Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Takeaways from Money and Jim Gray's Pre-Fight Interview

When Floyd Mayweather looks at Manny Pacquiao, what worries him? Is it his punching power, perhaps the greatest Mayweather has ever seen? Maybe it's Pacquiao's motivation to come out on top after more than a half-decade of negotiations? 

In Mayweather's words: nothing at all.     

During an interview with Jim Gray over the weekend, the pound-for-pound king flashed his prototypical confidence.

"I don't worry about anything," Mayweather said. "You know, he's a solid competitor. He's a guy who's going to push me, and that's what I need. Because he will bring the best out of Floyd Mayweather."

After the most protracted negotiations in boxing history, Mayweather is finally due to set foot in the ring against Pacquiao on May 2. Originally negotiated when the two were at the peak of their respective powers in 2009, much has changed over the last six years.

Mayweather has gone on to up his record to a career 47-0, putting him on the short list of all-time greats. The undefeated streak has long been said to be a point of pride for Mayweather, though he deflected that notion when Gray asked him about it. 

"You hear everyone always talking about you could break Rocky Marciano's record, you could break this guy's record. I think it's more important to everyone else."

Pacquiao, meanwhile, hit a nadir and built himself back up again. His knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in December 2012 at the time also seemed like a KO to a potential Mayweather bout. Pacquiao had lost two straight at that point and was even getting pressure from his wife to retire. Three straight wins later, however, Pacquiao is back near the top of most pound-for-pound rankings.

Mayweather says that Marquez knockout will always be on Pacquiao's mind. 

"When a guy has lost before, if a guy has been knocked out before, that's in the back of his mind," Mayweather said. "I showed I can dish it out more than I can take it. Because if I was taking punishment, I don't think I would have lasted this long in my career."

We'll have to wait until May 2 to see if Mayweather's confidence is founded or if he has finally met his match.

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