Fight of the Century: Mayweather vs Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao: Renaissance man prepares for biggest fight
By Steven Shaprio
Manny Pacquiao is a Renaissance man. The prizefighter, who is also a politician in the Philippines, is immersed in training for his upcoming showdown with Floyd Mayweather on May 2 in Las Vegas. The boxer also fancies himself somewhat of a singer and is even recording a new album in commemoration of the upcoming fight.
In an interview with Yahoo global news anchor Katie Couric, Pacquiao talks about the epic event, which is poised to shatter revenue records for a boxing match. The total is expected to reach at least $400 million.
“This fight is really big, really important, especially in my country,” he tells Couric.
[ Related: Mayweather, Pacquiao take very different approaches heading into megafight ]
Pacquiao grew up in extreme poverty and began boxing early on to make money for his family. He says he would earn $2 for fights if he won, $1 if he lost.
He’s a long way from that now. Pacquiao will make over $100 million fighting Mayweather, though he says it’s about more than a big payday.
“My focus right now isn’t about money. It’s about how I get in shape 100 percent, and you know, do my best in the ring and give the people what they want.”
The father of five is deeply religious and philanthropic, but he says he wasn’t always that way. “I drank, womanizing, gambling, everything. But when I surrendered my life to the Lord, when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and savior, I surrendered my whole life.”
[ Photos: Katie Couric sits down with Manny Pacquiao ]
He laughs when recalling a viral video of himself singing, “Let It Go” from “Frozen,” but his new song “I Will Fight for the Filipino People” will be played when he enters on fight night, May 2.
Win or lose, Pacquiao says he has no plans to hang up his gloves anytime soon and still feels as fit and strong as ever.
“If I feel something, then I will tell you and say I’m retired.” As for his political future, when asked by Couric if he will run for president of the Philippines one day, he replies, “I don’t know. It’s in God’s hands.”
Mayweather on historic bout: ‘I’m a winner and I know how to win’
By Steven Shapiro
He calls himself “Money” for good reason: He has lots of it. Floyd Mayweather is the highest-paid athlete in the world and is known to throw cash around as if it was confetti.
“The lifestyle is real,” he tells Yahoo Global News Anchor Katie Couric at his Las Vegas gym, where he is preparing for the “fight of the century” against Manny Pacquiao on May 2. “I really have three Bugattis. I really make nine figures in 36 minutes,” he says.
The undefeated boxer stands to collect as much as $180 million from the fight based on a 60-40 split of the purse negotiated in his favor. Total revenues from the event are expected to reach a staggering $400 million.
[ Photos: Floyd Mayweather speaks with Katie Couric about the ‘Fight of the Century’ ]
“Hopefully, the world will be watching,” he tells Couric.
The 38-year-old has been enduring grueling workouts three times a day to prepare for Pacquiao. “A lot of hand pad work, a lot of body work, heavy bag work, speed bag, pushups, pull-ups, dips. The list goes on and on.”
Mayweather’s rise to the pinnacle of the boxing world began humbly in Grand Rapids, Mich. His mother struggled with addiction, and his father, who was also a promising professional boxer, saw his career cut short by violence and a jail sentence for selling cocaine. “My dad was shot by my mother’s brother. I was right there,” Mayweather recalls.
[ Related: Mayweather and Pacquiao camps trade barbs over tickets, rooms, contract ]
But even after all of his success, Mayweather Jr. has run into trouble of his own. “We can talk about it,” he tells Couric.
In 2011, Mayweather pleaded guilty to reduced misdemeanor charges, after his ex-girlfriend alleged he beat her in front of two of their two children. He served two months before being released.
“I’m black. I’m rich. And I’m outspoken. Those are three strikes right there,” he says, going on to tell Couric, “So, you know, when someone says, ‘I got pushed or hit, I’m a fighter. So I may not really hit a person.’ But guess what? I got to fight the case because I’m already guilty. They don’t know if I really did it or not. But since I’m a fighter, they’re gonna say, ‘You know what? He did it.’”
[ Photos: Mayweather and Pacquiao face off at the fight press conference ]
Couric goes on to ask if Mayweather felt unfairly accused. “Did I kick, stomp and beat someone? No, that didn’t happen. I look in your face and say, “No, that didn’t happen.” Did I restrain a woman that was on drugs? Yes, I did. So if they say that’s domestic violence, then, you know what? I’m guilty. I’m guilty of restraining someone.”
Mayweather is now focused on the fight ahead of him, the one in the ring, against Manny Pacquiao. He says he’ll walk away a winner, even if the fight doesn’t go his way.
“You know, having my hand raised doesn’t define me as a man. No matter what anyone says about Floyd Mayweather, I’m a winner, you know, in life. Not just because I was able to make hundreds of millions, because whatever I got involved with, I gave 100%.”
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