Megafight or lovefest? Manners on display as Mayweather, Mosley make appearance
Usually, prefight news conferences, especially for megafights, are bombastic affairs, full of hyperbole, threats and even a dose of physical violence.
Not Wednesday at the MGM Grand.
Things were so quiet and respectful during the final press briefing for Saturday’s nontitle welterweight fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley that it felt like being in church.
Instead of fireworks, there were barely sparklers. Instead of profanity-laced tirades, there were platitudes from both fighters toward each other. Confrontation gave way to mutual admiration.
This wasn’t a news conference. This was a lovefest.
Even Mayweather’s dad, Floyd Sr., and his uncle and head trainer, Roger Mayweather, both of whom have been known to spice things up at these sorts of affairs, fell well short of expectations.
"I usually have a poem leading up to a fight, but this is far more important, because Money Mayweather is in a fight," the elder Mayweather said.
He went on to praise Mosley’s skills while questioning Mosley’s ability to deal with his son’s speed. But the best part of the day was Mayweather Sr.’s verbal joust with Cassius Green.
Green, Mosley’s longtime cutman whose trademark look is a naval officer’s cap and jacket, taunted the elder Mayweather while he was at the microphone, saying, "The last corner you were in, the guy got knocked out," referring to Ricky Hatton.
Mayweather Sr. responded, "Hey, Captain Crunch, we’re back at that again."
Younger brother Roger, who has been known to let loose with the expletives from the podium, was totally nonconfrontational.
"This is what makes great fights — two great fighters," Roger Mayweather said. "If it wasn’t, all these people wouldn’t be here eating for free.
"No matter what happens, Shane, you can invite me over for dinner."
The goodwill trickled down to Mayweather Jr., who praised Mosley, his camp and Mosley’s father, Jack, who helped get Mayweather into boxing. His usual cockiness was absent as he kept his remarks brief at the podium.
Mosley said he was grateful to be in a big fight again and told the Mayweathers, "Like Roger said, we can all get together and have dinner after this. There’s no love lost."
Strange rhetoric indeed. There was no talk of steroids, nose jobs or divorces. Just two fighters believing they have what it takes to win Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden.
"Getting ready for a fight of this magnitude, you have to be prepared mentally as well as physically," Mayweather said.
Mosley, who last fought Jan. 24, 2009, when he stopped Antonio Margarito in the ninth round in Los Angeles, said: "It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a big fight like this. I’m excited. We have three more days."
Mosley, a 4-1 underdog at MGM Mirage sports books, isn’t surprised that Mayweather is being picked to beat him by decision.
"That’s what Mayweather normally does, beat guys by decision," Mosley said. "That’s the safe bet, I suppose."
Mosley said he never has been better prepared for a big fight.
"I’m in a good place mentally," he said. "I’m happy that for once things have gone right."
n NOTES — Friday’s 3 p.m. weigh-in at the Grand Garden is free and open to the public. … According to the Nevada Athletic Commission, Mosley will make $7 million for the fight. Mayweather’s share is expected to be filed with the commission today. … NAC executive director Keith Kizer said, as of April 16, both fighters had passed their random drug tests administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Mosley has undergone eight tests, half of them blood tests, the other half by urinalysis, and Mayweather has been tested seven times, four times via blood and three via urine.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.
