‘A-side’ Mayweather ‘not scared’ of any fighter

By: Mark Giongco - 10 years ago

Floyd Mayweather Jr. File Photo.

MANILA, Philippines — Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. said he fears no one in the boxing ring.

Not even Manny Pacquiao, who is widely considered to be his toughest challenge yet.

“I’ve fought for over 30 years. I’ve been a professional now 19 years, you know, and world champion 18 years, and I’m not scared of any fighter,” Mayweather, who turns 38 on Tuesday, told Ben Thompson of fighthype.com. “The thing is this, I feel that I earned the right to be the A-side.”

Last month, the WBC and WBA welterweight champion Mayweather has been called out by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum for “ducking” Pacquiao in fears of possibly wrinkling his flawless record.

On Saturday (Manila time), Mayweather announced that his long-awaited megafight with Pacquiao is a go for May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

And against a resurgent Pacquiao, who has won his last three fights in dominating fashion since a highly disputed loss to Timothy Bradley and a stunning knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, Mayweather is confident as always.

“He may not be the same fighter, but this is a guy that I cannot overlook. He got here somehow and some way. You never take nothing for granted because anything can happen. But as far as me being nervous or worried, absolutely not, but I’m always cautious and smart,” Mayweather said.