spill over anywhere. I think the crap’s going to be over with once his son gets whupped.”

RUBEN GUERRERO

“I’m ready. My son is ready. I’m blessed. He’s blessed. I am what I am. My son’s gonna beat him up.’’

(On the disagreement and Floyd Sr. not being on the dais): “I’ll hurt him, man. If I hit him one time, I don’t want to be responsible. He opened his mouth first. He opened the can of worms. If he’s going to talk, I’ll do it for real.

“They should’ve let him hang up here like a real man.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“On behalf of Mayweather Promotions, I want to thank all of our partners. This has been a wonderful, wonderful promotion. I want to thank all the fans watching this on CBS Sports Network. This will be a great event on Saturday night. Thanks to all of you today for coming out.”

RICHARD STURM, President of Sports and Entertainment for MGM Resorts International

“I’m pleased to welcome back Floyd Mayweather to his home for the first time since last May 5 when he fought Miguel Cotto and to welcome back Robert Guerrero, who is making his debut on pay-per-view and fighting for the first time at MGM since he fought Michael Katsidis (April 2011).”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President of Golden Boy Promotions

“I want to thank everybody involved with this promotion. It’s a pleasure to be able to put on such a great event. We’re making history, one fight at a time. Mayweather is fighting a young, hungry lion in Guerrero. I’m really looking forward to it.

“Plus the co-feature and the two other fights are going to make for a very, very special, explosive and entertaining night of fighting.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“I want to thank all our sponsors. This is the largest number we’ve ever had.

“This is a top-notch card from top to bottom. Robert Guerrero deserves to be here. He wanted this fight and plans to shock the world. This will be the toughest fight for Floyd. The co-feature is one of the most anticipated showdowns: Ponce De Leon and Abner Mares. You won’t want to miss a second of it.

“This event has been much talked about and is just a few days away. We have a few tickets left. The telecast is available in Spanish using SAP (Secondary Audio Programming), and you can watch it on closed circuit and in movie theatres.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“SHOWTIME is in the middle of an extremely strong run of boxing events and boxing programming, perhaps the strongest in its history, and the ratings reflect that.

“Two weeks ago, in front of nearly 40,000 fans in the sold-out Alamodome, we saw Canelo Alvarez come of age in a very hard fought victory over Austin Trout. It was a fight that attracted over 1.3 million viewers, the second most in SHOWTIME’s Nielsen history.

“Last Saturday, in front of the largest boxing crowd in the history of BarclaysCenter, we drew the largest boxing rating of any of the networks.

“I call this the Grand Finale. Not only because it’s Floyd Mayweather and pay-per-view, but because we have a determined challenger who is going to make him fight. The co-feature between Ponce De Leon and Mares could be a main event anywhere. In fact it was a main event until we moved it to this card.”
# # #

ABOUT “MAYDAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO”:

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and will also be available for purchaseby phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO EPISODE 4 PREMIERES TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. ET/PT ON SHOWTIME®

Episode 4 of ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO takes fans inside the final preparations for undefeated Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd Mayweather and Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion Robert Guerrero as they enter the last days before their showdown, “MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO.” The episode premieres TONIGHT, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

# # #

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and will also be available for purchaseby phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

ESPN’s Coverage of Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Robert Guerrero

On SportsCenter beginning Wednesday, May 1, bilingual reporters Bernardo Osuna (@osunaespn) of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights and ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates and ESPN.com senior writer Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) will report from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, site of Saturday’s Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Robert Guerrero fight for Mayweather’s WBC welterweight title.

Coverage will include one-on-one interviews with each fighter on Wednesday, following Friday’s weigh-in, which will be aired live on SportsCenter at 6:12 p.m., and after Saturday night’s fight. Osuna and Rafael will also provide instant analysis pieces leading up to the fight, while ESPN2 Friday Night Fights’ analyst Teddy Atlas will craft an “Atlas Fight Plan” for both Mayweather and Guerrero, showing what each must do to win.

In addition, ESPN Deportes will air two special Golpe a Golpe shows – one to cover the weigh-in live on Friday at 6 p.m. and another immediately after the bout on Saturday evening. Coverage will be led by boxing experts Osuna, David Failtelson and Jorge Eduardo Sanchez, alongside the legendary Mexican Champion Juan Manuel Marquez. The experts will also provide analysis and the latest news leading up to the fight across the network’s news and information programming.

DANIEL PONCE DE LEON, ABNER MARES & LEO SANTA CRUZ MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

David Itskowitch
We’re on the home stretch now for the big one. Again, May 4th, MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on Showtime pay-per-view beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. PT. Our main event is, of course, Floyd “Money” Mayweather against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the Vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship.

Also, we have on today’s call, Daniel Ponce De Leon vs. Abner Mares in a 12-round fight for Ponce De Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship. We also have Leo Santa Cruz vs. Alexander Munoz in a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship and opening the pay-per-view broadcast is J’Leon Love vs. Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight bout for the vacant NADF Middleweight Championship.

We’re sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. We still have some tickets remaining for the event. They can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the MGM Grand. We also have closed circuit tickets available for $50. Closed circuit telecast will happen at the ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo, and New York- New York. We urge everybody if you’re in town, you can’t get a ticket to be at MGM Grand, come out and see it with other fight fans on closed circuit. It’s a great experience.

So now without any further ado, I’d like to introduce our first fighter we have on the call today. He’s a young man who broke on the international scene in 2012. In June, he won the IBF Bantamweight World Championship with a 12-round decision win over Vusi Malinga. He went on to defend his belt an unprecedented three times in 2012 with victories over Eric Laurel, Victor Zaleta and Alberto Guevara.

He will look to keep his undefeated record intact when he faces Munoz this Saturday night. He has a record of 23-0-1 with 13 KO’s; from Los Angeles, California, Leo Santa Cruz.

Leo Santa Cruz
Hello, everybody. I’m very happy to be here and I’m very excited and I’m ready.

Itskowitch
All right, Leo. Thank you. We’ll now turn over to Q&A for Leo.

Q
Your last fight was on CBS and made a big splash. Now, you’re on a major card with Floyd Mayweather and Abner Mares, who there have been mention of you fighting him at some point. How big is this for you in terms of making an impression in the big lime light?

Santa Cruz
It’s a big pressure for me because being with Ponce de Leon and Mares and Mayweather, they know that they give good fights. They’re going to steal the show. So, for me to be on that card, it’s telling me that people are expecting a lot from me too. So, I will be training really hard in the gym and we’ll be giving it all we got so we could come out there May 4th and impress other people and give it all we got. That’s what we got to do, show the people and the fans what they want, what they like.

And I have big pressure, but I’m very motivated. I’m very happy and excited to be on this big undercard.

Q
Can you talk about the rise in weight? Is that beneficial to you? Were you having any weight issues, and also, the notion of your power going into the next weight class? Can you address all of those issues?

Santa Cruz
Yes. The bigger names are in 122 and that’s what we want to fight. Before, I thought earlier in my career, once I fight 122, and they said that I look stronger in 122, that I look stronger. I look much better. So, that’s why we move up to 122. So, I think it’s now official. We’re going to move 122.

We’re going to try to win this fight. We have to go out there and try our best and hopefully it goes good and then the next fight, or a couple of fights, we’re going to try to go for the world title again.

Q
When you say you want to look good and you’re on this big card, would a decision in your mind be palatable, or do you need to be spectacular and really kind of score a knockout in an impressive fashion?

Santa Cruz
Yes. That’s what we’re going to try to do. We’re going to try to go out there and we’re going to try to work the body and try to stop it because we’re going to try to be the first one to stop him because nobody has ever stopped him. So, we’re going to try to go out and try to impress with a knock-out and be the first one to stop him. If not, we’re going to try to do a good, good decision that I could impress all the fans and they could keep on following me and be impressed.

Q
What objectives do you have? You’re moving up in division. You’re moving up obviously from 118 to 122. Why are you doing that, and what are your plans?

Santa Cruz
Obviously a lot of the better fighters are at 122. A lot of the big names are there and at 126 as well. So, my objective is to fight at 122 a couple of times, hopefully be able to fight for world title. If I’m able to win a world title, defend it a few times, and then I can very easily move up to 126.

Q
What’s the difference in the gym? What have you been doing differently in the gym? What have you been working on? How do you feel at 122, fighting at a bigger weight?

Santa Cruz
I’ve been working on many things. First of all, I feel really good. I feel a lot stronger at 122 and I’ve been working a little bit on my defense with my father and my brother. We’ve been working on lateral movement, a lot of waste movement, bobbing and weaving and everything is going great.

Q
How important is it for you to be fighting on May 4 underneath these huge names – Mayweather, Guerrero, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Mares? How important is it for you and how do you feel about fighting on this date?

Santa Cruz
It’s very important. It’s an important fight. It’s an important date. It’s a pay-per-view. It’s probably one of the most important fights of my career. It’s almost like fighting for a world title. I got to take advantage of it. I got to steal the spotlight. I got to make fans. There’s going to be so many people watching this show that I have to make a name for myself.

Obviously, Mayweather’s going to put a good fight like he always does. Daniel Ponce de Leon, Abner Mares are going to put on a good fight. I want to stay too far behind. I got to put up a good fight as well so I can be able to steal some fans, have people follow me. It’s important for my career. It’s important for the future.

Q
You fought five times in 2012. You’re fighting for the first time this Saturday this year. Were there plans by you or your team to slow things down a bit for this year?

Santa Cruz
They told me that they had something good for me, to just be patient and wait and the patience was worth it because I’m not on this big undercard. Anybody would like to be on this card. Thank God and thank the promoter and my manager that they pick me to be on this undercard. So, I’m very happy.

Monica Sears
Leo, if you want to make any closing comments.

Santa Cruz
Yes, I want to say to all my fans, thank you for all the support. They’re the ones that are keeping me out here, training really hard. They’re the ones that give me the motivation to keep on fighting because it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. So, I say thank you and on May 4th, I’m going to go out there and give it my all. I’m going to give it my best because I’m going to give what the fans want.

I’m going to go out there and give it my all. I’m not going to give up and I’m going to try my best to impress them and to give them what they want. So, I say thank you.

Itskowitch
Okay. I’ll first say a few remarks. I’d like to introduce a young man who turned professional in 2005 after representing Mexico in the 2004 Olympics. He won his first world championship in 2011 when he defeated Joseph Agbeko for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship in Showtime’s Bantamweight Championship Series. After defending his title against Agbeko in a rematch later that year, Mares moved up to 122 pounds in 2012 and beat Eric Morel for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight belt.

In his most recent fight, he made a major statement with an exciting win over WBA Bantamweight Super World Champion, Anselmo Moreno last November and now, he’s ready to face Daniel Ponce De Leon for the WBC Featherweight World Championship and possibly become the three times Three-Division World Champion. He’s got a record of 25-0-1 with 13 KO’s, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, now fighting out of Hawaiian Gardens, California, Abner Mares. Abner?

Mares
Hello. Hi. I’m happy to be on this card. I can’t wait to put on the show May 4th and I’m excited to be fighting Daniel Ponce de Leon, another warrior.

Itskowitch
Thank you, Abner. Now, to say a few words; he was a 2000 Olympian, has won world titles in the Junior Featherweight and Featherweight divisions. In 2005, he won the vacant WBO title at 122 pounds and went on to defend the belt six times. He’s 32-years-old and on a 3-0 winning streak right now, including his September 2012 win over Johnny Gonzales. He captured the WBC Featherweight World Championship, making him the two time world champion. He’s now looking to make it four in a row when he defends his title against Mares on Saturday night.

He has a record of 44-4 with 35 KO’s from Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, now fighting out of Los Angeles, California, Daniel Ponce de Leon. Ponce?

Ponce de Leon
Good afternoon. Thank you for being here, everybody and enjoy the fight May 4th.

Itskowitch
Okay. I guess we can now turn over to the media for questions for Abner and Ponce.

Q
I’d like to ask you about when this fight came about, it really came about because of the fact that you were not able to get the fight that you had told all of us for a long time that you really wanted, which was the fight against Donaire to unify your title at 122 pounds.

Can you just talk about going from thinking that maybe you might have a chance to get that fight, there was an offer extended, it didn’t work out. He went and was doing his other fight that he ended up losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux and now you’re taking the opportunity to go up in weight and in your first fight at the weight; you’re getting a chance to fight for the world title. Sort of your feelings about how that all sort of played out.

Mares
I think it just played out great. I mean things started falling into place. It went from wanting to get that big fight against Nonito Donaire and pressuring for that fight. Obviously, … weren’t comfortable with the contract and then it went to Ponce having a fight against Menes and that fight falling through and myself getting the opportunity to fight Ponce.

So, I think everything happens for a reason. Everything’s fell into place and I think it was meant to be. Thank God, I thank Golden Boy and everybody in my whole team for making this possible to give me an opportunity to fight for another world title with the opportunity of becoming three time world champion. I’m excited for this weekend.

Q
Abner, when you gave up the title after you didn’t get the fight against Donaire and you made the decision to go to featherweight, had you given up the title and made that announcement knowing that you were going to get Ponce, or just taking the opportunity, not knowing if this would be your fight and it just ended up working out that way? In other words, did you know that you were getting a big fight when you left the weight class without the Donaire fight in your back pocket, or did it come along after you had already made that decision to give up the belt and to move up in weight?

Mares
It actually came along. I mean, again, it fell into place. I think any other fighter, and I myself was thinking of taking-getting my feet wet first at 126, a featherweight. We were trying to get a fight in Mexico, something comfortable. But again, things have started happening, started falling into place and I got this opportunity.

I like to take advantage of the opportunities and this fight was presented. It’s a tough fight. It’s a hard fight to start with at 126. But again, I think it’s a great opportunity and I’m going to take full advantage of it.

Q
Okay, but just to be clear, when you gave up the title, you didn’t know that this was going to be taking place.

Mares
No. No, no, no. I gave up my title thinking I was just moving up to 126 and looking for the opportunity. But again, this opportunity was presented for the reason his fight fell through. I was looking for a fight at 126 and things just happened.

Q
Okay, and I want to ask Ponce the same question when Abner’s done answering. It is an unusual situation that both of you guys, two top fighters, champions, both managed by the same manager. Frank Espinoza’s obviously done a good job to get you guys to where you are, but it’s not a normal thing that managers have their fighters face each other. I’m wondering if either of you have an opinion on that happening and how that has in any way either been a problem, or worked out well or if you’re happy with the way things are split up.

I know Frank has talked to me about making sure that he does everything 50 percent down the line that doesn’t try to favor either one of you guys, whether it’s everything from the ring walks to how things are done in the dress room ahead of time; all the different things that go into taking care of a fight. What are your thoughts on that aspect of this matchup that is a little unusual, Abner?

Mares
Okay, no, I mean Frank has kept it really professional in that sense. I mean I really, really appreciate and want to let it be known that Frank has been nothing by professional in that sense. He’s been-it was hard. It must be hard for him.

He’s away from my camp. He hasn’t stepped a foot in my gym since I started camp out of respect to me and out of respect to Ponce. I’m sure he hasn’t been to his camp either. He just calls me on a professional sense, for interviews, but nothing regarding my training.

Again, it’s tough for him to make this fight happen and I just thank him for making this fight happen and at the same time, I’m sure it’s hard for him. I mean I’m comfortable as far as giving me the opportunity and, as well, keeping it fifty-fifty for me and Ponce.

Ponce De Leon
No, everything’s fine. It’s actually kind of easy because it was easy to make the fight. Golden Boy, Frank, represent both fighters. So, it was kind of easy to make the fight. There’s no controversy whatsoever. Golden Boy, you guys have been neutral. Everything has been neutral with Golden Boy and with Frank as well. He’s been neutral. So, everything’s been fine.

Q
Obviously, this is a difficult fight. Abner’s a very good fighter. He’s a smaller guy coming up though, but at the same time, he’s a very good boxer. How do you see the fight coming out this Saturday?

Ponce De Leon
I’m a tough fighter. I’m a pressure fighter. I like to come forward and make fights, which is good and it’s going to be a very difficult fight, but I trained hard. I trained very, very hard and I’m going to be ready for the fight.

Q
How important is it for you fight a big fight card like this one underneath Mayweather? How important is it for you, and how do you feel fighting on the fight card?

Ponce De Leon
Well, it’s very important. Fighting underneath Mayweather, it’s a big show and not only that, but also fighting on Cinco de Mayo. That’s a big fiesta for Mexico, tradition. I’m excited to be fighting there. Mexico’s, they’re warriors. They’re warriors. They’ve been at war. It was actually May 5th is about a war. So, it’s very good.

I’m just happy also that the U.S. recognizes it, that it’s an important holiday for all Mexicans. So, I’m very, very excited.

Mares
It’s great. I’m very, very excited. Obviously, when you fight underneath Mayweather, the fans come out. People pay attention. It gets everybody to tune in. So, it’s very, very good. It’s going to be important for me to try to steal the spotlight. It’s going to be a very, very good fight and I just feel that hopefully on Sunday after the fight, nobody’s really talking about Mayweather. I hope everybody’s talking about the great that the two Mexicans put on, Abner Mares and Ponce De Leon.

Q
Abner, you fought your last six fights against who’s who – Perez, Darchinyan, Agbeko twice, Morel, Moreno. I think the boxing public appreciates your ability. Do you feel generally appreciated in a relation to guys like say Tim Bradley and Adrien Broner?

Mares
This year I’m not quite yet to that level where I think I deserve it. I know Bradley fought a lot of great fights and it only took him that one fight against Pacquiao to really get him recognized. I am looking for that big fight and I think I have been doing it 5:30 p.m. and keep on going. I don’t plan on stopping here after Ponce. I plan on fighting any other top elite fighter.

I just hope that I do get direct relation after this fight that I’m going to put in on May 4th in this great, great performance.

Q
You fought guys like Gamboa and Broner. There are some people who have already beat Broner and obviously we fought Lopez and lost that fight. Do you feel that those fights could be a barometer for you maybe winning spectacular and in comparison, you want to do better than those guys did against?

Mares
Definitely. I think I’ve proven myself already to some point by just fighting all these elite fighters and pretty much letting people know that I’m … face anyone. And those names that you brought up I mean just are big, elite names, big names and I will definitely and anybody that knows boxing knows that I will definitely fight them any given day.

Of course, I got this big fight, this tough fight against Ponce De Leon and God willing, getting past this fight with a victory I will most definitely look into those things as well.

Q
Okay, last question for you. You’re moving up in weight. He does hit very hard. In relation to the guys that you’ve fought and the fact that you’re moving up, how big a factor-can you characterize the factor that Ponce De Leon’s power is and how that factors into your strategy?

Mares
I mean it’s a big factor knowing that I’m stepping in a different weight class, heavier weight class and already going in against a heavy puncher. It’s hard, but I think it’s all mental. I think it’s all mental. I’m going in weighing the same. He’s weighing the same that same night and after, I know I’m going to recuperate and I’m going to be at least six to ten pounds heavy the next day.

I think that night, I want to let it be known that skills and smartness skills power and power and pressure any day. So, I think that’s going to be my key and I plan to put it to work on May 4th.

Q
Okay. Same question that I left on with Abner; given the fact that he’s moving up in weight, how much do you think your size and your power relative to what he has seen, how much do you think that will be a factor in this fight?

Ponce de Leon
Basically that is going to be a difference. It is going to be somewhat of a difference and you do have to take it into account. I’ve done it before in my career. I fought as high as 130 and I noticed a difference in size and in power. So, I’m sure that he’s going to feel the difference as well. It’s hard to just jump up all of a sudden to another weight class and be fighting for the world title. It’s very, very tough.

But, even though I say that, I’m not going to take it. I’m going to be very, very careful, obviously. I’m going to still think about my game plan and I’m preparing myself as if I’m fighting a solid 126 pounder featherweight in my division.

Q
Okay. My last question for you; you fought, as I mentioned, Gamboa, Broner, Lopez and you’re coming off that big win over Gonzales. How does he compare to Gonzales first of all? Are you looking at him as a more difficult opponent or about the same? And then, how did the fights with Gamboa and Broner who are both boxers, you fought Broner at a higher weight class, how will those fights prepare you for this one?

Ponce De Leon
Well, Abner is very similar to them. He’s very similar. He’s a good technician. He’s got a very, very good style, but the difference is that he’s smaller. I fought both Gamboa and Broner at 130. They were bigger guys and I fought Johnny Gonzales at 126. He’s a good technician. It was a tough fight as well. It wasn’t that easy, but the difference is that Abner’s a smaller guy.

But, nevertheless, I know it’s going to be a tough fight. It’s going to be a hard, tough fight and that’s what I prepared myself for. I prepared myself for a tough fight and the most important thing is to make a good fight.

Q
Okay, real quick, since you touched on it, you talked about what it was like for you to move up and fight Gamboa and Broner. You just mentioned that he’s smaller. Again, I want to ask you are you planning on emphasizing at all your size and your power to a degree that maybe he hasn’t seen in his past?

Ponce De Leon
I’m going to come out and fight. I’m going to come out and fight. I have my strategy and I’m going to come out and fight. Obviously, depending on how the fight goes, if I feel that there’s a big advantage in using my size and my power, then I’m going to take advantage of it. I’m going to take advantage of it. I’m going to feed off of that and use it to my power and to my advantage.

But, at the same time, since he is a smaller guy, he can very well be faster. So, I got to be careful with that as well. So, it all depends. I’m going to come out with my strategy. If feel that I can utilize my size and power, then I’m going to use that and use it to my advantage.

Q
You’re moving up. You’re moving up to a different weight division. How’s your preparation been? What have you been doing in the gym? How do you feel?

Mares
I feel very good. I feel very strong. That’s the difference. Believe it or not, those four little pounds make a difference. I’m not dehydrated. I don’t have to struggle to make the weight. So, I feel very, very strong and my sparring, I’ve been sparring guys that are bigger, lightweight, junior welterweights.

But, I’ll know fight night what I have to do to be successful. I’m going to know fight night what it’s going to feel like. It’s different moving up in weight. But right now, I feel very good and I feel very strong.

Q
Abner, you’ve been moving up in weight. You’re going to move up again. Do you think this is too fast, it’s too early in your career to be moving up to this weight class, or do you think it’s good timing?

Mares
Look, the most important thing for me is to make good fights. I want to make good fights. I want to make my fans happy, all the boxing fans. I want them to be happy and coming out to my fights. So, that’s the most important thing for me.

This is going to be a good fight and moving up a weight or whatever, I look for the biggest possible fight at 122. There was one fight and that fight wasn’t able to be made. So, the next biggest thing was to move up and to fight for this title, and that’s what I’m doing.

But, the most important thing, again, are the fans, the boxing fans, and I want to make them happy. And if I make them happy I’m doing my job.

Q
You’ve been studying Abner. Do you see any weaknesses, anything that you can take advantage of?

Ponce De Leon
Well, I’m not going to give away any secrets, but I do have my strategy and I’m going to stick to my game plan, but I will say this; Abner has a big heart. I know that. He’s a very, very good fighter. He’s a pressure fighter. He knows how to pressure when he needs to and again, it’s going to be a good fight. And I’ll know fight night whether I have to box a little more or I have to put on pressure as well. And I’m going to know fight night what happens.

Q
Ponce, if you’re victorious on Saturday, what’s ahead? What can you tell us? What are your plans? What would you like to do?

Ponce De Leon
Well, I still feel that I have a lot to give to the sport. I feel a lot better now, a lot more confident, a lot stronger than I did when I was champion before at 122. Believe it or not, it’s a lot easier now I feel fighting because I have a lot more experience. But look, I’ll do whatever. I’ll fight anybody. I’ll do whatever my promoter says and I’ll be ready for anything, anything that comes ahead.

Q
How important is it for you to win your third world title and as many divisions?

Mares
It’s very motivating. It’s very, very motivating to me that I’m able to do it. I’m still very young. I’m 26-years-old and I’m able to do that in such a short period of time. Obviously, Julio Cesar Chavez did it. He was able to do it and to be able to do that, to be the next person to do it, it just feels great. It’s a motivating factor for me.

Q
Most of your career, all your career has been fights in the United States. Is this fight important to help boost your name and your fans in Mexico?

Mares
No, not really. I mean obviously people do know me in Mexico. This is a good fight against a tough champion, a very good champion in Ponce De Leon, Mexican champion people know. But, little by little, people are starting to know me. They’re starting to get to know me in Mexico because of the great fights I made in the past, the great opponents I’ve had. I think that the real switchover is going to be when I eventually fight in Mexico, which is something that’s a dream of mine, something I’ve been wanting to do, something I’ve talked to my promoter about.

And when I do that I feel that people-I’ll be able to win them over finally and they’ll see me fighting in the country of Mexico.

Q
Obviously, this is a historical fight. You said it itself, winning a third title in the Third-Division. How important is it for you to become a Mexican idol? Do you think this is going to do it for you?

Mares
Look, I don’t think about that. I don’t plan for it. I don’t think about that. Again, the most important thing for me is to make good fights, make great fights, let the people put me where they want to put me. Let them decide whether I’m an idol or not. I don’t worry about that.

I train hard to make good fights. I think that this is going to be a very good fight with Daniel Ponce De Leon and that’s the most important thing for is to make good fights and for the people to be happy. So, I don’t worry about that, or I don’t plan for it, to try to be an idol.

Q
I’d like to ask both fighters for their analysis of the Mayweather-Guerrero main event and who they both think will win and why, and then I have a follow-up question for Abner.

Mares
That fight-I don’t know. I’m just thinking about my fight. I don’t know. I just hope that it’s a good fight, but not as good as our fight. That’s it.

Ponce de Leon
Hey, it’s difficult to pick somebody. Mayweather is a very good fighter. He’s a difficult fighter, best defense, good fighter and Robert Guerrero too. Robert Guerrero is a very, very good fighter, worthy of this challenge. I just think that it’s up in the air. It’s a 50-50 fight. It’s up in the air and I just think it’s going to be a very, very good fight.

Q
Thanks and for Abner; Abner, regarding Guillermo Rigondeaux’s recent performance against Nonito Donaire, I was wondering if you were disappointed in the loss of a potential super fight opponent, or do you see it differently?

Mares
No. I was definitely not disappointed. If anything, I was more in shock, not shock, but I was like-I was one of the many people that thought Nonito was going to take it. I’m obviously going to back that up because I’ve said that Nonito was going to win and he didn’t. Rigondeaux gave him a hell of a fight, just a boxing clinic. He just out boxed him and did whatever he did with him on that fight.

I’m not disappointed at all. Everybody knew I wanted to fight Nonito. Rigondeaux exposed him. I wanted to be the one to do that, but he beat me to it. And now, I would love to fight any of them, either Rigondeaux or Nonito.

I saw Rigondeaux already in the amateurs in the Pan American Games. He beat me. Yes, it was a controversial fight and I would love to fight him again. But again, I have a fight less than a week away from now and I plan on seeing that fight first and then let’s see what happens.

Q
Of course. With regard to Rigondeaux performance, were you more surprised by how effective Rigondeaux was or by how ineffective Donaire was?

Mares
I think a little bit of both. I mean I already knew how Rigondeaux fought because he hasn’t changed at all – same style at the amateurs, really more as a defense fighter. I think I was a little bit shocked too, surprised that Nonito seemed like he didn’t train. He seemed like he was out of gas and didn’t know what to do.

But again, I blame that on his last four or five fights that he had. No fighter level to what Rigondeaux’s style and performance. I think that was a big major thing why he didn’t look that impressive.

Sears
Thanks, everyone, for being on the phone. Thanks to both Daniel and Abner. Do you guys want to make any last comments before we conclude the call?

Mares
Yes, just make sure you watch May 4th.. It’s going to be a great night of fights. Its Cinco de Mayo – a Mexican weekend and I plan to keep it that way, a Mexican weekend. Thank you so much.

Ponce de Leon
Thank you all. Thank you for all the support, especially Golden Boy Promotions, Frank Espinoza, the fans. I’ll wait for you guys. I’ll see you guys hopefully on May 4th, wait for a great fight and God bless everybody.

END OF CALL

SHOWTIME & CBS SPORTS NETWORK TV SCHEDULE FOR “MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO” ON SHOWTIME PPV® THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4 FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS

NEW YORK (April 30, 2013) – SHOWTIME and CBS Sports Network have lined up an aggressive schedule of programming this week in anticipation of “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,’’ the four-fight pay-per-view telecast event of the year this Saturday, May 4, (live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, SHOWTIME PPV) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Fans will get a final behind-the-scenes look into both fight camps before Saturday’s fight on ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Guerrero Episode 4 this Wednesday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

· Wednesday, May 1 – Final Press Conference featuring Floyd Mayweather and Robert Guerrero live from Hollywood Theatre at MGM Grand airing live on CBS Sports Network at 4:30pm ET/1:30pm PT.

· Wednesday, May 1 – Episode 4 of ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Guerrero at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME gives fans one last chance to catch a glimpse of the lives of Mayweather and Guerrero as they prepare to battle this Saturday.

· Friday, May 3 – WEIGH IN LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena airing live on SHOWTIME and CBS Sports Network at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.

· Saturday, May 4 – MAY DAY LIVE includes up to two live preliminary fights, special ALL ACCESS features and exclusive interviews from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. MAY DAY LIVE will air live on SHOWTIME at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

SHOWTIME PPV – Saturday, May 4 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)

*Telecast will be available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

WBC & VACANT RING MAGAZINE WELTERWEIGHT TITLES – 12 ROUNDS

Floyd Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero

43-0 (26 KO’s) 31-1-1, 18 KO’s

Grand Rapids, Mich. Gilroy, Calif.

WBC FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 12 ROUNDS

Daniel Ponce De Leon vs. Abner Mares

44-4 (35 KO’s) 25-0-1 (13 KO’s)

Cuauhtemoc, Mexico Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.

VACANT USBA JUNIOR FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE – 10 ROUNDS

Leo Santa Cruz vs. Alexander Munoz

23-0-1 (13 KO’s) 36-4 (28 KO’s)

Los Angeles, Calif. Bolivar, Venezuela

VACANT NABF MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE – 10 ROUNDS

J’Leon Love vs. Gabriel Rosado

15-0 (8 KO’s) 21-6 (13 KO’s)

Las Vegas, Nev. Philadelphia, Penn.

SHOWTIME – Saturday, May 4 (7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT)

*Telecast will be available in Spanish on secondary audio programming (SAP).

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 8 ROUNDS

Badou Jack vs. Michael Gbenga

13-0 (9 KO’s) 16-7 (16 KO’s)

Las Vegas, Nev. Accra, Ghana

MIDDLEWEIGHTS – 6 ROUNDS (TIME PERMITTING)

Luis Arias vs. DonYil Livingston

4-0 (3 KO’s) 8-2-1 (4 KO’s)

Las Vegas, Nev. Palmdale, Calif.

· Saturday, May 4 – Following the SHOWTIME PPV event, CBS Sports Network will provide complete analysis of the action with commentator Barry Tompkins and analyst Steve Farhood, as well as live coverage of the post-fight press conference.

During the week leading up to the bout, CBS Sports Network also will air encore presentations of classic fights featuring Mayweather and Guerrero. Fights airing in their entirety include Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya (May 2007), the most watched pay-per-view event in history; the controversial fight between Mayweather and Victor Ortiz (September 2011); Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton (December 2007); Mayweather vs. Shane Mosley (May 2010) and Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (September 2009).

SHO PPV ANNOUNCERS: Brian Kenny will host the SHOWTIME PPV telecast, with Mauro Ranallo calling the action, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi serving as expert analysts and Jim Gray reporting. Barry Tompkins will call the action on SHOWTIME with Steve Farhood serving as expert analyst. Alejandro Luna will call the blow-by-blow for SAP and Raul Marquez will serve as color commentator.

PRODUCERS: The executive producer is David Dinkins Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.

“MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO” MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT

Oscar De La Hoya

Thank you very much. MAY DAY is right around the corner. Obviously, you all know, Floyd Mayweather versus Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, which will be a 12 round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship, and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship.

We have a tremendous, tremendous lineup as we told everyone. From top to bottom, it’s really, really solid; exciting. The co-main event features Daniel Ponce de Leon versus Abner Mares. That will be a 12-rounder for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight world title. And also, after taking a nice little break after fighting five times last year, he’s back, the exciting, powerful machine, Leo Santa Cruz versus Alexander Munoz. That will be a 10-round fight for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight title.

Also on the card, who will be opening up the pay-per-view telecast, will be a great fight that we have lined up thanks to Mayweather Promotions; his fighter J’Leon Love versus Gabriel Rosado, which should be an exciting 10-round vacant Middleweight NABF title fight. This fight is being held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, promoted by Mayweather Promotions and, yours truly, Golden Boy Promotions, sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly. Thank you very much to AT&T, once again, and Star Trek: Into Darkness, and Valvoline. This fight is being distributed by Showtime Pay Per View, which begins at 9:00 p.m. ET and 6:00 p.m. PT.

We are thrilled, like I said. Obviously, tickets are and have gone really fast; there’s only a few left. So whoever wants to make it to this event live, you can check it out at the MGM. We also have closed-circuit feed available at the Aria, at the Mandalay Bay, at the Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York, New York, which are priced at $50. So whoever hasn’t been down to a closed-circuit event, it really is an event. It’s like being there live. The atmosphere is unbelievable. It’s really worth the $50 that you’ll be paying.

Now, without further ado, I would like to introduce to you, he is the six-time and four division world champion, and he obviously has had tremendous wins. And most recently, he captured the boxing world’s attention by defeating a former Two-Time World Champion Andre Berto in November in 2012 in thrilling, thrilling fashion. An exciting 12-round, unanimous decision.

Now, obviously he’s in the fight of his life here with Floyd Mayweather. It’s a big opportunity and he’s ready for it. He’s ready for it and May 4th will be just another fight for Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. He’s a tremendous fighter; strong, fast, durable. He has a record of 31 and 1, with 18 knockouts, out of Gilroy, California, here is Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero.

Robert Guerrero

Thank you. Thank you, Oscar, for that. I just want to thank everybody that put this together, Golden Boy, Showtime, my team putting in the work; we’re ready to go.

In the Berto fight, Berto fights a style that’s somewhat similar to Mayweather’s and he seemed to land the right uppercut quite a bit in the straight leg. What plans do you have for holding that punch?

Guerrero

You know, everybody’s a different fighter. You can’t compare Berto to Mayweather, so we’ve been working, we’ve been working on a lot of different things. You go back to the drawing board, you assess your performance the fight before and you work off of that and you start perfecting things, and that’s what we’re doing. We perfected a lot of different things that we’re going to be bringing in the ring and putting the defense together even more tighter, so we’re working on everything.

Excellent. He hasn’t fought in a year, and I think only four times in about the last five or six years. Is there a chance he isn’t taking you seriously or how do you think he’s approaching you?

Guerrero

Oh, most definitely Floyd Mayweather’s taking me seriously. After the beating I put on Berto, you’ve got to take somebody seriously, because you know they come out to punish. So I know for sure Floyd Mayweather is taking me seriously. Especially being out for a whole year, you know, like he said, I mean, it’s been his longest training camp in a long time and he’s putting in the work and the time that he needs to be ready for the fight, but that isn’t going to make a difference, because I know his body size. You can see it. Being a whole year laid off, he’s going to feel the punches.

Have you ever sat out a whole year and fought? And what would that be like?

Guerrero

Yeah, I’ve been out a whole year and fought, and jumped right in with a hard puncher and you can feel the punches different. So it takes a little time to shake that ring rust off.

Does that suggest that you need to go after him early in the fight?

Guerrero

Oh, we’re going to go after him the whole fight. Whether the fight ends early or if it goes 12 rounds, we’re going to go after him the whole fight.

Do you think like some people do right now that maybe – and I’m basing this off of Floyd’s last fight against Cotto – he got a little bit more than we’re used to see him. Do you think that maybe Floyd has slowed down just a little bit to where he might be a little bit easier to hit these days when he was, say, a couple, three years ago?

Guerrero

I think Floyd just didn’t take Cotto too serious. Knowing that Cotto’s slow on his feet, slow hands, I think he overlooked him a bit. But, you know, Floyd Mayweather’s a very sharp fighter and a very smart guy. He made the adjustments and got the job done. So I know Floyd’s going to be ready to go. You can’t underestimate him and you can’t look past anything he brings, because, like I said, if he is slowing down, his slower is faster than almost every other fighter out there.

What do you think about a quote from Floyd referring to you as a hypocrite? I don’t know if you know about that; he was talking about the arrest that you took. Any thoughts on that?

Guerrero

Yeah, you know, we’re all hypocrites. Everyone, you know, if you’re a perfect person, you wouldn’t need Jesus Christ. It just goes to show how much he keeps his head in the Bible and he reads the Bible and how much he believes to call somebody a hypocrite. It’s laughable.

Has this unfortunate incident that happened, has it messed with your head at all as you’re trying to train knowing that you still have to go to court for this whole thing?

Guerrero

No, I’m ready to go. You know, there’s nothing stopping me from winning this fight. All the focus is there. I’m in training camp, I’m ready to go, that’s the bottom line.

Richard Schaefer said that you had the gun with you in New York because going to a shooting range is a hobby and it’s something you like to do in the spare time and kind of blow off steam. Can you comment on that at all and just kind of, you know, why you had it with you?

Guerrero

Yeah, you know what, I’m only going to answer boxing questions and that’s it, so, sorry.

I know you’re training a lot around Mt. Charleston. What do you enjoy most about that? What do you get out of it and what’s, maybe if you can kind of comment on how that contributes to your endurance and that sort of thing.

Guerrero

Well, the top of Mt. Charleston, it tops out like at 10-11,000 feet elevation, so you’re getting the best of both worlds. You’re getting a great run, you add the elevation, it’s great for your endurance. It’s like being out …. We’re out in the farm town and you get out in the country, it reminds you of home.

Do you think that Floyd Mayweather really means the derogatory things that he says about you in [All Access] or is it just to hype the show?

Guerrero

You know, Floyd’s going to be Floyd. That’s part of his game, just getting under your skin and trying to get you off your game, but it ain’t working. So, he’s in for a fight and he knows he is.

And now that you’re in Vegas and all that other stuff is behind you, is everything completely on schedule here as we approach one week before the big day?

Guerrero

Oh, everything’s great, everything’s going good; I’m ready to go, feeling great. The only thing now is just winning the fight.

Last year I know your publicist, he was campaigning hard for a fight with Floyd Mayweather right around this time. I just want to know what has happened if, I don’t want to say if Floyd called your bluff, but if he granted you the fight, how do you think you would have performed last year as opposed to how ready you are right now?

Guerrero

I’m always ready to fight. No matter what fight or fighter it is. Watch my past fights, even the Berto fight; hey, I’m coming to fight all the time. So, I would have been ready then. But I am really ready now. I was ready then, it’s just now I’m even more ready because I had a fight to break in at 147 pounds. He should have picked the fight a year ago.

Do you think it’s more advantageous that you did in fact get the chance, not only to fight welterweight, but to prove to the world that you are actually one of the best welterweight’s in the world?

Guerrero

Oh yeah, most definitely. I was 135 pounds fighting at 47 and now I have field in solid to 147 pounds, so that will make a big difference.

When you were starting out with your older brother and Fernando and the group at the potato shed, being a nine year old kid and showing promise, can you have imagined where you are now, what’s happening right this moment?

Guerrero

As soon as you step into the boxing gym, your goals as an amateur boxer is to be the best fighter you can be, to go to the Olympics, become professional and become a world champion, so it’s always on your mind. And growing up as a fighter, I mean, every fighter grows up with no doubt in their mind they’re going to be a champion and they’re going to work hard for it. And, you know, we’ve always pictured it and now here it is.

And what does it mean to be from Gilroy, and you stayed there even though you’ve made it in your career, you stayed with your roots and stayed with your family and stayed with your friends where nothing’s changed. What does it mean to represent Gilroy against Mayweather?

Guerrero

It means a lot, because I’m from an agricultural town, all the areas around are agricultural and it’s part of our heritage, growing up in the farms and farm working. So it means a lot, it means a lot, especially fighting Floyd Mayweather and beating him on Cinco de Mayo weekend, because it’s a holiday that’s well celebrated and that will be for our Hispanic roots.

Okay, Robert, now you are a very spiritual person. How has your spirituality played a part in your boxing career?

Guerrero

You know, it plays a big part. Not just in boxing, it plays a big part in my life. You know, outside of the ring, with my family, raising my kids in church, believing in Jesus Christ, it’s a big part of my life and that’s what guides my whole life. That goes through my training camp, boxing, being in the ring. It really is the number one thing in my life.

Now you fought Orlando Salido, who was a pressure fighter, you fought Andre Berto who represents power and speed, you fought warriors such as Katsidis and boxers such as Escobedo and Casamayor. And then there were these hard to deal with styles, such as Jason Litzau and they weren’t easy to deal with. I already believe that you are mentally strong, which is an advantage that most of Floyd’s opponents haven’t had. Does fighting so many different styles along with that mentality, do you believe that makes you the optimum to give Floyd his first loss?

Guerrero

Oh, most definitely. I mean, you hit it right on. Having the proper experience to be in the ring helps build a fighter the right way. Then you get the chance to fight different types of styles, so you have different experiences. Then when a fighter gets to the top they’re ready for it and they stay there. Having the mental experience outside of the ring, inside of the ring, putting all that together as a package, it’s a deadly force.

You are a six-time champion in four different weight classes. That’s a marvelous accomplishment and not many people knew that about you coming in. Do you ever fight with a chip? I mean, do you ever feel underappreciated by people who just don’t know your accomplishments?

Guerrero

No, I don’t. You know, all I do is go out there and fight, set my heart and fight the best I can. If it gets recognized, it gets recognized; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But you know what, I know I put God first and he’s blessed me to be in this position. And being in this position, it’s incredible. It’s incredible and it truly is a blessing, and it’s helps me take full advantage of it. After this fight, everybody will know the accomplishments that I have, especially after beating Floyd Mayweather.

You talked a little bit about what it would be like for living on the farm and winning this fight. When you sit by yourself and you dream about beating Floyd Mayweather, tell us a little bit about the inside of what The Ghost feels, the excitement of thinking about beating Floyd Mayweather.

Guerrero

You know, it’s just the opportunity of a lifetime. To be in the sport that I’m in and to be at the top of the game, it’s just a feeling that you have to experience to know how it feels. So, I’m just very blessed and I just can’t wait until after the fight to thank Jesus Christ for blessing me with this huge, huge opportunity.

Now you said you have to know, you have to have that experience to know how it feels. Do you feel more pressure than usual going into this fight?

Guerrero

No, you know what? I haven’t felt that kind of pressure at all. So, you know, being by my wife’s side while she died of cancer, that’s pressure. That’s a lot of pressure, stress. It will break you down. So, coming to this fight, I mean, it’s a blessing, it’s a blessing and there isn’t any pressure there.

You talked a little bit about Floyd being Floyd promoting the fight. When you look back on it was there anything he did that got to you, got to your family?

Guerrero

No, not at all. He can talk, he can say this and that, do whatever he wants, it just doesn’t get to me. It doesn’t get to me because I’m ready for this. I’m mentally ready for this, mentally focused. I’ve been through far worse things than standing in front of Floyd or listening to him talk and getting mad about it. I’m a very grateful and thankful guy, I’m blessed to be in this position, I’m blessed to have my wife here today. I just thank God every day. And by Floyd talking and saying whatever he said and acting the way he acts, it doesn’t bother me at all because I live my life one way and he lives his another way.

Anything that you’ve done to Floyd that you felt like you could look at your wife and say, “We got him.”

Guerrero

No, not at all. You know, I really don’t try to talk down on him or try to get him off his game. Hey, you know what, I know he’s one of the masters at the mental game on breaking guys down and he probably could see right through anything. So, he knows that I’m ready to go and I’m going to go in there and fight and that’s all that matters.

Listen, Robert, when you first got the fight, and I know there was a call with some of the reporters right when you signed for the fight and it was announced, and how you spent some time answering questions talking about one of the things you had said was that you thought that Floyd, at this stage of his career being his age and the layoff and maybe the jail sentence and all that, that he was, I believe the term you used was “right for the picking.” Do you still believe that? I never got the clear answer at that time. When you said that, what sorts of things were you thinking about that led you to believe that this might be the right time to go get Floyd who’s been so flawless for so many years in his boxing?

Guerrero

That’s the way I think about every fighter when they set a fight with me. You know, they’re right for the picking. And I truly believe God puts people in front of you for a reason and God put him in front of me for a reason and I’m going to beat him. So, you know, Floyd Mayweather having a year off and being in jail and stuff like that, it takes a toll on you. No matter what you do, you do have a little ring rust. It’s different from training and sparring, then getting in the fight, so that ring rust is always there until you actually get in that ring and shake it off.

You’re right about that, but he seems to be different from most fighters from the standpoint that he’s had lengthy layoffs. So I wonder, have you watched recent bouts, maybe the Cotto fight, maybe some other fights, and is there anything that you’ve seen specifically in how he’s fought that leads you to believe that maybe the age or the rust is sort of going to catch up to him a little bit?

Guerrero

No when he’s had those year layoffs and came back, everybody was handpicked. He picked a small guy with Marquez. He took Cotto, he knew he could get away with the foot speed and the hand speed. Victor Ortiz, he just took advantage and took the shot, which if you’re so confident, you wouldn’t need to take a shot like that. So, like I said before, he’s going to be fighting Robert Guerrero, and like I said, everybody that signs with me, I think they’re right for the picking because I come to fight.

Obviously you have the record and the resume that you have, but what’s the one thing you think that you do specifically that you think others that have tried have been unsuccessful doing at this point because you’ve been able to maintain that record that you’re going to be better at doing? Whether it’s just power or speed or pressure or whatever the case may be, what in your mind is your greatest asset going into this matchup?

Guerrero

Staying mentally strong and keeping the game plan together, and also being able to change the game plan during the fight when I need to, to make those adjustments. A lot of these other guys weren’t able to do that.

You’ve been asking for this fight for a long time and as opposed to when you were asking for the fight with Marquez, you really, really poured it on and you were very aggressive. Almost to the point of it was almost vicious, and that’s a rare side of you that I don’t see all the time. What is it about this particular fight and this particular fighter that gets under your skin or really gets you charged up? What is it?

Guerrero

It’s not getting under the skin or anything, it’s just wanting to be the best in the sport, wanting to be at the top. With guys like Marquez and Juan Diaz and all these guys that I’ve called down and I’ve been in line to fight, this is the guy. This is the guy. So he’s the man to beat and he’s the man that if you beat him, you’re on top. So we had to attack it aggressively and really push hard. With everybody else, with Marquez, it was win this fight and …and that never happened. And so we had to really push hard. And wanting to fight back to be the best in boxing, hey, we had to do what we had to do.

Robert, a lot of guys are very, have faith, deep faith, and you talk about yours. When you say God put you in this position to humble Floyd, why do you think it’s you as opposed to anyone else? Is it proof of the way you live? Why you specifically?

Guerrero

Not just to humble Floyd, but to humble the boxing world. You get a lot of people out there that think Floyd’s like a god, the way he acts, the way he lives, the way he spends money, the way he boasts about stuff; you get everybody thinking that he’s unstoppable, that nobody could beat him. That with Floyd, there’s no blueprint to beat him. You can’t break him down. But you know what? Being a big believer in God, there’s a blueprint for everybody. There’s a way to beat anything. There’s a way to conquer anything. You put God first, then nothing’s stopping you. That’s what I say, God puts people in front of you for a reason and He puts you in front of people for a reason, and God has me here for a reason.

I look back at my whole career, my whole life, the trials and the tribulations I’ve been through, been right there at the forefront, to be able to become something huge in boxing and I’ve always had to drop two steps back and go a different route. But I’ve always knew that there’s a positive and I’ve always looked at, you know what, it’s a blessing in disguise with whatever happens – the injuries, my wife getting sick – it’s God putting you through the fire to refine you, so when He puts you in that moment, you’re ready to take off and glorify Him. And this is the moment right here. This is the moment, with a guy that nobody thinks that can’t be beat; where everybody’s looking, oh, he’s unstoppable, he’s the best ever, blah, blah, blah, this and that. It’s time, it’s time. God’s putting me in this position for a reason and God’s groomed me and prepped me for this time to take over boxing.

That’s why it’s like a modern day David and Goliath. You got David, who God anointed him and put him through the fire, who took on bears and lions and tigers, wolves, and nobody recognized it. And when it came time to fighting Goliath, everybody thought he was unbeatable. And David came along, took him on and slayed him with a slingshot and some pebbles. That’s why I say, God’s put me in this position for a reason.

Last question is southpaws, two southpaws that have given Floyd trouble, and I’m sure you’ve taken note of this, were DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah. Do you see anything in the trouble they gave him and is there something even more different about you that can capitalize and kind of finish the job?

Guerrero

Oh definitely the southpaw side gives him trouble. If DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah didn’t get tired, they were winning that fight and I believe that. I’m ready for this. I’ve had the right fights. I was built the right way. I’ve had the right experience. I’ve been there with a bunch of different styles. I’ve been in there with lefties, a lot of them; I’ve been in with a bunch of different power punchers, prowlers, boxers, sharp guys. But as I say, what I’ve been through, God’s prepped me up for this and here it is.

Mayweather being worried has been well documented in the media. What is it that you feel is of most concern to Team Mayweather?

Guerrero

That he has a young, hungry guy in front of him that can fight and make adjustments just like him. So, he knows he’s there for a fight and he knows come fight night that I’m not backing down.

Over the years, as you’ve moved up in weight, you’ve carried your power very well. Right off the top of your head, which fighter do you feel you have hit the hardest in the ring?

Guerrero

I’m not even sure. I hit these guys. I just hit them and hit them, so it’s hard to say. It’s hard to say. Probably maybe Michael Katsidis. I mean, I hit him with some shots and he kept walking right into them. So, I’d probably have to say him.

Q
Hey, Robert, this is the biggest fight of your life. We already talked about the distractions that you had going into this fight, and in the build-up show on Showtime, saw you get a little snappy when you weren’t able to get your training in. Have you been able to do all the training that you needed to do and how has it been different training for this kind of fight than it has for your past fights?

Guerrero

Yes, I got all the training in. It’s funny to see the show on All Access. The two days I was talking about I hadn’t trained was the weekend, so it was Monday and it was time to get busy. So I was just making sure that we were going to be on training schedule and weren’t going to let none of the media get in the way. So all the training’s been done; I’m ready to go; I’m ready to go right now. Now it’s just winding down until fight night.

You also said that you’ve been wanting this fight for two or three years, so you’ve been thinking about this a lot. What have you seen in Floyd that gives you so much confidence that you’re the man that’s going to take his O away? I heard Oscar talking about the jab is so important. What is your plan, without giving so much of a secret away, what’s your way of fighting Floyd that you have in mind?

Guerrero

You know, being smart in the ring, fighting an intelligent fight. A lot of these guys just come in, they either lose their head or they’re mad at him and all game plans go out the window and also, being able to make the adjustments in the ring. Having the experiences that I’ve had throughout my boxing career and the different weight classes with guys who are fast, guys who are slick, guys who put pressure, guys who are boxer punchers, just having all the experience and putting it all together and being able to recognize to make those adjustments in the ring.

I’ll piggyback off of one statement you said first off. I take it that you do see this fight as a real-life David and Goliath type struggle?

Guerrero

Yes, sir. I do see it as that. A lot of athletes say, “Oh, David and Goliath,” but a lot of people don’t look at the story. They don’t look at the backstory, they just look at when David slew Goliath. That’s all they look at. They don’t look at the whole story, what David’s been through, the preparations he’s been through to be ready for that moment to slay Goliath. People don’t look at that stuff. If you look at my career, you go back and look at everything I’ve been through, inside the ring, outside of the ring, it all leads you up to be ready for moments like this.

So I know you’ve moved up two weight classes. You fought two guys who were expected to be stronger than you and you pretty much manhandled them in both of your fights with them, so do you think that your hand speed and your strength will be a surprising factor for Floyd in this fight?

Guerrero

Oh yeah. It’s going to be a whole lot different for him fighting a southpaw, having quick hands, being able to make adjustments. And also, too, being body strong. A lot of people underestimate how strong I am in the ring. As you’ve seen with Berto, you’ve seen with guys like Michael Katsidis, people underestimate my strength and it really is a big downfall for them. It really makes a difference when you have a strong body, you have fast hands and you have heavy hands, and you also have the skill and the talent to put stuff together and to change different game plans and do different things in the ring and be able to change it up, it really is a game changer for a fighter.

Are you concerned with any tactic, dirty tactics or any other kind of tactics from Floyd? Do you think that they’re concerned with anything like that coming from you?

Guerrero

No, there’s no concern on any dirty tactics. If they get dirty, oh well, they get dirty, but that’s the last thing you think about. That’s the problem with a lot of fighters, they get caught into thinking, oh, this guy’s going to hit me with his elbow or he’s going to use this or that, and that’s all they’re thinking about and it really throws their game off instead of thinking about their game plan and getting to work and doing what they’ve got to do. So I don’t have any no concerns about anything like that. If he has concerns, he better be really concerned.

Swanson

Okay, great. That was our last question for Robert Guerrero and now we are going to transition over to Floyd Mayweather. So, Robert, any last comments before we let you go?

Guerrero

No, I’m just ready to go. Can’t wait until fight night. That’s it. Thank you, God bless and bye.

Floyd Mayweather

I’m on Kelly.

Swanson

Okay, thanks Floyd. Okay, so now I’m going to turn it over to Leonard Ellerbe, Chief Executive Officer of Mayweather Promotions, to make the introduction for Floyd. Leonard?

Leonard Ellerbe

Thank you, Kelly. Thank you all for joining the call today. This has been a fabulous promotion thus far. The promotion is definitely in full swing. You had a chance to see the various platforms we have in place-obviously working with Showtime/CBS. You’ve had a chance to see 30 Days in May. You’ve had a chance to see two episodes of All Access and coming this Saturday on CBS at 8 p.m. Pacific and Eastern you’ll get a chance to see Floyd’s documentary called “Mayweather”, which will be fabulous. With the promotion in full swing and-

Mayweather

Hey L, I didn’t mean to cut you off. Don’t forget about All Access tonight also. Check that out.

Ellerbe

Yes. Be sure to check out All Access tonight. It’s going to be a great show. With that being said, training camp has been great thus far. This has been a phenomenal camp. Floyd has really stepped up. I think you guys will get a chance to see at the weigh in this is the best shape that I personally have seen Floyd in in his whole career. He’s ready to go. His team is ready to go so come May 4th, look for another great Mayweather performance.

So, obviously without further ado, eight time World Champion in five different weight classes, “Money” Mayweather.

Mayweather

Hey, how everybody doing? First, I want to start off by saying I want to thank everybody on this phone for basically helping with the promotion for this fight. I want to thank all the writers that have been writing stories. It’s been a hell of a promotion. I want to thank Kelly Swanson, Leonard Ellerbe, Golden Boy Promotions. I want to thank Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya. I want to let you guys know you guys done a tremendous job and the Golden Boy team and the Golden Boy staff. And Mayweather staff and Mayweather team have done a tremendous job.

Kelly, once again, thank you. I like the way Kelly Swanson-she wrote me letters every day and thank you. You’re the best publicist in the world. I’m not just saying that. I don’t know about anybody else’s publicist that wrote them every day when they were locked up.

And the media-thank you guys for just the stories over the years, for helping me take things to that next level. You guys have been brilliant. You guys have done a phenomenal job and May 4th is another Mayweather week here-May Day. Mayweather versus Guerrero-and I just want everybody to tune in. If you can’t be there, you must buy Pay-Per-View. And what else can I say? It’s boxing. Questions.

I know your camp-you talked about when you announced the fight that your father was going to be training you again for this fight, that Roger would be there also. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about how it came to be that your dad is back with you-I’m sure everybody’s happy to hear that-and talk about what roles each of them will have working together with in preparation for your fight with Robert.

Mayweather

Well, my dad, of course-he’s a boxing wizard and Roger’s a boxing wizard, so you can’t go wrong with either guy. My dad is the main trainer and of course, like I said before, it’s not like I fired anyone. It’s just that my dad’s a little sick, but he’s a lot healthier than Roger is.

Roger’s very, very-his health is not at its best right now and my main focus is I want a guy that’s in my corner that’s sharp and healthy. But he still works day in and day out with me every day as far as and keeping me sharp. But my dad is the main trainer and Roger still works me day in and day out, but fight night, my dad will be working my corner.

And will Roger be in your corner also?

Mayweather

No, I don’t think Roger will be in my corner. I don’t need both in my corner, but both guys are my trainers of course, my dad is the head guy in my corner.

So did you make that decision besides the health issues that your uncle has been having, did you have some sort of revelation as you grow older you wanted to be closer with the family, bring them back in? I mean, your issues are well documented. We saw some of the blowouts that you had in the training camp before-some of the previous fights. And now it’s just-

Mayweather

Well, my thing is trying to leave all of the negative things behind me and trying to focus on the positive and positive thing for me is just going to the gym every day, doing what I’m supposed to do and working hard to be victorious. You know what I’m saying? Far as me talking about what me and my dad-the argument we had in the past or the difference my dad and my uncle had in the past-that’s the past. That’s why we call it the past because we try to leave that in the past and focus on the future and the future should be bright and at this point in time, everything is going the way it should go.

I know it’s probably a sensitive topic, but everybody knows that you spent a couple of months over the summer incarcerated because of the issues that happened. I’m just wondering if you could talk a little bit about when you’re in the middle of doing that-I mean, you know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and you’re getting out in a certain period of time. But I’m sure it’s not easy to be in that situation to begin with even when you know that there’s an end in sight. And I was hoping you could talk a little bit about what you would do during the course of a day and your reflections on what was happening and maybe thinking about your boxing future and how it maybe had changed you as a person to where you are today as you get ready for this fight.

Mayweather

It’s just an obstacle that was in my way. The only thing you can do when you’re locked up is just do push-ups and read and write-write your fans and write to your loved ones. That’s all I really did. So I think what I thought about every day-I thought about my children. I thought about my family. Of course, thought about my career and I’m happy to be home.

Can you express in a manner in how it may have changed you at all?

Mayweather

Well, I mean it just-anybody should know-your freedom is extremely important. There’s nothing more important than freedom. Once you lose your freedom, you understand that. Freedom is very, very important.

Earlier on in your career, you had your uncle Jeff Mayweather assisting Roger with you training. Do you still talk with Uncle Jeff these days and how’s he doing?

Mayweather

Oh, I talk with Jeff on a regular. What my Uncle Jeff is doing now-he’s a trainer that’s on the rise-my Uncle Jeff. He’s training a lot of fighters-not just in the sport of boxing, but he’s also trained a lot of MMA guys. So, he’s very, very busy in today’s time. I see him- I saw him yesterday actually at the boxing gym. He was there and he comes to my every day and works with fighters. So, he’s doing good. His health is good. I’m happy as long as he’s happy.

Floyd, you have adopted Las Vegas as your home. However, you are originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan and of course, in the first episode of All Access it showed you taking the trip back to your home time. Would you consider fighting at Grand Rapids once more before your career is over with?

Mayweather

As of right now, I can’t say what the future holds, but- As of right now, I’ve got to be loyal to who I’m with and MGM Grand is who I’m with. That’s my home and that’s where I love to perform. I can’t know what the future holds for Floyd Mayweather. I’ve been to Grand Rapids in the past and we’ve done some record-breaking numbers, but as of right now, it’s all about the MGM Grand.

Last week we were talking and you talked about being the face of boxing and trying to set an example for your fighters that are in your promotion team. Could you elaborate a little bit about those responsibilities and why you’re taking it so seriously at this stage of your career to set that-?

Mayweather

Well, you know I only have 30 months left, so I want to just help clean the sport up. What I think is really, really great is that how Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions can sit down and do business-sit down and do business-and nobody worries about who’s getting what and make sure that the main thing is what everybody-

What Mayweather Promotions tries to focus on is letting a fighter win. It’s about the fighter winning because the fighter is the talent. The fighter’s the talent. The fighter’s taking all the risk. So we want the fighter to win, but I’m saying like in the past when you used to see Don King and Bob Arum not really see eye-to-eye. Well Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions-we communicate. We talk and we see eye-to-eye.

Like I said before, Mayweather Promotions-we’ve got to be a game changer. We want to be positive … together with any company that’s willing to sit down and negotiate and talk and be on the same level as us because that’s what it’s about in business. But, it’s all about the talent. My main focus is helping guys get to that next level. If we can help guys go to their next level and hopefully someday surpass me that’s whatever we’re trying to do.

I believe on tonight’s All Access show you’re going to be referring to Robert Guerrero as a hypocrite in light of his gun arrest. Can you elaborate on that a little bit for us?

Mayweather

Well, Robert Guerrero was saying that I basically-money is my God. He’d been saying money is my God and I praise money. And you look at the beginning of my career, you know I always gave thanks to God and you go back to the beginning of my career. I’ve always given thanks to God just for blessing me with the ability that I have, blessing me with the talent that I have.

But, like I said before, this is not about religion. You know what I’m saying? What a person does or doesn’t believe in God-this is not about that. This is about two fighters going out there, testing their skills against one another. That’s what this is about.

You know, you’ve seen the story about his wife with cancer and basically I’m not here to talk disrespectful about anybody’s wife, I’m not here to talk disrespectful about nobody’s religion, because I’m not about that. I support different causes. I support breast cancer and I give back to the less fortunate and I don’t have nothing negative to say about this man’s wife. I don’t have anything negative to say about his religion.

The only I was saying’ was basically on one hand you’re trying to be a role model for children at school. You say you’re going to a school. Then you’re going to the 700 Club. But then as you look closely you see he has Marilyn Monroe on the wall in his house and then he’s driving a truck all over somebody’s lawn.

And then a little while later after leaving the school and leaving the 700 Club this guy is going through the airport with a gun and then they were basically making jokes about me, making fun of me, talking about that Floyd Mayweather couldn’t do his time. I could do my time, but who wants to lose their freedom? There’s nothing cool about losing their freedom. Of course I didn’t want to lose my freedom.

But like I said before, what goes around comes around. They were talking trash about me, very, very bad. Joking about me going to jail. You know? It’s time for him to do his time. So basically, like I said before, he had an opinion and I had an opinion and that’s the only way I feel. And I always said, I’m only human. I went out there before and said I’m only human. I contradicted myself. We all have contradicted ourselves because we are human. But like I said, nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes.

Robert seems to think that maybe-he said, “Having a year off and being in jail could take a toll on Floyd Mayweather.” What are your thoughts on that?

Mayweather

If that’s the way to psych yourself out, to build this confidence, then more power to him. Me, myself, I’m in tiptop shape. I’m in tiptop shape, tiptop condition. I’ve been in the gym working hard, working hard. So if that’s the way to psych yourself out, if that’s the way that he can get himself mentally prepared then more power to him.

Just to follow up on that previous question then. So you don’t feel there’s going to be any rust after not fighting for a year? You think he’s wrong? Do you still feel unbeatable?

Mayweather

I mean of course I feel unbeatable. I mean of course I’m in the sport to go down as the best. I’m in the sport to go down as the best. I’m not going into a fight thinking that I’m beatable. Anything is possible. I’m just saying it might. But as far as my career thus far, I feel what I’m capable of doing. I feel that I can adapt.

And I think you don’t just get to this level, you just don’t get to the level, you just don’t get the pinnacle by not facing and fighting the best competition. I just feel like I was before my time. I beat everybody, I beat everybody in the 90s and I beat everybody early on in the 2000s. Now here we go 17 years later. Like I said, my main focus is to win. I focus on winning and I’m always going to be able to control the tempo of any fight because of my experience.

So you don’t have any concerns about the rust, the so-called rust?

Mayweather

Well, like I said, I’ve took a long time off before. I took a long time off before. This is not my first time taking a year off. This is not my first time taking a couple years off. You know, I just call it a vacation. I think the body needs time to heal. The body needs time to rejuvenate. The body needs rest.

[Guerrero] has said God put him in this position to humble you. What do you make of the notion that he says God put him in this position?

Mayweather

I mean I can’t even comment on it. Like I said before, I mean, once again he believes in God. I believe in God. This is not about-this fight is not about church. This fight is not about being a Catholic, being a Christian, being a Jew, being a Muslim. This is about two fighters competing, testing their skills against one another. That’s what it’s about.

The guys who, in the past, have chose to come and fight you, to test you, Ricky Hatton, Diego Corrales, Arturo Gatti, more or less hastened their demise in the fight, got their faces cut up. Cotto had success with that. A large part of that, was that you chose to fight him, stand and fight him more. Do you think he has any option-in know he has some boxing skills, but you think he has any option other than to come to you and fight?

Mayweather

That’s been everybody’s game plan. Just like I know and just like you know, everybody said, “We’ll keep a lot of pressure on Mayweather.” That’s been everybody’s game plan, to keep pressure. You’ve been covering me for I don’t know how many years and everybody’s game plan has been to keep pressure/throw a lot of punches. So like I said before, as long as everybody’s got the same game plan I’m gonna keep having the same game plan.

[Guerrero] had said that he’s fought southpaws that gave you trouble, Corrales and Zab Judah, if he anything like them or-he said southpaw style gives you trouble?

Mayweather

Last time I checked I was 43-0. I don’t think he’s a better boxer than Zab Judah. He’s not faster than Zab Judah. I don’t think he faced the competition that Zab Judah has faced. As far as Corrales, I don’t think-he doesn’t punch as hard as Corrales. I don’t think he’s a harder puncher than Corrales. And we’ll just have to see how the fight plays out.

You guys have covered-everybody’s that’s on this conference call has covered Floyd Mayweather for many, many years. Everybody had a game plan. Everybody game plan was to throw a lot of punches and keep pressure.

But we’ll see how the fight plays out. Everybody has a game plan and my game plan is to just adjust and adapt once I get in that squared circle. But once again, everybody got to adjust and adapt to me because I control the tempo always.

Let me try to rephrase it. Do you feel like you’re in more control now? For most, it just seems like it has a different feel to it. It’s not just Floyd Mayweather fighting in Golden Boy Promotions. It’s not Mayweather Promotions. You’re not just a part of it. Mayweather Promotions is a focal point. It just seems like you have more control on both sides. Would you say-?

Mayweather

It’s more like basically the experience, being around the fight game for so long and just being out here, just coming up with different creative ways to take your fight to the next level. I say the next level as far as the next level I’m always trying to do a record-breaking things.

What’s crazy is I got another documentary coming out this Saturday on CBS called “Mayweather,” and I don’t think you have never seen a fighter that had three shows, three different shows, three different shows for one fight, not three differently completely shows. I’ve got two documentaries and then we’ve got All Access and All Access comes on four or five times and we’ve got two documentaries.

Like I said before, we’re always trying to record-breaking things, doing things outside of the box, but these creative things don’t-my team also has a creative mind. Even Ms. Jackson, she comes up with some ideas and different things. I think that on 30 Days In May she was marvelous.

I know you keep saying you’ve got 30 months left to do it. What do you feel that you have left to do in this sport that you haven’t already done?

Mayweather

Just finish. After this fight I’ve got five more fights. That’s all I got to do. Finish putting them stamps on my legacy.

Is it about wanting to fight anyone or just the matter of, like you said, just kind of recreating the game in those 30 months?

Mayweather

I just want to stay active and continue to go out there to get the fans excitement. Go out there and fight. There’s no specific opponent, because once again, I’ve earned my stripes a long time ago. I’ve proved myself a long time ago. I don’t want to point at one certain guy. “I want to fight this guy. I want to fight that guy.” Like I said, I just take one fight at a time. At this particular time, Robert Guerrero is the guy in front of me. Once I face him then we’ll be ready to fight again in September.

I have just one question then I’ll let everyone else get to it. I brought this up earlier, a year ago Robert Guerrero, he was campaigning hard to try to get at you. Was he even on your radar at the time? I know you were looking at Cotto, but before you agreed to fight Cotto, were you in the thought of fighting Robert Guerrero at that time and what changed your mind?

Mayweather

I’ve got to answer this the right way, the way Leonard Ellerbe wants me to answer it. It’s kind of hard to answer this question. Leonard did let me know the guy-I asked Leonard. He said he did call my name about a year ago, but I didn’t know who he was a year ago. I probably heard of his name, probably heard the name in passing but really never knew who the guy was. They said he fought on my under card when I fought Baldomir. He said he fought on my under card. But he looked good in the fight against Andre Berto. He went out there. He did what he had to do and he fought hard.

A lot of people kind of look back to the fight with Miguel Cotto and pinpoint the fact that you were willing to fight more in the ropes than you generally did kind of in past fights. And you say Guerrero will probably have the same game plan. What would you say is kind of his weakness? What would you say his weakness is? He’s going to try to get you in the ropes, but what would-?

Mayweather

The difference between Miguel Cotto and Robert Guerrero is Miguel Cotto has a lot more experience than he [Guerrero] has. Miguel Cotto came into the fight as a super middleweight at 168. I came in 147. So I was in a super middleweight fighting a welterweight. They’re two total different fighters. Miguel Cotto is a much bigger puncher. So right there that’s the difference in those few things I just told you between the two.

Floyd, just on a previous call Robert said that you handpicked your opponents and an accusation for your opponents actually make. If that’s the case, then you’ve handpicked Robert Guerrero. Let’s just say that you did, obviously we kind of assume that you didn’t, what would you say Robert Guerrero’s obvious weaknesses are, since you apparently handpicked him?

Mayweather

I don’t really know what his weakness are, but he’s flatfooted and he’s more like a grappler. He’s more like a wrestler than a boxer. Like I said before, he’s more like a grappler than a boxer. But I’ve been facing guys forever, and everybody already said what they’re going to do to me and I’ve handpicked opponents. You know they all say, “But he chose the right one this time.” He’s my mandatory so I’m facing my mandatory at WBC. I wanted to defend my WBA title after this fight, but I guess I’m no longer the WBA champ. So I didn’t know I got stripped of my title.

Every fight means a lot to you. What would this one mean to you? Is it just another step in the road?

Mayweather

He’s a solid opponent. I mean I like the guy. The guy is funny to me. When I watch him talk, when I’m watching him talk he’s funny to me. Like I said before, you get a different Robert Guerrero when he’s in front of Floyd Mayweather than the Robert Guerrero that you guys see on All Access.

When he’s in front of me, when we finally had the chance to meet up face-to-face, he had nothing to say. He had no trash talking but once. Once he got to the back of the dressing room, when he was no longer in my face, he had everything to say. Once he’s on All Access and he’s not face-to-face with Floyd Mayweather he got everything to say, but once he’s face-to-face with me he has nothing to say.

What does an opponent have to do to impress you? What do they have to do to kind of impress you or are you very, very hard to impress?

Mayweather

I’m not trying to be impressed by an opponent. I’m going to go out there and do what I do, and that’s just beat the opponent that’s in front of me.

After 17 years in the sport, how can you say that your drive has changed? Or what motivates you compared to when you first started being a boxer and you had yet to achieve the things that you’ve done? What keeps that drive alive now that you’ve achieved so much in boxing?

Mayweather

I guess just the will to win. I’ve still got a lot left. I feel probably if I didn’t’ have anything left then I probably still wouldn’t be in the sport. It’s just the will to win, the will to win. I hadn’t really took punishment in this sport so I still have a lot left because I haven’t took any punishment. If I took a lot of punishment then I probably would’ve hung the gloves up by now.

Well talk about when you first started. When you first started being a boxer, a professional, your first professional match, was the sport everything you thought it would be? Were you a wide-eyed young man-?

Mayweather

No, it’s not everything I thought. It’s a lot of good and-of course it’s like anything. You have a lot of good days in the sport. There are a lot of good things that go on but also there’s a lot of bad things, more bad than good. My goal is just to try to clean up the sport of boxing so the sport can live on.

Well what’s been the key of, I guess, your staying power? When a lot of the guys that were fighting at the same time you were, they’re no longer in the sport. They’ve gone. They’re nowhere to be seen. You, you have just increased your stock almost with each passing year into the stratosphere, so to speak.

Mayweather

It’s just more like basically I think there are a lot of fighters that are content. They’re happy. If it’s 100 levels you’ve got fighters who are happy with just going to level 10, level 20. If I go to 100, I’m not happy with just going to 100. I feel like there’s still more levels to go to. You can never be content. You can never be happy. Continue to try to grow. Continue to try to get better.

Mayweather

You know, I never abuse my body. As far as the alcohol and the drugs, I never abuse my body, whereas you got other fighters they abuse their body with alcohol and some abuse their body with drugs and some let their weight balloon up 30 and 40 pounds. Me, myself, stayed right at my fighting weight.

Actually, I weighed out yesterday in the gym at 147. The day before that I weighed 147 so my weight was made from the beginning of training camp because you have to be-as far as with the boxing, you have to be-this is a year-round sport. This is a year-round sport and I’m dedicated to it. I’m dedicated to it. I’m dedicated to my craft.

You mentioned you grew up in Grand Rapids and you were probably close to an element that has probably taken a lot of people down to your neighborhood, things like drugs and alcohol and things like that. How were you able to keep yourself from that element, stay away from that? How were you able to do that?

Mayweather

Just living and learning from watching. Keeping my eyes open wide. Just watching. Everybody in my neighborhood-as far as hustling, you can make a lot of money but it ends in two ways, either in a jail cell or a coffin. I looked at the bigger picture. I’d rather take my chances with this boxing than taking my chances doing anything that could put me in a predicament that I don’t want to be in. So that’s why I chose boxing.

Last question’s just about, Floyd, you talked about wanting to set records. You set a lot of Pay-Per-View records. That’s all on the record. But in terms of making this fight a blockbuster, is more of that pressure now on you to sell this fight given that Guerrero’s not as well known as Cotto was? He’s not as well-known as Mosley was and he doesn’t’ have all that dynamic of a personality. So is there a lot more pressure on you now to make people want to buy this fight?

Mayweather

He’s a young, tough competitor. He talks a good game so now we’ll just have to see if he can fight the same way he talk. He’s doing a hell of a job with helping promote the fight. He’s doing a hell of a job. Like I said before, every time I think about the guy I smile and I laugh because he’s a funny character. One thing about him, him and his dad, they both got personality. If I can say nothing else about him, they both got personality, him and his father.

You talked a little bit about in the call about the fact that the contract is 30 months. And I’m wondering, when you say that it’s 30 months does that mean that after 30 months you want to retire or do you want to just asses it and maybe find some other deal wherever, whether again with Showtime or somewhere else or are you thinking that 30 months that’s a wrap?

Mayweather

I don’t know yet. I don’t know. By 30 months I’d be knocking a door, but I really don’t know. We just have to see how these next six fights play out.

I know that the length of the agreement is for as many as six fights over 30 months, but is your intention going into this thing to actually fight six times during 30 months because that would be pretty much as busy as you’ve been even going back to maybe when you first won your first world championship?

Mayweather

I’m going to stay active. I think the more active and more busier I think it would be more better for me; it’d be more better for my fans.

Do you think that at your age your body would allow you to have that many fights in succession over that short period of time?

Mayweather

Absolutely. I think so. We’ll just have to see. Only time will tell. We’ll see.

Swanson

Floyd, any final comments and then we’ll let you go?

Mayweather

I want to thank everybody that called in on the conference call and once again thank my team, thank you for the promotions. You guys all go to TheMoneyTeam.com. Buy a hat. Buy a shirt. And I’ll see you guys May Day Weekend. Thanks for all the stories that you guys wrote thus far covering this fight. Kelly, you’ve done a hell of a job. Thank you and I appreciate you.

END OF CALL

Remaining tickets for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” priced at $1,500, $1,250, $800 and $600, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now with a total ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Ruslan Provodnikov is seen as a future rival Floyd Mayweather Jr.

FROM ALLBOXING.AU

As it became known AllBoxing.Ru, the Russian boxer Ruslan Provodnikov is regarded as one of the potential contenders for pound for pound best American Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight, which is scheduled for September of this year and should be shown on Showtime PPV. According to Ruslan AllBoxing.Ru manager Vadim Kornilov, “If such conversations do take place and, in his opinion, if a fight takes place, it will be just as entertaining and intriguing than the last fight Ruslan against American Timothy Bradley. “Of course we are interested in this fight – said in an interview with Vadim Kornilov on AllBoxing.Ru. – “”herefore, if Floyd Mayweather will be the winner of a fight with Robert Guerrero, we are open to negotiations. I know very well Ruslan and I can confidently say that we dont avoid fights with the strongest contenders. He does not like to make loud statements and does not promise to beat all, knockout people or something like that. But, nevertheless, I want to remind you that few people gave him a chance to fight with one of the ten best P4P boxers in Timothy Bradley. What happened in the end – we’ve all seen. ”

The manager does not believe that Ruslan will be a clear underdog in a fight with Mayweather, and, according to him, there is a compelling reason. “In the corner by Ruslan will be one of the best coaches and strategists of modern boxing Freddie Roach, and the whole training process is going to work with him one of the best teams in the world boxing – he recalled. – So my word that the fight with Mayweather can not get less entertaining and competitive than the fight with Timothy Bradley, who claimed this year’s title of “Fight of the Year” is not mere statements, and knowledge of the situation from the inside. Ruslan is ready to give all of himself in training. He is ready to show their best qualities in the ring. He lives in boxing and will be incredibly motivated with the ability to fight the best boxers in the world. Give him the opportunity to fight the best, and he will use it one hundred percent. ”

VIDEO: ALL ACCESS MAYWEATHER – GUERRERO EP 3 PREVIEW

FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER & ROBERT “THE GHOST” GUERRERO QUOTES FROM BACK-TO-BACK MEDIA WORKOUTS IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (April 22, 2013) – With less than three weeks to go before “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,’’ Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero participated in media workouts on back-to-back days last week in Las Vegas.

Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Mayweather worked out Wednesday, April 17 at the Mayweather Boxing Club and Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion Guerrero on Tuesday, April 16 at the IBA Gym.

Joining Mayweather on Wednesday was Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, and several up and coming boxers from Mayweather Promotions – J’Leon Love, who faces Gabriel Rosado on the May 4 SHOWTIME PPV undercard from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and Luis Arias and Badou Jack, who will appear in non-televised fights on May 4. .

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, was on hand at both Mayweather and Guerrero’s workouts and expressed his excitement for the mega-event.

See below what the world champions, executives and other boxers said:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion

“I’ve got to give thanks to everybody; there are so many different sponsors, Corona, Valvoline, MGM Grand and so many other people that have supported me throughout the years, all my fans, the media, my followers on Twitter. To SHOWTIME, CBS and all the other networks that have been showing love to me.

“SHOWTIME has let me do a lot of creative things. ‘30 Days In May,’ ‘ALL ACCESS’ and we have another documentary coming out on CBS. I have a new relationship and a new marriage and I’m happy now.

“Freedom is very, very important. You can be locked up and be rich, but it’s just like being poor if you don’t have freedom. So, freedom is very, very important. That’s how I feel.

“I have another big fight on May 4th and it is against Robert Guerrero, ‘The Ghost.’ This guy is very, very confident and he believes in himself. We know he has only one loss, but they say a true champion can bounce back.

“It’s obvious he did something right to get to this point. It’s obvious he did something right in the Andre Berto fight. He dedicated himself to his craft, which is boxing. He stayed focused and he listened to his corner.

“I want a fighter to come in confident. We don’t want the odds to be crazy, but the odds will always be crazy because I’ve proven myself over the years. But we want a fighter like Robert Guerrero who’s confident and believes in his skills. Only thing that we [The Money Team] can do is push me to the limit and take me to that next level. That’s what it’s about.

“Now he [Robert Guerrero] got the fight with me. The game plan is to go out there, be smart and get the victory the best way I know how, continue to give the fans what they want to see, work hard and set record-breaking numbers.

“I’m a winner. I like to perform. I like to entertain and that’s what it’s about. It’s about going out and giving the fans what they want – excitement.

“I’ve faced every style so it’s not hard for me to make an adjustment. I just have to go out there and see my dad’s game plan is going to be.

“Like I always say for every fight, everybody had a game plan. All 43 of my opponents had a game plan and all 43 opponents came up short. So, I could care less what my opponent has to say. There isn’t a blueprint on how to beat me. No one has found a way to break the Mayweather code.

“Being a legend, wanting your name mentioned in the mix of other fighters’ names, that’s why I work so hard right now. I’ve been fighting since 1987. I’ve been a professional for 17 years. I’ve been dedicated to my craft.

“I don’t think the layoff will affect me. My dad is back in my corner. My dad is my lead trainer, but I’m also working with my uncle Roger. The Mayweather family, as of right now, has good chemistry.

“Camp has gone tremendously. My weight has already been made, and I’m ready to fight. I feel good and, like I said, I couldn’t do it without the support from the fans. When I was locked away, the fans wrote me letters and sent cards and I really appreciated that.

“This is world championship boxing and it’s always blood, sweat and tears. It’s not a sport if there isn’t blood, sweat and tears. I’m happy that my dad is back in my camp and we’re going strong. It’s good working with him. If we have a problem and we’re not seeing eye-to-eye, we pull each other to the side, talk about it and we get on the same page.”

ROBERT GUERRERO, Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion

“My lucky number is 44. So you know, I’m ready to go. I’m excited and I’ve worked hard for this. I’ve worked hard to be in this position. God has blessed me with a lot. I’m ready. I’ve had the right fights to be here. I’ve been built up the right way. I’m ready to go. I feel ready. I had two good fights as a welterweight weight class before this. It was what I needed to break into the weight class.

“You’ve got to be ready to do everything [when fighting Floyd Mayweather]. People say you need to have an A, B and C game plan, but with Floyd, you need an A to Z game plan. You’ve got to be ready for whatever because Floyd is the type of guy that makes adjustments here and there and he makes it tough for fighters to get in there with him. You’ve got to be ready to make those adjustments; we’ve been practicing a lot of stuff. Our game plan is to go out there and be 100 percent ready and be able to make those adjustments. Throughout my career everybody has seen that I’ve been able to make adjustments.

“For a lot of guys, Floyd gets into their head and he frustrates them. They lose their game plan. That game plan goes out the door. That being said, you also have to be able to execute a game plan and a lot of these guys know what they need to do, but they don’t have the ability to do it.

“You’ve got to go in there and fight an intelligent fight with Floyd. He is a very sharp guy, a very smart guy in the ring. That is why he is 43-0. It’s about being smart, using your head in the ring and maintaining your game plan.

“My wife’s battle with cancer really made me grow as a man. It makes you mentally strong. She is fighting for her life. Being a caretaker makes you a mentally strong person. That is why I laugh when you say this is just a fight compared to that because it is. It’s just a fight. That is one of the things that I learned from her whole fight with cancer. Being mentally strong, being able to hold it together and pushing through is what counts.

“[When asked if the pressure will affect him] I laugh because it is laughable. To have people ask me questions and this and that, that isn’t pressure at all. Raising two kids and having a wife dying from cancer, now that’s pressure. So this is no problem. This just comes with the territory and you’ve got to do it to take care of business.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“Mayweather vs. Guerrero is the biggest fight of the year. Everyone is excited, and we want the fans to be engaged. It’s going to be a great, great fight.

“I think he [Guerrero] put himself in this position by beating a very good fighter in Andre Berto. It was a very exciting fight and he proved that he could fight Floyd. I think he put himself in the position where he became more than a viable opponent. He became ‘the guy.’

“It doesn’t matter what the manager says and it doesn’t matter what the promoter says. It will be up to the fighters come May 4th.

“He’s [Floyd Mayweather] a lot more laid back, and he values freedom. Having been incarcerated was definitely a life-changing experience for him. It was something he hadn’t experienced before. No one wants to be in that situation. There’s nothing to prepare you for something like that. The environment and conditions he was placed in made it tough. But that’s behind him. He did his time and it’s time to move on.”

RICHARD SCHAEFER, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions

“It’s a Mayweather fight and a Mayweather fight is the Super Bowl of boxing.

“A Mayweather fight means a sold out venue and great buzz in Las Vegas. It’s going to be one of those nights when The Money Team will show up against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero.

“Robert Guerrero has moved up several weight classes and is always perceived as the little guy, but he is bigger than Mayweather. He has a height advantage on him.

“Guerrero is one of the most underrated fighters. When this fight was made, he was a nine to one underdog, and I checked yesterday and now he’s a four to one [underdog]. As people get to know Robert Guerrero, through the CBS exposure and the pay-per-view promotion, etc., I think people are starting to realize that there is a reason Robert Guerrero hasn’t lost in almost several years.

“I have no doubt that Guerrero is the most dangerous opponent that Mayweather has faced in a long time.”

“Robert hasn’t really lost since 2008 and the one loss he has, the only loss on his record, was against a guy who we found out later was on performance enhancing drugs. They had a rematch and he [Guerrero] stopped him inside of three rounds.

“Robert really is undefeated. He has the size advantage. He has the youth, and for those people who watched his fight against Berto, they could see how remarkably he was able to take Berto’s punches. Berto is one of the toughest, hardest punching guys in the 147-pound weight class. He is a natural 147-pounder and Robert just walked through him. That just shows you how tough he is.

“Now if Guerrero is able to take Berto’s shots, how can Floyd Mayweather possibly hurt him? If you can’t hurt Robert Guerrero, then he is going to be coming all night long, and it is going to be a long night for Floyd Mayweather.

“I know it is going to be a great fight because Robert is coming to fight. He has wanted this fight for so long. Over the last three or four years they [Team Guerrero] kept saying to me, ‘I want Mayweather. I want Mayweather.’ So finally it is here. Two weeks to go. Robert Guerrero is motivated.

“He [Guerrero] isn’t just fighting for himself, but he is doing it for all the cancer survivors as well. He’s getting tremendous support from the Christian community as well.

“Of course Floyd Mayweather is in a class of his own. He’s undefeated and pound-for-pound the best fighter and as he always says, ‘43 have tried and 43 have failed and this is going to be number 44.’ So we’ll see.’’

J’LEON LOVE, Rising Middleweight Star

“Having Floyd [Mayweather] as a mentor and seeing him train in the gym everyday is such a special opportunity for a young fighter like myself. He is the best in boxing and just being around him and watching him train the way that he does has already taught me a lot.

“I’m ready to go on May 4th and I’m so grateful to Mayweather Promotions for giving me the opportunity to open the pay-per-view portion of the event. I’ve been training hard. I’m prepared to go in there against Gabriel Rosado and give it my all.

“I don’t take anything for granted. I feel this is a moment in my career that I will remember for a long time and I’m looking forward to showing Floyd and boxing fans worldwide that they can count on me to become a world champion in the near future.”

BADOU JACK, Top Light Heavyweight Prospect

“Eddie [Mustafa Muhammad] is a great trainer. He’s like a father figure to me. He’s like family. He’s a great motivator, so having him in my corner makes me very confident.

“He [Floyd Mayweather] is one of the greatest fighters of our era, so it is a great feeling for a guy like that to have your back.”

LUIS ARIAS, Top Super Middleweight Prospect

“Camp is going really well. I’m definitely excited. Obviously this is a huge platform for me and a great opportunity for me. It’s an exciting part of my life to be only 4-0 and be fighting on such a big stage, but I’m ready.

“I’m young and I’m hungry. This is what I wanted.

“Sparring with Floyd is an unbelievable thing. My confidence is at an all time high.”

# # #

Remaining tickets for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” priced at $1,500, $1,250, $800 and $600, not including applicable service charges, are on sale now with a ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Mayweather-Guerrero: A fight for grown-ups

LAS VEGAS –Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Robert Guerrero played a lot of roles on back-to-back days facing small mobs armed with cameras, cell phones, and familiar questions. Media days, they’re called. Pack poise and patience. Mayweather and Guerrero brought plenty of both to a task as much a part of the pre-fight ritual as a weigh-in.

There weren’t many hints at what might happen between the welterweights on May 4 at the MGM Grand. A better clue might have been found in a fortune cookie at one of the restaurants that surround the Mayweather Boxing Club in a strip mall that looks like a Vegas re-creation of Beijing’s Forbidden City.

But one role played by each was bigger than all of the rest. Mayweather Jr. and Guerrero were the grown-ups in the room. Somebody has to be, right? It’s an old line heard in every family. It was there, first on Tuesday with Guerrero and again on Wednesday with Mayweather.

Guerrero’s dad and trainer, Ruben, mocked the way his Mayweather counterparts, dad Floyd Sr. and uncle Roger, hold the mitts.

“Patty-cake, patty cake,’’ Ruben said in a dance played to the beat of insults. “They’re a bunch of clowns, a bunch of clowns.’’

Ruben’s circus routine was the flip side to what his son had just done.

Robert talked about dedicating the Mayweather fight to the battle against the blood cancer that threatened wife Casey’s life. He has attached his name to an organization, Be The Match, which connects patients with a donor for life-saving bone marrow. Guerrero even addressed a question about the gun controversy, which has followed him since he was arrested in New York after declaring he had a hand weapon in a lock-box in checked baggage. There are no distractions, said Guerrero, who faces a court date on May 14.

The incident, he said, was behind him “as soon as I got on the plane. …But it’s this: I like to hunt. I’m an outdoors man. I like to hunt and fish.’’

In commitment to a cause and in terms of accountability, Guerrero did the grown-up thing.

The next day, it was Floyd Jr.’s turn. The Mayweathers have become a reality-TV remake of the 1970’s sit-com, All in the Family. The Mayweathers without some dysfunction would be the Bunkers without Archie. In part, it’s why we watch.

A sign of it was there Wednesday when Floyd Sr. showed up. With Roger sitting a few feet away, Floyd Sr., once estranged from his son, talked about his relationship with his brother since Floyd Jr. decided that the two would work his corner.

“So-so,’’ said Floyd Sr., who also asked a handful of reporters to tell Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer to set up a parking-lot fight with Ruben Guerrero. “The only thing I’m saying is this: Sometimes, he comes to the gym and we don’t even speak. I’ll sit right there and he walks right past me. We’re family, man. Speak. That’s what I do. When I come in, I got manners and very good manners. When somebody come by you and you don’t speak? I mean come on, man. It ain’t cool, whether it’s family or just another person.’’

As Floyd Sr., talked, his son interrupted some workout drills, leaned over the ropes and lectured his dad. Floyd Jr. sounded like a stern father.

“We talked about that,’’ Floyd Jr. said to his dad in a pointed warning about off-the-cuff sessions with reporters, even on a day when everything was supposed to be on the record. “It’s about the fighters.’’

There’s talk that Floyd Jr. has displayed some new found maturity since his release from jail after nearly a three-month stretch for domestic abuse last summer. Even Floyd Sr. has noticed.

“He’s more disciplined,’’ Floyd Sr. said. “I’m sure jail had a lot to do with it. When he was in jail, he had lot of time to think about a lot of things.’’

Despite their well-chronicled blow-ups, Floyd Jr. has always thought about his father. At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Floyd Jr. agonized about his dad, who was in federal prison for drug-trafficking. He said he wrote then-President Bill Clinton, asking that his dad be pardoned. He begged the media to help him. He was a 19-year-old kid desperate to be with his father. Seventeen years later, the 36-year-old man, a father himself, has finally re-united with him, although the roles are reversed. The son has become the family’s patriarch

“My dad is a wizard,’’ he said Wednesday in the final interview after an evening full of them.

Part of that wizardry might be in learning how to work and live with his brother, whose struggle with diabetes led to the reunion with his son. There’s a sense that Floyd Jr. will demand that the two get along. It as if the son from a broken family is determined to make everything whole.

“We’ve got trainer No. 1, which is my dad,’’ he said. “We’ve got trainer No. 2, which is my uncle.’’

It’s easy to pick a winner on May 4. A grown-up is a sure thing.

VIDEO: All Access: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Fathers and Sons – Episode 2 Trailer

CBS SPORTS NETWORK ENTERS THE RING FOR COVERAGE OF “MAY DAY: FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER VS. ROBERT “THE GHOST” GUERRERO”

CBS Sports Network is showcasing over 10 hours of coverage surrounding Floyd Mayweather’s debut fight on SHOWTIME PPV® against Robert Guerrero on Saturday, May 4. Programming is highlighted by live coverage of the Mayweather vs. Guerrero press conference on Wednesday, May 1 (4:00 PM, ET) and the Mayweather and Guerrero Official Weigh-In on Friday, May 3 (6:00 PM, ET).

Following the May 4 pay-per-view event, CBS Sports Network provides complete analysis of the action with commentator Barry Tompkins and analyst Steve Farhood, as well as live coverage of the post-fight press conference.

Coverage also includes encore showings of the SHOWTIME Sports series ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO, which takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the dramatic and unpredictable world of prize fighting. The ALL ACCESS shows will air on CBS Sports Network following each episode’s television premiere on SHOWTIME.

A full programming schedule is included below.

CBS Sports Network is the 24-hour home of CBS Sports and is available across the country through local cable, video and telco providers and via satellite on DirecTV Channel 613 and Dish Network Channel 158. For more information, and to access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.

CBS SPORTS NETWORK MAYWEATHER-GUERRERO PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE

(All Times ET)

Monday, April 29

7:00-7:30 PM – ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Episode 1

7:30-8:00 PM – ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Episode 2

8:00-9:00 PM – Floyd Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya

9:00-10:00 PM – Robert Guerrero vs. Michael Katsidis

Tuesday, April 30

7:30-8:00 PM – ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Episode 3

8:00-9:00 PM – Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton

9:00-10:00 PM – Robert Guerrero vs. Selcuk Aydin

Wednesday, May 1

4:00-5:00 PM – Mayweather vs. Guerrero Press Conference

8:00-9:00 PM – Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

Thursday, May 2

8:00-9:00 PM – Floyd Mayweather vs. Shane Mosely

9:00-9:30 PM – Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz

Friday, May 3

6:00-6:30 PM – Mayweather vs. Guerrero Weigh-Ins

11:30 PM -12:00 MIDNIGHT – ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Guerrero: Episode 4

Saturday, May 4

Following the fight – Post-fight analysis and Press Conference

VIDEO: MAYWEATHER – GUERRERO ALL ACCESS BONUS CLIP

DONYIL LIINGSTION TO FACE LUIS ARIAS ON MAYDAY UNDERCARD

April 12, 2013 -The Mayweather-Guerrero undercard is continuing to take shape with the untelevised portion of the card getting a boost in the form of Californian based middleweight DonYil Livingston (8-2-1, 4KOs) squaring off against highly touted Mayweather promoted prospect Luis Arias (4-0, 3KOs). The 8 round contest will be fought at a catch weight of 165 lbs and both fighters will be looking to put on a show in front of a rambunctious crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Livingston will be looking to get back into the win column, although he will have a substantial advantage over Arias in the experience department. While Arias has competed on 3 different occasions this year, Livingston will be making his first appearance of 2013. However, Livingston is clearly the most significantly skilled opponent in Arias’ career and the step up will determine just how ready the 22 year old prospect really is at this point. Livingston will look to take advantage of that inexperience.

“The kid is on fire right now, but he’s never seen anyone like me and it’s going to be too much too soon. I give him credit for stepping up like this because most fighters try to pad their record at such an early stage. I’ll get the win and he’ll get the learning experience, I think that’s a fair trade,” Livingston said.

Livingston is competing against a Mayweather Promotions’ fighter on a card headlined by Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Mario Yagobi of Boxing 360, Livingston’s promoter, is ecstatic with the opportunity that is being presented to his fighter.

“DonYil gets the chance to perform on the undercard of the biggest event of the year and he has to take full advantage. With the expected atmosphere that night it is important to make the best effort at turning some heads, DonYil is capable of doing just that. He isn’t the kind of fighter who underestimates opponents, regardless of experience. He knows how good his opponent is and how important this fight is for turning his future aspirations into reality, he will use his ring experience to get the win and build some momentum,” Yagobi said.

DonYil Livingstion is promoted by Boxing 360. For more information on Livingston please visit www.boxing360.com.

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO EPISODE ONE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON SHOWTIME ON DEMAND AND ONLINE WITH ENCORE PRESENTATIONS AIRING ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

NEW YORK (April 12, 2013) — Episode one of the five-part documentary series ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO is now available on SHOWTIME On Demand and online in its entirety. CBS Sports Network will air an encore presentation tonight, April 12 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT. Episode two will premiere Wednesday, April 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME®.

ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO brings fans inside the lives of boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound titlist Floyd “Money” Mayweather in his welterweight world championship defense against Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero in the lead-up to the SHOWTIME PPV® presentation of MAY DAY, taking place on May 4 from MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

LINK TO ALL ACCESS: MAYWEATHER vs. GUERRERO EPISODE ONE

http://s.sho.com/16Svb2C

The series is narrated by multi-Grammy award winning musician, noted actor, author, activist and longtime sports fan COMMON. Renowned documentarian Ross Greenburg serves as an executive producer on the series. New episodes debut every Wednesday through May 1 on SHOWTIME with encore presentations airing on CBS SPORTS NETWORK. ALL ACCESS Epilogue, which will spotlight the intensity of fight week, taking viewers inside the ropes on fight night and into the rarely seen, uncelebrated aftermath of world championship boxing, will premiere on Saturday, May 18 at 9p ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

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Remaining tickets for “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” priced at $1,500, $1,250, $800 and $600, not including applicable service charges, are now on sale with a ticket limit of 10 per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets will also be available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts at ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York, are priced at $50, not including handling fees, are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

DANIEL PONCE DE LEON, ABNER MARES & LEO SANTA CRUZ LOS ANGELES MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES FOR MAY 4 “MAY DAY: MAYWEATHER VS. GUERRERO” SHOWTIME PPV® TELEVISED UNDERCARD FIGHTS FROM THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS, NEV.

LOS ANGELES (April 12, 2013) – WBC Featherweight World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon, Two-Division World Champion Abner Mares and former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz participated in a media workout Thursday in Los Angeles in preparation for their upcoming bouts on the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” pay-per-view mega-event on Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. which will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®.

A 2000 Olympian, Cuauhtemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico’s Daniel Ponce de Leon (44-4, 35 KO’s) will make the first defense of his WBC Featherweight World Championship against Two-Division World Champion Mares. Ponce de Leon, who won the title in 2012 with a victory over then-champion Jhonny Gonzalez, has won world titles in the junior featherweight and featherweight divisions while establishing himself as one of boxing’s most popular knockout artists. He made six consecutive defenses of his 122-pound title and has knocked out almost 75 percent of his opponents.

The undefeated Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO’s) is one of the newest members of boxing’s pound-for-pound best list. The 2004 Mexican Olympian who lives in Hawaiian Gardens, Calif. dominated the bantamweight division with four consecutive world title wins over the best boxers in the weight class. In 2012, Mares moved up to 122 pounds and won the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight belt in his first fight in the division against Eric Morel in April. He retained the title against Anselmo Moreno in November. Mares will challenge Ponce de Leon at 126 pounds for a chance at a world title in a third division.

Santa Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KO’s) was one of boxing’s most active world champions in 2012. After winning the IBF Bantamweight World Championship in June, the Los Angeles resident by way of Huetamo, Mexico, defended the title three times with two knockouts and a commanding unanimous decision. After wiping out the bantamweight division, the undefeated Santa Cruz relinquished his title to move up to 122 pounds. On May 4, Santa Cruz will face veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round junior featherweight bout for the vacant USBA Junior Featherweight Championship.

Here’s what the fighters and Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya had to say on Thursday:

DANIEL PONCE DE LEON:

“Great fight. Two Mexican warriors. We’re expecting a great fight on May 4.

“We know each other. We’ve been training in the same gym and that’s why I’m expecting a great fight, because we’ve known each other for so many years.

“It doesn’t matter, if it’s a decision or if it’s a knockout. Obviously, a knockout would be best. That’s what I’m working for. If the fight goes all 12 rounds, I’m going to win. I feel that I’m going to win the fight.

“I was WBO champion at 122 pounds and I kept it for so many years. Now I have this one, the WBC at 126 pounds, and I don’t expect to let it go in my next fight. I expect to keep it for a long, long time.

“I’m used to [fighting] on those [Mexican holiday] dates. Last year, I fought May 4. Now I’m coming back on the same date. I can feel the energy is there. It was a very special moment for Mexico because it was at war at that time, and now I’m going to have another war against Abner Mares on that same day. I’m going to be celebrating my victory with my friends and everybody, and also with SHOWTIME.

“I have only one style – go forward, so I’m going to throw punches down and up, head and everywhere once the bell rings until the fight ends.

“I think the advantage is with me. I was very solid at 122 and now I’ve been fighting at 126 for many years, so I don’t think he’ll have that advantage because he’s jumping from one division to another division. When he feels my power, he won’t know what’s going on. I’m going to throw as many punches as I can against him.

“I’ve had some good, difficult fights, so I don’t see this one as the most difficult [of my career]. I’ve had so many great wars, so this one won’t be the most difficult. It’s going to be a very interesting fight. I think I am very solid at 126 and I know for a fact that it’s difficult when you jump divisions. It’s difficult to get power. You have to establish it with some fights in order to get it. I’ve fought 130-pound fighters, 145-pound fighters, so I know that power. It’s kind of difficult for Abner because he doesn’t know that power.

“I’m not thinking about who’s stronger. I know Mares. He’s coming. He’s jumping divisions and I don’t want to think that he’s weak. I want to be focused on me.

“If he wants to get into a brawl, we’re going to do it. If he wants to run around, wants to box, then we’re going to fight him. I have my plan and I want to stick with my plan. I don’t care what he brings or what he doesn’t bring. I’m going to be there. I have the experience and, like I said, if he wants to exchange, I’m happy just waiting for him.

“Mayweather is a very solid fighter, a very skillful fighter. However, in boxing, anything can happen. Robert Guerrero might give fans a surprise. I hope Guerrero wins, but you never know because Mayweather is such a good fighter.”

ABNER MARES:

“It’s going be a great fight – a fight that a lot of fans are looking forward to. It’s going to be a difficult fight being that I’m stepping up to a different weight class, a weight class that I’m not familiar with. At the same time, I’m excited to capture my third world title. I plan to steal the show May 4.

“I know a lot about my opponent. I’ve known this guy for many years. We kind of grew up in the boxing industry, since we were amateurs. He’s a good guy, a good friend, but he’s got a style that I’m kind of unfamiliar with. I sparred with him before, but I haven’t trained or sparred with him in the past three years. I know he’s changed, but I’ve changed too and it’s going to be a whole different fight.

(On his friendship with de Leon) “I’ve forgotten him already. He’s not my friend at all right now. He’s my opponent. I see him like that. Once I step in the ring, it’s just win, win, win, man. I’m going try to tear him up and win this fight because it’s a big fight for me. It’s going to put me in a great position.

“I have to be straight-forward. He’ll be my friend after the fight but now he’s just my opponent. He’s trying to take away my undefeated record and I can’t let that happen.

(On his manager Frank Espinoza who also manages Ponce de Leon) “He’s not stepping into my training camp. I don’t know if he’s going to Ponce’s training camp, but he’s not coming into my training camp. We stay in touch, but when it comes to the fight, he’s not going to be in the dressing room. He’s just going to be like any other fan. He’s going to go there and just enjoy the fight.

“It’s really important to get a knockout and just get a win, no matter what. It’s going to be my third world title. I could become one of the youngest Mexican fighters to become a three-time world champion in three different weight classes, so I’m excited.

“Anyone can knock out anybody. I have power. It’s not like I have three knockouts. I’ve got 13 knockouts and if you go back to my last fight, I knocked down Moreno. I’ve always hurt guys or knocked them down. Going into a different weight class, who knows, with that extra weight, it might give me an extra heavy punch. I do plan on making a statement. If it comes by knockout, so be it. I’m ready. I’ve been working on my power punches.

“Being a Mexican, I’m from Guadalajara, Jalisco, I can’t wait to be in a good fight. Cinco de Mayo, a lot of Mexican flags, a lot of Mexican people, and I’m going to make it my night.

(On fighting on SHOWTIME PPV) “Man, it’s everything. I think it’s any fighter’s dream coming up now, to fight on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather. We know he brings great people, a great number of fans and I can’t wait. With that said, I’m more excited to steal the show and make it my night. Not Mayweather’s night, my night. I know I’m going to win and I know it’s going to put me on a whole different level because millions of people are going to be watching. I’m going to be showcasing my talent.”

LEO SANTA CRUZ:

“He’s going come and try and knock me out. He’s an explosive fighter. He likes to knock out people and I think I heard that he said that he’s going to come out and knock me out. We’re ready. We’re training for everything. We’ve been practicing in the gym how to move and not to stay there to get hit by his jabs.

“He said that his experience is going to beat me, but I don’t think so. A lot of fighters have said that and nobody has done it.

“It’s not important to get a knockout. I want to get the win and please the people. I want to give fans a good show. That’s what I want to do — please the fans. We’ve been training really hard in the gym and if the knockout comes, it comes. We’ve been practicing with going for body shots and to the head, too.

“I just know that he’s a very strong fighter. He comes forward. He throws his punches, but we’re working in the gym on that and my dad (Jose) is teaching me not to stay there for when he throws his uppercut. We’ve been studying his punches and we think we’re going in good shape. He’s explosive. He could finish a fight with one punch, but we’ve really prepared for him. We’re not going to stay there and take his punches. We’re going to box him. We’re going to be right there pressuring and pressuring. If he’s not hurting me, we’re going to be inside.

“Yeah, my body feels a little fresher. I wanted to fight earlier, but I’ve always been in the gym. Since my last fight, I took a month off and that was the longest I have ever taken off , but I didn’t feel very good. I wanted to go back to the gym and start training.

“I’m very excited because I want to give fans a good show. That’s why I’ve been training really hard. Hopefully they like how I fight and they come out and enjoy the show.

“What you guys can expect from me is a war. I’m going to give all I got. I’m going to go out there and work my butt off for the fans, for all the Mexicans, all the people that are watching. They’re going to be pleased. That’s what I’m here for, to give fans what they want, and I think I’m going to give them what they want.

“As a Mexican, it’s a great, great, great day to fight near Cinco de Mayo because it’s a day of Mexicans. It’s even more motivation for me to go out there, try my best and give it all I’ve got. I can’t let the people down.

“I learned a lot from him [brother, Antonio, a former world champion], from the mistakes and from the good things. You learn from everything. He works with me in my corner. He tells me what punches to throw. He comes to the gym when he can.

“I think people already kind of know me more. The more active I can be, the better for me. That’s why I like to fight a lot.

“I’m done with 118. I’m going to 122 and will see how it goes there. If everything goes well, and I win a world title, I’ll probably move to 126.

“I feel stronger, and people have said I look stronger at 122.”

OSCAR DE LA HOYA:

“We’re just making fights happen and putting boxing back on the map. We have exciting projects coming up. We have exciting fights coming up. We’re working closely with SHOWTIME and making sure that we just bring the best fights possible.

“The fourth of May is a celebration of a Cinco de Mayo weekend. A lot of Mexicans and Mexican Americans are going to be celebrating that weekend. Everybody is going to be celebrating in Vegas that weekend.

(On Leo Santa Cruz) “When (Golden Boy Matchmaker Eric) Gomez brought him to my attention, I thought he was good. I thought he was a fighter who was going to go far, but he’s exceeded everybody’s expectations. This guy is not only going to go far, but he’s going to accomplish many great things in the sport of boxing. He’s a very disciplined, exciting fighter. Now in speaking to his father, he’s telling me that he’s just looking incredible. A lot of energy. He’s motivated. He’s going to be quite a champion for many years to come.

”For the viewing audience, we want to give them exciting fights, and you can’t go wrong with Leo Santa Cruz because he’s a very, very exciting fighter to watch and he gets the job done.

(On Ponce de Leon-Mares fight): “They’re very professional. They both respect each other. You don’t have the trash-talking. You don’t have the back and forth bickering with one another. It’s all about getting in there and fighting. Abner Mares knows he’s in a tough fight. Ponce de Leon knows he’s in a tough fight. It’s two L.A. kids that are going to bring back those memories of the Olympic Auditorium when we used to watch those Tuesday night fights every single week. You would see a war, and that’s what we’re going to have with Abner Mares and Ponce de Leon. It’s all business and they know that. They know that they’re going to come out of the fight cut and bruised, and maybe knocked down a few times. They knew that right from the start, right from when they signed the contracts. They know they’re going to get beat up, but they respect that and that’s the beauty of it.

“May 4, obviously, topping it all off with Mayweather-Guerrero, it’s going to be historic. I believe it’s going to be a very tough, rugged fight for Mayweather. I’m going to predict that it’s probably going to be the toughest fight for Mayweather. Not because he’s diminished in his skills. He’s still obviously a great fighter. He has the talent and the skills, but he’s 36 years old. Remember that. He’s facing a young guy who’s going to be in his face. Mayweather is going to come out to fight. He has said it all along. He’s going to walk him down with his style. He’s not going to run from him. I think it’s going to be a very tough, physical fight for both guys.

“It’s always a privilege, it’s always an honor, to promote an event on Cinco de Mayo weekend, especially when you have Mayweather and Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero. Then you talk about Abner Mares against Ponce de Leon. You have Leo Santa Cruz on the card. It’s going to be a spectacular night for boxing and for SHOWTIME.

“The great thing about this fight card is that I’m looking forward to all the fights. That’s now the trend, that’s now the motto within Golden Boy Promotions, is you have to make great fights. You have to make competitive fights. You have to make fights where there is no loser. If you fight hard and you lose a decision in a great fight, you’re going to come back for one more. You’re going to come back for another day. You’re going to make an impression on everybody and people are going to demand you. So just fight hard. This is what this card is all about – fighting hard and giving the fans a great fight. This (card) is going to be action, action, action! It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be incredible.

“Boxing is in a revival and it obviously starts with April 20 (in San Antonio) and then moves on past May 4, but May 4 everybody’s excited about.”

General admission tickets for the “MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero” closed circuit telecasts at ARIA, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York are priced at $50, not including handling fees, and are available for purchase at each individual property’s box office outlets and by phone with a major credit card at 866-799-7711. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Tickets also are available through Ticketmaster by calling (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

SIX-TIME AND FOUR-DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION ROBERT “THE GHOST” GUERRERO SHOWED DETERMINATION IN LANDING FIGHT AGAINST FLOYD “MONEY” MAYWEATHER

Las Vegas (April 10) – Six-Time and Four-Division World Champion Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will attempt to hand Eight-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather the first loss of his professional career when they face off on Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. in a fight which will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV®.

While it has yet to be seen whether Guerrero’s faith can will him to victory as he has recently claimed it will, it is evident that determination has guided him to the biggest fight of his career.

Guerrero has shown that he can certainly back up his talk with his actions in the ring. In 2012, he won two back-to-back bouts in the welterweight division and captured the WBC Interim Welterweight World Championship, making him the third fighter in boxing history to win a world title at featherweight and welterweight, joining the likes of legends Henry Armstrong and Manny Pacquiao. Guerrero has also joined the exclusive fraternity of fighters who have jumped up two weight classes to win world championships during their careers, a group which includes Roberto Duran, Roy Jones Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley with only Guerrero and Jones accomplishing the feat in their first fights in their new weight classes. Lastly, he is one of two Mexican American fighters to win world titles in four divisions, the other being Oscar De La Hoya.

While it’s not a surprise that Guerrero has earned the opportunity to face Mayweather, the proven pound-for-pound and pay-per-view king, it might surprise even the most dedicated boxing fans to know just how long Guerrero lobbied for this opportunity.

November 11, 2011

“I just believe that there’s a potential Mayweather fight out there for me. You know, Mayweather wants to come back on May 5. (Ring TV)

“I’m a world champion over three different weight divisions. I’ve fought overseas and I’ve won five titles. What more can I do in boxing to put myself into position for a fight of this magnitude?” (Ring TV)

“I’m throwing it out there. There shouldn’t be any reason that that fight can’t be made. My last fight, I walked into the ring at 152 pounds. Mayweather walks into the ring at 148 or 149 or 150, so that’s not much of a difference. I can make 147 no problem.” (Ring TV)

November 21, 2011

“I’m a multiple world champion and I’ve won titles in three different divisions. That’s always the excuse when you’re trying to avoid the young lion. For instance, Jesus Chavez, Carlos Hernandez, Sharmba Mitchell, Victor Ortiz and Henry Bruseles, who did they beat to get their chance to fight Floyd? Not one of them has accomplished as much as I have.” (Boxing Scene)

“We are approaching this challenge like ‘Hey, let’s make it happen. I know he set that date. Cinco de Mayo. I am Mexican American right here. Let’s do it.” (The Sweet Science)

“Mayweather is the guy I want. Like I said, I want to fight the best… I’d love to fight him.” (The Sweet Science)

“I know he is paying attention. Floyd Mayweather would not be pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, if he wasn’t paying attention. Even when he retired, he was paying attention. I’m expecting him to take on the challenge.” (The Sweet Science)

December 1, 2011

“The fact is I’ve always faced the biggest challenges in and out of the ring head on. I’ve always said to be the best you have to fight the best and right now Floyd Mayweather is considered the best fighter in the world. I’m here to say I’m the best fighter in the world. There’s only one way to find out…May 5th let’s do it.” (Boxing Scene)

December 6, 2011

“I’m a five-time world champion in three different weight divisions. I’m a 5’9″ lefty and everyone says he has trouble with lefties. This is his chance to show the world. I’ve won world titles, defending them a number of times. He isn’t getting a guy that’s only had one world title fight. He’d have an experienced fighter in front of him and also a big fighter… Everything is setup right there to make a big fight…When it comes down to it, I take care of business. If it comes down to having to go to Floyd’s gym, that’s what I’ll do.” (Fight Hype)

December 15, 2011

“I haven’t fought in awhile, but it hasn’t been that long. I will get the best sparring partners in the world and will be sharper than I’ve ever been. Like I said, I respect Floyd a lot and will make sure I am on top of my game. I feel like some of these things can help me get the fight. You know how Floyd likes to hand pick his opponents…Maybe this will make me look more attractive to him.” (Fight Saga)

“Floyd needs a dancing partner on Cinco de Mayo and I’m willing to step up and face the biggest challenge out there. I know I can beat him. It’s up to Floyd to take the fight.” (Fight Hype)

“Well for one, like I said, I wanna fight the best fighters out there. Everyone says I am 135, that I have no experience at 140 or 147. Size is not the issue. I am a physically bigger guy. I have been around Floyd, I have seen Floyd in person. I have been on undercards that Floyd was fighting on. I am a bigger guy than Floyd. At the end of the day words are not going to get the job done.” (Examiner)

January 4, 2012

“Yes, I’ve been seeking a fight with Floyd since his date on May 5th was announced. I’m here to fight the best fighters in the world.” (Doghouse Boxing)

January 9, 2012

“I’m going to shock the world and beat Floyd Mayweather.” (LA Times)

“No matter who it is, a fight with Floyd Mayweather would be the biggest fight of anybody’s career. This is where you start setting your legacy as one of the greatest in boxing.” (Daily News)

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“MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Guerrero,” a 12-round fight for Mayweather’s WBC Welterweight World Championship and the vacant Ring Magazine Welterweight World Championship, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona, O’Reilly Auto Parts, AT&T, Star Trek Into Darkness and Valvoline. The mega-event will take place Saturday, May 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The event can be heard in Spanish using secondary audio programming (SAP). Also featured will be Daniel Ponce de Leon vs. Abner Mares, a 12-round fight for Ponce de Leon’s WBC Featherweight World Championship, former IBF Bantamweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz facing veteran Alexander Munoz in a 10-round junior featherweight bout and rising star J’Leon Love squaring off against recent world title challenger Gabriel Rosado in a 10-round middleweight battle for the vacant NABF Middleweight Championship.

VIDEO: ALL ACCESS MAYWEATHER – GUERRERO CLIP EPISODE 1