Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley: Quotes From the Press Conference

The first press conference for the May 7th showdown between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley was held Thursday evening in a crowded ballroom at the Beverley Hills Hotel.  

With an already sold out MGM Grand Arena, both fighters did not have to do much more to sell the fight.

It's all about respect and adulation as they prepare for their fight.

"(Shane Mosley) has fought every fighter of our era," said Bob Arum, Pacquiao promoter and Top Rank CEO.

"Shane Mosley knows what it means to be a professional fighter, what he owes to the fans, and that typifies the kinds of fights that Shane Mosley puts on."

After congratulating Pacquiao on his achievements as a Philippines Congressman, Mosley thanked his team and father, who he called "one of the great coaches of our era."

"This is one of the biggest fights of my career, if not the biggest," said Mosley, who has a record of 46-6-1.

"(Manny Pacquiao) doesn't have to be angry or mad at you to get in the ring and try to knock your head off.

"I'm the same way so that's just going to make the fight exciting. We are both competitors."

One of the more surprising events to take place since the fight was signed was the decision to have it broadcast on Showtime and not HBO.   

"More boxing fans are going to be able to watch the fight," Pacquiao said of the fight being broadcast on Showtime, along with the help of CBS.

"Good luck to both of us, and especially to Mosley because you train hard for this fight and I will train hard for this fight," said Pacquiao, who will be looking to claim his 53rd victory. 

"My concern is how to make people happy, and how we can entertain the people who love boxing. That's my concern."

"I have to train hard because I don't want to disappoint them."

These are the types of things fans love to hear a fighter say, and they don't hear it often from the best fighters who seem to be just fighting for themselves.

At the highest position in the sport, as the sport's number one pound for pound fighter, Pacquiao will not be taking his opponent lightly and neither will his trainer Freddie Roach.

"A lot of people are telling me this is an easy fight, and that's the worse thing to say because this is definitely not an easy fight, said Roach.

"Shane has been there many times. He's going to rise to the occasion. He will fight his best fight of his life I feel."

Expect a lot more of the same from both fighters as they approach fight day. Their respect and gratitude towards the sport and each other is something every fan should appreciate.