Mayweather: Boxing is like a chess match

FLoyd Mayweather Jr. during the final press conference held at the KA Theatre in MGM Grand, Las Vegas Nevada on Wednesday, 29 April 2015. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA/INQUIRER/ See more at FRAME

LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather visualizes a boxing match as a game of chess. Every move is calculated, every piece harnessed, every blunder avoided.

“From the beginning of my career, I’ve always had a game plan,” said Mayweather during the final press conference of the Fight of the Century Wednesday at KA Theatre of MGM Grand here.

“It’s just like chess. We make calculated moves in the ring and outside the ring. I got with the right team and surrounded myself with the right chess pieces.”

This strategy is essential, especially now that he’s going to face a worthy adversary in Manny Pacquiao on May 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“The only thing I can do is take it one day at a time. When the fight gets here I will go out there and do what I do best and that’s go out and fight,” he said.
Mayweather, however, isn’t about to underestimate Pacquiao, his closest pound-for-pound rival.

“I don’t take anything away from Manny Pacquiao. He’s a solid fighter; a solid competitor and it will be an intriguing matchup come Saturday.”

That’s because they are poles apart as far as fighting technique and skills are concerned.

Mayweather is the master defender and counterpuncher while Pacquiao is the offensive dynamo, unpredictable and unstoppable.

“This fight is about one fighter who is at the top fighting another fighter who is at the top,” said Mayweather. “It’s about giving you guys excitement. We don’t know how this fight is going to play out, but I believe in my skills. I believe I am going to be victorious.”

Mayweather’s confidence stems from the hundreds of hours he spent training at his own gym in this gambling Mecca.

Taller by two inches and heavier than the 5-foot-6 Pacquiao, Mayweather believes he can wear down the eight-division world champion, dominate the latter stages and snatch a win.

“Everything takes time, it’s all about timing. I’m glad that we had patience and didn’t rush. The time is now, this is the right time for this fight,” said Mayweather, who is putting his 47-win streak on the line.”

As in chess, Mayweather’s looking at the position and plotting his next moves.