Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2015: Key Comments from Money and Pac-Man Ahead of Fight

Although boxing has taken a backseat to many other sports in recent years, the sweet science is once again at the forefront as Floyd "Money" Mayweather and Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao will do battle Saturday in one of the most highly anticipated fights ever.

It has taken upwards of five years to make this dream bout a reality, and there have been plenty of verbal shots fired back and forth over that time frame. It's no secret that Mayweather and Pacquiao aren't the best of friends, and they will finally get to settle their differences in the ring.

There has been no shortage of media coverage regarding this fight, and that has led to both combatants having plenty to say during the weeks leading up to it.

As boxing fans across the world prepare for a dream clash of epic proportions, here is a look at what Money and Pac-Man are saying.

What Mayweather Is Saying

While Mayweather is known for his incredible speed and defensive capabilities in the ring, perhaps his greatest strength over the years has been his penchant for throwing opponents off their game with trash talk.

There is no question that Money is still supremely confident in his skills, but he isn't nearly as brash at 38 years of age as he used to be. According to John Branch of The New York Times, Mayweather doesn't feel as though there is much reason to be cocky at this juncture in his career:

"Me speaking out loud, me having personality, I did that in the past," Mayweather said. "I'm a lot older now. I'm a lot wiser. This fight sells itself. I don't have to do that."

The undefeated superstar hasn't been entirely silent or lacking in terms of confidence during the lead up to the fight, though. Rather than pumping himself up or degrading his opponent, he has instead focused on the importance of the spectacle that lies ahead, per Showtime Sports:

While many huge fights have taken place over the course of boxing history, few can measure up to Mayweather versus Pacquiao. It comes at a perfect time, as well, since the sport needs something huge that it can hang its hat on.

Money seems to take great pride in the fact that he can be part of boxing's ascent, and that has been among his primary messages during the build toward May 2.

What Pacquiao Is Saying

The civility from Mayweather's side has possibly been surprising to some, but boxing fans have come to expect that from Pacquiao. Despite the Filipino legend's incredible track record of success, he has never been one to boast in the media.

It is clear that he and Mayweather are very different people, which is why they have clashed so often and struggled to make this fight happen. Now that the matchup is just days away, though, they are seemingly on the same page.

According to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Pacquiao is interested in putting on a great show rather than exacting revenge against Mayweather for anything that might have happened between them in the past:

"

Our goal on Saturday is to give the fans satisfaction and make them happy. Floyd and I both are working hard to entertain you on Saturday. That's the most important thing, nothing personal. Just doing our job. He will do his best on Saturday and I will do my best on Saturday and we will put our names in boxing history.

"

Even above and beyond that, though, the 36-year-old veteran wants his fight with Mayweather to have a profound impact on those who watch it, per Showtime Sports:

By and large, both Pacquiao and Mayweather have been spreading a message of positivity rather than tearing each other down. That is quite rare within the realm of boxing these days, but it is extremely refreshing.

That disdain may very well return when they come face to face at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at long last, but everything prior to that has been quite respectful.

Prediction

There is no question that observers have been interested in the fighters' thoughts prior to Saturday's moment of truth, but the ballyhoo is really all about the matchup itself.

Mayweather is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, as evidenced by his perfect record, but Pacquiao isn't far behind in that regard. Although Money is favored, Pac-Man is the more powerful and arguably the more explosive boxer, which means a knockout could be lurking around the corner at any moment.

In terms of technical mastery, though, it is nearly impossible to top Mayweather. He still has elite quickness despite his advancing age, and his defense is second to none. The 47-0 star also excels at baiting in opponents and decimating them with counterpunches, which is something Pac-Man will have to be cognizant of.

The boxing world is very much divided on who will ultimately prevail, but recent history suggests that the smart money is on Mayweather.

He has never slipped up, whereas Pacquiao has at times in recent years, including a decisive loss to Juan Manuel Marquez. Provided that Money sticks to his game plan and doesn't get drawn into a slug fest, he will come away with a unanimous-decision win in the biggest fight of his life.

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