"Pacquiao, I think he's a good fighter, but I've been around the sport a long time. I've been dominating the sport of boxing for 15 years now, so, you know, no one has defeated me yet, so we'll have to see...I'll be victorious. You can believe that," stated undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. during his recent appearance on the Joe Buck Live show. Mayweather was joined on the set by former New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan and world-renowned actor Mark Wahlberg, a long-time friend of Freddie Roach and supporter of Manny Pacquiao. Although Mayweather kept mum on the current status of negotiations, it was clear that the multi-division champion fully expects to be standing across the ring from the Filipino icon come March 13th.
"The thing I think is I don't want the fans to be shocked by what happens when we do happen to meet up because, I mean, it's like, it's not going to be nothing new because he's been knocked out before and he took a loss before," Mayweather added with a grin, as if he already knew something that no one else knew. He also made sure to have a little fun with Mark Wahlberg, pointing out the fact that although he's a big supporter of the Filipino icon, he's also a friend of Mayweather. "I worked out at Mark's house before. He held the mitts for me," he said with a smile. "Hey, I'm just trying to find out was he a Pacquiao guy 15 years ago when the world didn't even hear about Pacquiao, when I was dominating the sport of boxing then."
Wahlberg, however, happily replied, "Hey, let me tell you something, that's a good question. I am very good friends with Manny and I've been friends with Floyd. As much as I wanted to see this fight happen, I'm also extremely nervous, but this is the most important fight for boxing period." Indeed, it is the most important fight for boxing and at that moment, Mayweather's eyes lit up as he quickly cut in, ""Well, I'm an American citizen and I want the American people to stand behind me like our American soldiers. You gotta realize, fans can't get in there and fight for him. Once we get in that squared circle, it's just me and him one on one. One on one!"
Once we get in that squared circle he said, and that's all you need to hear from Mayweather to know this fight is a done deal. Although there has yet to be an official announcement, likely due to the fact that the venue has yet to be finalized, it's clear that everyone is focused and getting prepared for March 13th. As for what's going to happen when the bell rings to start the fight, Mayweather smiled and stated, "I know what's going to happen. It's hard to predict what's going to happen because, of course, your job in boxing is like a cop; one shot could end your whole career. It's different from a team sport than one-on-one combat. I think that I'm a very very smart and intelligent fighter. That's why I was able to be in the sport of boxing so long and dominate the sport of boxing, you know, just being smart and I always tell people that all the time. There's nothing cool about taking punishment and getting paid."
Check out all of Mayweather's comments from the Joe Buck Live show below:
On Manny Pacquiao...
"Pacquiao, I think he's a good fighter, but I've been around the sport a long time. I've been dominating the sport of boxing for 15 years now, so, you know, no one has defeated me yet, so we'll have to see."
"The thing I think is I don't want the fans to be shocked by what happens when we do happen to meet up because, I mean, it's like, it's not going to be nothing new because he's been knocked out before and he took a loss before."
On whether or not he would knock out Pacquiao...
"I'll be victorious. You can believe that."
On Tiger Woods and his current drama...
"I love Tiger Woods. I love Tiger Woods. He's only human. Everybody makes mistakes and that's his personal life. I'm gonna support him; I'm gonna stand behind him 100%."
"Just one month ago, they was just screaming how he's the best golfer ever. Now, it's like, he's one of the worst men on earth. I mean, I still love Tiger Woods. I think he's an extraordinary athelete and a great person."
On gambling...
"Well, lately, two weeks ago, I won like a million. It took like a week. I won like a million, because I live in Las Vegas, so, they got Monday night games, Sunday and Thursday."
"Boxers can bet whatever they want on whatever sport they want."
"Peyton Manning made me a lot of money. 1.3 million!"
On Mark Wahlberg and his support of Pacquiao...
"I worked out at Mark's house before. He held the mitts for me."
"Hey, I'm just trying to find out was he a Pacquiao guy 15 years ago when the world didn't even hear about Pacquiao, when I was dominating the sport of boxing then."
"Well, I'm an American citizen and I want the American people to stand behind me like our American soldiers. You gotta realize, fans can't get in there and fight for him. Once we get in that square circle, it's just me and him one on one. One on one!"
On his career and more on the fight with Pacquiao...
"My record shows that I'm the best at what I do."
"I've been champion my whole career basically."
"I know what's going to happen. It's hard to predict what's going to happen because, of course, your job in boxing is like a cop, one shot could end your whole career. It's different from a team sport than one-on-one combat. I think that I'm a very very smart and intelligent fighter. That's why I was able to be in the sport of boxing so long and dominant the sport of boxing, you know, just being smart and I always tell people that all the time. There's nothing cool about taking punishment and getting paid."
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