By Norm Frauenheim

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been more CEO than TBE from the moment he took the initiative and approached Manny Pacquiao at a Miami Heat game in the move that led to the deal for their May 2 fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand.

He’s effective in the CEO role. Likable, too. His exchanges with the media are crisp, forthright and polite. The understated manner is a hint at the calculated, precise tactician he will be at opening bell for what is sure to be the richest fight ever.

He has repeatedly referred to the long-awaited showdown with Pacquiao as just another fight. A job, he calls it.

“I know it’s the biggest fight in boxing history, but I can’t approach it like that,” Mayweather said Wednesday during a conference call. “I’m never going to put any unnecessary pressure on myself.’’

Cool, that makes sense.

Simplicity is an art necessary to any successful battle plan. But here’s the question: Why TBE? Why now?

Mayweather has called himself The Best Ever for a long time, but the claim has been restricted to the TBE acronym seen so often on caps and T-shirts. But now he has decided to re-exert his claim on being history’s best, first in an interview with ESPN’s Stephen A Smith and again Wednesday in a call with reporters from across world.

His comments Wednesday weren’t quite as strong as they were to ESPN. He told Smith he was better than Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, who is No. 1 in most all-time pound-for-pound ratings. On Wednesday he was asked only about Ali and he talked only about Ali.

“He called himself The Greatest and I call myself TBE,” Mayweather said. “I’m pretty sure I’ll get criticized for what I said, but I could care less. I could care less about the backlash.”

The mystery is why Mayweather would invite the inevitable backlash within a couple of weeks of a fight that, more than any other, will define his place alongside Ali, Robinson and those he didn’t mention. With apologies to all of the legends not mentioned, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Joe Louis and Julio Cesar Chavez belong in the argument, too.

History didn’t have to be part of the job description, at least not in the way the CEO in Mayweather defined it. But the TBE in him put it there without apology. It also put him at risk of the unnecessary pressure he seeks to avoid.

Perhaps, Mayweather will prove he is as good at making history as he is at making money. Maybe, he knocks out Pacquiao. Maybe, he gets up from a knockdown to score a dramatic victory. Maybe, maybe. But maybe it goes the other way. Maybe, TBE will come to mean Pacquiao.

Most of the pressure is already on Mayweather. He’ll get 60 percent of record-setting revenue, which for him figures to be anywhere from $80 million to a $180 million. He’s also undefeated, which over the years has generated a lot of amateur psychoanalysis. The 0 in that 47-0 record has become a symbol of what motivates Mayweather. The theory is that he protects it at all costs. It’s become his identity.

A loss, former heavyweight champ George Foreman said Thursday in a conference call, “could devastate him as a boxer — not as a man, but as a boxer. He might have to go out in the country somewhere if he lost.’’

Foreman suffered his first loss to Ali in Zaire. He was 40-0 before Ali beat him in The Rumble In The Jungle in 1974. It was a loss that altered the way Foreman looked at himself. It was 15 months before he could step through the ropes again.

“I’m the one guy who knows what it’s like to be undefeated going into a fight like that and to be knocked off that pedestal,” said Foreman, who will appear Saturday night in HBO’s “Mayweather/Pacquiao: The Legends Speak.’’

Ali had already endured defeat. He understood it. Learned from it. Came back from it. In a sport defined by adversity, defeat can forge newfound strength. At 57-5, Pacquiao has experienced it. Mayweather has not.

“Pacquiao has it a little better,’’ said Foreman, who picks the Filipino to win a narrow decision. “He is already picked as the underdog. There’s not a whole lot of pressure on him.

“But when you have never lost before in a fight of this magnitude, there’s so much pressure on you, more pressure than you have ever had before, more pressure than on any other athlete right now.’’

Too much pressure? The CEO says no. But TBE? Proof of Mayweather’s bold claim is still waiting To Be Evaluated on May 2.

· SportsCenter, First Take, SportsNation, ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Sirius XM’s Stephen A. Smith Show, ESPN Radio LA710 Max & Marcellus in Las Vegas

· Coverage from Las Vegas on ESPN Deportes’ News and Information Platforms, Semana de Campeones

· “All-Access” Specials

· Special Thursday edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights, Noche de Combates

· Pre- and post-fight Analysis, Stories on ESPN.com, ESPN Deportes.com, ESPN The Magazine

MicESPN will present extensive pre- and post-fight coverage across its platforms in English and Spanish of the much- anticipated 12-round welterweight unification title fight between undefeated five-division world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) and eight-division world champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs). ESPN’s week-long coverage will begin with SportsCenter live from Las Vegas this Sunday, April 26, at 11 p.m. ET, and culminate with live post-fight coverage and reactions immediately following the bout. In addition, ESPN International will present coverage across its networks in Latin America, Brazil, the Caribbean and Pacific Rim and globally on ESPN.com and other digital media platforms. The fight, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will take place on Saturday, May 2.

Highlights:

Television

SportsCenter
ESPN’s Hannah Storm, Lindsay Czarniak, Stan Verrett, Neil Everett, Steve Levy, Jay Harris, Max Bretos, Robert Flores, and Joe Tessitore will anchor live coverage from Las Vegas throughout fight week, while ESPN boxing analysts Teddy Atlas and Dan Rafael will provide expert insights and analyses. Hall of Fame referee and ESPN analyst Joe Cortez, PTI co-host Michael Wilbon, First Take’s Stephen A. Smith, SportsCenter anchor Kenny Mayne, SportsCenter fan correspondent Reese Waters, ESPN NBA analysts Tim Legler and Chauncey Billups will also contribute to coverage. Reporters Josina Anderson, Bernardo Osuna, and Jeremy Schaap will be on site providing live reports with Osuna covering Pacquiao’s camp and Schaap covering Mayweather’s camp. Additionally, former world champion Bernard Hopkins will serve as a special guest analyst. Celebrity guests will also join SportsCenter throughout the week to pick their winner between Mayweather and Pacquiao.

SportsCenter will originate from various locations, including Drai’s Beach Club, the MGM Grand main pool, MGM Grand Garden Arena, MGM Grand Theatre and MGM Grand Media Tent for pre and post-fight coverage. As part of the “SportsCenter on the Road” initiative, live shows will also come via the “SportsCenter on the Road” bus at the Caesars Palace pool, and Mandalay Bay wave beach pool. The actual boxing ring where Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes fought on October 2, 1980 will be used as part of SportsCenter’s set at the Caesars Palace pool with the SportsCenter desk inside the ring.

SportsCenter throughout the week will include:
· “All-access” pieces with both fighters;

· Taped boxing demonstrations with Atlas, in which he demonstrates what each fighter needs to do to win;

· Taped “Inside the Ring” demonstrations with Cortez. Cortez will provide demonstrations from the referee’s perspective.

· Roundtable discussions including various guests.

SportsCenter Specials will include:
· SportsCenter Special Mayweather-Pacquiao presented by Cricket Wireless- A preview show covering the arrival of Pacquiao and his caravan (Monday, April 27, 8 p.m., ESPN2);

· SportsCenter Special Mayweather-Pacquiao presented by Cricket Wireless – A preview show covering the fighters Grand Arrivals (Tuesday, April 28, 8 p.m., ESPN);

· SportsCenter Special–Mayweather-Pacquiao Press Conference presented by Cricket Wireless live (Wednesday, April 29, 4 p.m., ESPN);

· SportsCenter Special–Mayweather-Pacquiao Weigh-In presented by Cricket Wireless live (Friday, May 1, 5 p.m., ESPN2);

· SportsCenter Special–Mayweather/Pacquiao Red Carpet presented by Cricket Wireless live (Saturday, May 2, 8 p.m., ESPN);

· SportsCenter Special–Mayweather/Pacquiao post-match presented by Cricket Wireless live (Saturday, May 2, approx. 12 a.m., ESPN).

#MayweatherWins and #PacquiaoWins
The @SportsCenter Twitter handle will conduct a week-long vote using the hashtags #MayweatherWins and #PacquiaoWins. The winner of the fight, as voted on by the fans, will be revealed late in the week on SportsCenter with a special performance from KÀ by Cirque du Soleil.

Outside the Lines
The April 24 edition of Outside the Lines (2 p.m., ESPN) will feature a story detailing Mayweather’s history with domestic violence and the reaction through the years by boxing officials.

All-Access Specials
· Mayweather: Behind the Scenes: A 30-minute show created from the seven-plus hours that ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith spent with Mayweather at his home that gives viewers access to Mayweather’s training camp.

Wednesday, April 29—ESPN2
8 p.m. – Mayweather: Behind the Scenes

Thursday, April 30—ESPN2
8:30 p.m. – Mayweather: Behind the Scenes

Saturday, May 2—ESPN2
6:30 a.m. – Mayweather: Behind the Scenes

8 a.m. – Mayweather: Behind the Scenes
10 a.m. – Mayweather: Behind the Scenes

Saturday, May 2—ABC
4 p.m. Mayweather: Behind the Scenes

· Inside Mayweather/Pacquaio: Three, 30-minute SHOWTIME produced shows will air on ESPN2 throughout fight week.

Wednesday, April 29—ESPN2
8:30 p.m. – Inside Mayweather/Pacquiao (Episode #1)
9 p.m. – Inside Mayweather/Pacquiao (Episode #2)

Thursday, April 30—ESPN2
8 p.m. – Inside Mayweather/Pacquiao (Episode #3)

Saturday, May 2—ESPN2
8:30 a.m. – Inside Mayweather/Pacquiao (Episodes #1 through #3)
10:30 a.m. – Inside Mayweather/Pacquiao (Episodes #1 through #3)

First Take
ESPN2’s two-hour weekday morning live debate show, First Take (10 a.m-12 p.m.) will emanate poolside from the MGM Grand Wednesday—Friday. Host Cari Champion, and featured commentators Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless will debate Mayweather-Pacquiao and more. In addition, a First Take Special: Mayweather/Pacquiao show will air in prime time on Wednesday April 29, at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Celebrity guests throughout the week are scheduled to include Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and 50 Cent.

SportsNation
ESPN2’ s SportsNation (weekdays 3-4 p.m.) with Michelle Beadle, Max Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley, will originate poolside from the MGM Grand Wednesday—Friday. The show will welcome celebrity guests and local Vegas acts as well as feature boxing-themed stunts throughout the show.

Special Thursday Edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights and Noche de Combates
Two days before Mayweather-Pacquiao, a special Thursday edition of ESPN Friday Night Fights presented by Corona Extra and Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra will air live April 30, at 9 p.m. on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and via WatchESPN. The show, from the Pearl Theatre at Palms Casino Resort, will be headlined by former world titleholder Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (26-7, 12 KOs) taking on Cecil McCalla (20-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.

Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas will describe the action on ESPN2, while studio host Todd Grisham will be on site providing the latest news on Mayweather-Pacquiao. Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights ringside for Noche de Combates on ESPN Deportes, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will co-anchor the studio on site. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna will provide live interviews and reports for both shows.

ESPN Classic Boxing Marathon

ESPN Classic will present 26 hours of historic boxing matches, including Mayweather’s first professional fight (televised on Friday Night Fights), beginning Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m.

ESPN Deportes
ESPN’s Spanish-language network, ESPN Deportes, will have extensive news and information coverage throughout fight week from Las Vegas on SportsCenter, Nación ESPN, Cronómetro and more. ESPN Deportes’ David Faitelson, Claudia Trejos, Jorge Eduardo Sanchez, Karina Correa, Alba Galindo, Renato Bermudez, Alvaro Morales, Mauricio Pedroza, Bernardo Osuna, Carlos Nava, Julio Cesar Chavez, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Joe Cortez will be on site providing all the latest news, insight and analysis. Shows will all originate from the MGM Grand with satellite components from around Las Vegas. The network is set to offer approximately 80 hours of programming beginning Sunday, April 26.

Show highlights for the week include:
· Semana de Campeones (Week of Champions) shows every night throughout fight week:

o Monday-Wednesday’s one-hour shows will air at 10 p.m. on ESPN Deportes;

o Thursday’s Semana de Campeones telecast (8 p.m., ESPN Deportes) will lead in to the special edition of Noche de Combates (9 p.m. ESPN Deportes);

o Friday’s live, two-hour Semana de Campeones show (5:30 p.m., ESPN Deportes), from the MGM Grand Garden Arena will cover the official weigh-in;

o Saturday’s live, one-hour Semana de Campeones shows, from the Media Center at the MGM Grand Arena, will air prior to the fight (8 p.m., ESPN Deportes) and following the fight ( 2 a.m., ESPN Deportes). Leading up to the pre-show special, live segments and hourly updates will begin at 3 p.m.

Radio

The Herd with Colin Cowherd
ESPN Radio’s The Herd with Colin Cowherd (weekdays, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., ESPN Radio, the ESPN Radio app, espnradio.com, SiriusXM, iTunes Radio, Slacker, TuneIn and simulcast on ESPNU) will broadcast poolside from Mandalay Bay Wednesday-Friday.

The Stephen A. Smith Show and Red Carpet Special with Stephen A. Smith
SirusXM’s The Stephen A. Smith Show (weekdays, 1–3 p.m.)—produced by ESPN—will broadcast live from radio row at the MGM Grand Wednesday—Friday. In addition, Smith will host an afternoon Red Carpet Special that will be broadcast nationally on ESPN Radio from the MGM Grand lobby on Saturday from 12-3 p.m.

Max & Marcellus
ESPN Radio LA710 Max & Marcellus (weekdays 5:45 p.m.–10 p.m./ 2:45 p.m.–7 p.m. PT) with Max Kellerman and Marcellus Wiley will broadcast live from radio row at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Wednesday—Friday.

Digital and Print

ESPN3
Coverage of the press conference on Wednesday, April 29, at 4 p.m., and weigh-in on Friday, May 1, at 6 p.m., will be live on ESPN3 via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 and Xbox One to fans who receive their Internet or video subscription from an affiliated provider.

ESPN.com and ESPNDeportes.com

Highlights:

· Comprehensive coverage, including pre- and post-fight features, videos, blogs and predictions from ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Brian Campbell, Ray Flores, Tim Keown, Brett Okamoto, Darren Rovell, Pablo Torre, Nigel Collins, Rafe Bartholomew, Charles Pierce, Wally Matthews and ESPN Deportes’ Carlos Nava, Salvador Rodriguez, Carlos Narvaez and Joe Cortez;

· “Fight Credential,” ESPN.com’s home page for all Mayweather-Pacquiao coverage, will be updated with features, video, photos and social media from all platforms throughout the week and through the fight.

· Blog dedicated to the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout with contributions from Rafael, Rovell and others;

· Special edition of ESPN.com’s original boxing show Making the Rounds, featuring a combination of ESPN, HBO and SHOWTIME talent;

· Career timelines, which include photo galleries of both Mayweather and Pacquiao;

· Story with opponents who have fought both Mayweather and Pacquiao;

· Live fight coverage, featuring commentary from Rafael, Campbell and Okamoto and Rafael’s unofficial scorecard, on ESPN.com’s “Now” feed;

· Stories highlighting the referee of the fight as well as the judges;

· ESPN Deportes.com dedicated microsite specific to the Mayweather-Pacquiao title bout;

· Daily Mayweather-Pacquiao features on ESPNDeportes.com;

Other highlights include:
· In-depth feature on Pacquiao as an entertainer by Torre;

· A look at the 10 most-anticipated fights in boxing history by Collins;

· Animated gifs, done in “Street Fighter” style, showing possible Mayweather-Pacquiao outcomes.

The Undefeated: Pacquiao vs. Mayweather – Life After Death
Amid the glitz surrounding Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, “The Undefeated” – ESPN’s new site on race, sports and urban culture – critically examines the fight and its place in boxing history. Written by Brando Starkey with reporting by Justin Tinsley, the opinion-forming piece will post on www.espn.com on Tuesday, April 28, a foretaste of the in-depth journalism that will be “The Undefeated’s” calling card.

Highlights:
· Are Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather boxing’s defibrillators, last-gasp instruments trying to shock life into the long-dead sport of boxing?;

· An in-depth examination of why boxing collapsed;

· Boxing began its downfall during the first onslaught of integration – a sport that has always been for the desperate and the poor had its talent pipeline gutted in the early 1970s when mainstream colleges began pervasively recruiting poor black kids to play football and basketball;

· Posits that Pacquiao-Mayweather is another boxing gimmick, no different from 45-year-old Foreman and post-prison Tyson, preying on the nostalgia of fight fans;

· At 36 and 38 years of age, Pacquiao and Mayweather, respectively, are both well past their primes. This is the movie Grudge Match, a marketing blitz, and with neither fighter on the same level as the all-time greats of yesteryears.

ESPN The Magazine
ESPN The Magazine’s “Fight for Perfection” Issue, scheduled to hit newsstands Friday, May 1, features Floyd Mayweather on the cover, accompanied by a profile written by Tim Keown. The third installment of the Keown on Mayweather series in The Mag [following the Money Issue in 2012 and the Fight Issue in 2013], will focus on Mayweather’s controversial “antics.” The feature, slated to run on ESPN.com Wednesday, April 29 also includes an overall preview of his May 2 bout versus Manny Pacquiao. In addition, the issue will provide an all-access photo story of Pacquiao written by The Mag’s Pablo Torre.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 23, 2015) – Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero CONGRESSMAN MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO made another memorable guest shot on Wednesday’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! It was the ninth time Manny had been on Kimmel’s popular late-night talk show — more than any other active fighter — in their series of entertaining appearances together dating back to November 3, 2009 (the week before Manny’s knocked out defending WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for his seventh of eight division world titles).

After being “counseled” by Dr. Phil during Kimmel’s monologue, Manny sat down with the popular talk show host for his interview segment. After discussing Manny’s upcoming eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR., Kimmel lobbied Manny to not only be part of his ring walk entourage, but to sing the reigning two-time WBO welterweight world champion’s recently-recorded song “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino” (“I Will Fight For The Filipino.”) Manny, who directed the music video, also recorded the song — which is taking the world by storm — for his ring entrance. While Manny pondered the request Kimmel gave the champ an impromptu audition that either sealed or killed the deal, depending on your perspective. Manny even joined in for a duet. Finally, to sweeten the deal, Kimmel offered to fight Justin Bieber! It should be noted that Manny has never lost a fight when he has sung during a pre-fight appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! – something that has been dutifully noted by the Nevada sports books which have seen more and more money wagered on a Manny victory since last night’s show.

The following links will take you to Manny’s segments from last night’s episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel’s debut singing of “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino” and Manny’s self-directed music video:

· Dr. Phil Counsels Manny https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N-hb7Ix8dk
· Kimmel Asks to Be in Manny’s Entourage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKv_0PdBIXY
· Kimmel Sings “Lalaban Ako Para Sa Pilipino” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WdyJT0hd0k
· Manny’s Music Video http://youtu.be/uR-3_EwKT2k

******************

Manny’s debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! unveiled his singing chops, where he belted out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch.” Manny and Hill collaborated on a remake which also became a hit. Subsequent appearances featured Pacquiao singing duets with Kimmel and Will Ferrell, and an uproarious send-up of HBO Sports’ “24/7” reality franchise, starring Pacquiao and Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. (This link will take you to Manny’s surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the March 11 Los Angeles press conference that announced the “Fight of the Century” between Manny and Mayweather. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ft5j-zZzw&feature=youtu.be.)

That 2009 appearance also marked Manny’s U.S. network TV debut, which has since led to a multitude of network television, radio and magazine features for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, including, CBS’ 60 Minutes, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, ABC’s Nightline, FOX News Channel’s On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, CNN’s America Morning, NPR’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, Rollingstone, New York, The New Yorker, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and cover stories in TIME and Newsweek.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is in deep training for the eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated Mayweather(47-0, 26 KOs), a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., who now fight out of Las Vegas, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

# # #

For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 22, 2015) – Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero CONGRESSMAN MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO will make yet another guest shot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tonight! Wednesday, April 22, on ABC, beginning at 11:35 P.M. ET / 10:35 P.M. CT. This will mark the ninth time Pacquiao has appeared on Kimmel’s popular late-night talk show — more than any other active fighter — in their series of entertaining appearances together dating back to November 3, 2009 (the week before Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto). It was on that night that Pacquiao unveiled his singing chops, belting out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch.” Manny and Hill collaborated on a remake which also became a hit. Subsequent appearances featured Pacquiao singing duets with Kimmel and Will Ferrell, and an uproarious send-up of HBO Sports’ “24/7” reality franchise, starring Pacquiao and Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. (This link will take you to Manny’s surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the March 11 Los Angeles press conference that announced the “Fight of the Century” between Manny and Floyd Mayweather Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ft5j-zZzw&feature=youtu.be.)

That 2009 appearance also marked Manny’s U.S. network TV debut, which has since led to a multitude of network television, radio and magazine features for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, including, CBS’ 60 Minutes, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, ABC’s Nightline, FOX News Channel’s On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, CNN’s America Morning, NPR’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, Rollingstone, New York magazine, The New Yorker, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and cover stories in TIME and Newsweek.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is in deep training for the eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

# # #

For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 17, 2015) – Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero CONGRESSMAN MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO will make yet another guest shot on Jimmy Kimmel Live! This Wednesday! April 22, on ABC, beginning at 11:35 P.M. ET / 10:35 P.M. CT. This will mark the ninth time Pacquiao has appeared on Kimmel’s popular late-night talk show — more than any other active fighter — in their series of entertaining appearances together dating back to November 3, 2009 (the week before Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto). It was on that night that Pacquiao unveiled his singing chops, belting out a rendition of the Dan Hill-penned hit ballad “Sometimes When We Touch.” Manny and Hill collaborated on a remake which also became a hit. Subsequent appearances featured Pacquiao singing duets with Kimmel and Will Ferrell, and an uproarious send-up of HBO Sports’ “24/7” reality franchise, starring Pacquiao and Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. (This link will take you to Manny’s surprise appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! following the March 11 Los Angeles press conference that announced the “Fight of the Century” between Manny and Floyd Mayweather Jr. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79ft5j-zZzw&feature=youtu.be.)

That 2009 appearance also marked Manny’s U.S. network TV debut, which has since led to a multitude of network television, radio and magazine features for the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight world champion, including, CBS’ 60 Minutes, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight, ABC’s Nightline, FOX News Channel’s On The Record With Greta Van Susteren, CNN’s America Morning, NPR’s Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, Rollingstone, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, Playboy, Sports Illustrated, ESPN The Magazine and cover stories in TIME and Newsweek.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), the lone congressional representative of the Sarangani province in the Philippines, is in deep training for the eagerly-anticipated May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

# # #

For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 16, 2015) – It was Manny Media Mania at Wednesday’s media workout for Fighter of the Decade, eight-division world champion and boxing superhero Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO. Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), who represents the Sarangani province in the Philippines, hosted a Hollywood Media Workout with his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and Hall of Promoter Bob Arum.

Over 300 media from around the globe flocked to Wild Card Boxing Club to ask the trio about Pacquiao’s May 2 welterweight world championship unification battle against undefeated FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER JR. (47-0, 26 KOs), at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

What Pacquiao, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said Wednesday:

MANNY PACQUIAO, Eight-Division World Champion

“I feel very excited for the fight.

“I have a lot of sparring partners that are similar to Floyd’s fighting style, we have done well. We know what to expect.

“I have watched tape on Floyd to make sure that our strategy and technique in training camp is correct.

“My entire career defines my legacy; I have already accomplished great achievements in my career while excelling in different weight divisions. This fight is an additional achievement in my career; it’s the biggest fight in boxing history.

“I can say that beating Floyd would be the biggest victory of my career.

“More people are interested and informed about this fight now than they would’ve been five years ago.

“Style wise, I am the same fighter I was five years ago. My determination, inspiration and killer instinct is the exact same as it was five or six years ago.

“For me, boxing is my passion. I enjoy boxing and giving honor to my country of the Philippines. My concern is to bring an exciting fight to my fans. My first concern going into every fight is how will be to be able to entertain my fans, give them enjoyment and make them happy.

“The reason I am so loved by fans is because of my reckless style of fighting. People like exciting fights with actual punches being thrown.”

BOB ARUM, Top Rank CEO

“Manny is motivated, he’s ready for the fight. I expect a great performance from him.

“It’s a very interesting fight because Floyd is a defensive specialist who has a good right hand and picks off his opponents. He’s an extraordinarily good fighter.

“Pacquiao’s strength is speed, particularly his foot speed and the fact that he throws so many punches and attacks from low angles. He really hits harder than Floyd does, so that’s really what it’s going to be about.

“Floyd has a different defense than Juan Manuel Marquez. His defense is primarily his shoulder roll. A lot of his defense is geared against a right handed fighter. With that said, I think Manny is going to surprise a lot of people with how he is going to be able to reach Floyd.

“I would say Manny is more motivated for this fight than any other fight I’ve seen him prepare for.

“I’m looking forward to May 2. I love Manny’s chances of winning, that’s the main thing. He looks great, he’s motivated, no nonsense, and I think he’s going to put on a performance for the ages. It’s going to be hard for him to top his performance against Oscar De La Hoya, but I think he will in this fight.”

FREDDIE ROACH, Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame Trainer

“We have a great idea of when and where we are going to attack Mayweather.

“This fight was five years in the making. Promoters should realize that these types of fights are what’s best for boxing and we should have more fights like this. I’m not surprised by the hype surrounding the fight.

“Manny has really raised the bar in this training camp. He’s a different Manny Pacquiao than I have seen him going into previous training camps. He is punching so much harder in training for this camp.

“Manny is better than ever, his attitude is different and I’ve never seen him work this hard. His speed is faster, his punches are harder. I’m really happy where he’s at. His legs look great; he’s on his toes all the time.

“Mayweather is a good counter-puncher, but Manny has faster hands and his combinations are better than Floyd’s.

“Both fighters have great experience, so I don’t believe that will be a factor in the fight. The biggest thing is that each fighter comes in with a different style. Floyd is a counter-puncher but Manny must be the one to enforce the fight.

“I believe that Manny being a southpaw will be a factor in this fight. Manny showed me tape of Floyd fighting a southpaw and told me that that is exactly what we are going to do in this fight.

“I can tell how much this fight means to Manny because he has watched tape on Floyd. Manny has never watched tape on any fighter before.

“Since Manny moved to 147 he hasn’t knocked many guys out, so getting the knockout in this fight isn’t a concern for me. If Manny fights at 140, then he does knock guys out, but at this weight he is fighting guys who are bigger than him.

“Floyd may be a bigger guy, but we will still win the fight.

“This fight is much bigger than when Manny fought Oscar De La Hoya. Manny is a different person going into this fight. He hit me so hard the other day that I believe it’s the hardest I’ve ever been hit by a fighter who I’m training.

“I don’t believe that Floyd ever wanted this fight, he was forced to take it by the public and the media. I wouldn’t be surprised if Floyd pulled out now.”

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For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.SHO.com/Sports,www.hbo.com/boxing and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @SHOSports, @HBOboxing and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOsports andwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

LAS VEGAS – (April 15, 2015) – More than 200 accredited press members from around the world descended upon Mayweather Boxing Club for Tuesday’s Floyd Mayweather Media Day. It was the 11-time world champion Mayweather’s first and only open training session before his welterweight world championship unification mega-showdown against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on pay-per-view.

Superstars Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) and Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/ 6:00 p.m. PT.

Several dozen television camera crews, newspaper columnists, boxing writers, radio broadcasters, web reporters, photographers and (video) bloggers watched as Mayweather went through the paces during a 90-plus minute workout that included working the heavy bag, smacking the speed bag, hitting the mitts, jumping rope, stretching and doing calisthenics.

Before a training session streamed in high definition across multiple platforms, including via satellite feed, YouTube and social media, Mayweather answered questions from the media inside a specially-constructed tent in a parking lot outside the gym.

What Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. and unbeaten WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz, who will fight in the top pay-per-view undercard bout on May 2, said Tuesday:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER, 11-Time World Champion

“My training camp is basically running the same way. I think it has been smoother than others. I feel very comfortable and happy with my performances. They push me hard at camp. They know what I need.

“The timing for this fight is right. This fight is about legacy, fans and family. I surround myself with all of the right people.

“I can’t say that this matchup is about hype. This is real life. This is two future Hall of Famers in a mega-fight.

“I’ve done record breaking numbers before and it looks like we’re going to do it again.

“Everything in life is about timing. I have no regrets that this fight didn’t take place five years ago. I didn’t think it was that big then, but it continued to get bigger and bigger. Not just in boxing, but outside of the sport. Pacquiao has continued to grow outside of the sport. We didn’t need to rush anything.

“This is going to be an exciting fight. Our styles are totally different. He is very, very reckless. Every move I make is calculated. I’m always 5-10 steps ahead of my opponent.

“We’ll see what happens when the fight starts. But when all is said and done I’m going to be the winner.

“Pacquiao is strong and solid but I don’t know if he can make adjustments like I can. I feel tremendous.

“This was a difficult fight to make happen, but we made it happen. This fight is one of the biggest ever in boxing.

“I’m still going strong. The last time I looked, I was 47 and 0.

“Anyone can get hit with a great shot, but I can make more adjustments and Manny can’t.

“I don’t think Pacquiao expected me to look as strong or big when we faced off (at the L.A. press conference).

“I walk around at 150-152 pounds to weigh 147 pounds. Other boxers weigh around 160-170 before coming down.

“I’ve got one more fight on my contract. I couldn’t be happier with SHOWTIME and CBS.

“Las Vegas is the boxing capital. During a Floyd Mayweather fight weekend, you can shop, party, stay out late and do anything you want. The city of Las Vegas has everything.

“There were offers to fight other places, but MGM Grand is my home.

“Anything I’ve asked of MGM Grand, they’ve done for me in a heartbeat. They’re all about making entertainers and athletes happy.”

LEO SANTA CRUZ, WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to fight on such an unbelievably huge card. I really want to thank Floyd Mayweather.

“Any boxer would like to be on this card where millions of people are watching. I’m happy to represent Mexico on this night and on this fight card.

“I look at it as a key opportunity for me to make an even bigger name for myself, which is my goal because one day I want to become a superstar like Floyd. That’s why I train really hard all of the time.

“There are no little fights for me. I consider every fighter dangerous. You lose when you think a fighter is not on your level and then he comes in hungrier than you. That will never happen to me.

“I don’t know who I’m fighting yet, but I’m sparring different guys with different styles.

“There’s always a lot at risk for me. People keep talking about all of these big fights, but if I don’t win now, there will be no big fights in the future.

“I know who I want to fight, but I don’t pick my opponents; I leave it up to my team. They make those kinds of decisions. My job is to fight and win.

“I have to stay concentrated. I have to maintain focus and concentration. I can’t get ahead of myself. I give 100 percent in training and in the ring. I always want to put on a great fight for the fans.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“Boxing is at an all time high at the moment. There are a lot of great things going on. Between this fight and getting boxing back on network television, it’s all great for the sport.

“This fight will not only elevate the sport in general, but it will bring in the casual fan to the sport and that’s a great thing.

“The impact that Floyd Mayweather has had on this sport is immeasurable. People won’t be able to appreciate that until he retires. He’s done so much for this sport. He’s given fighters a platform to say to other promoters that they deserve the lion’s share of the money. He’s brought more sponsorships to the sport.

“Floyd Mayweather is the highest paid athlete in all of sports and he happens to be a boxer.

“I think the demand thus far only indicates how big this event is. This is a fight that’s been talked about for five years now and everyone is going to get exactly what they’ve been asking for.

“Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter. He’s been in a number of great fights and he’s had a terrific career thus far. These are the two best fighters of this generation and come May 2 there will be one man standing and it will be Floyd Mayweather.

“There’s no doubt it’s going to be a great fight. I’m really excited. I can see firsthand the day-to-day preparation that Floyd puts in and he’s working just as hard as ever. The fans are going to get a great fight that night.

“I don’t know what Manny Pacquiao has to do on May 2, but I know what Floyd Mayweather has to do. He has to do what he normally does and go in there and execute his game plan and I really expect Floyd to knock him out.”

FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR., Mayweather’s Trainer & Father

“Floyd is as well rounded a fighter as there has ever been, but he’s really still here because of his defense.

“Other guys fight with their head and their mind and come up short. It’s his great defense that has kept him on top for so long.

“I want you all to see it. It’s so plain and simple what he’s going to do. Even Ray Charles could see it.

“I honestly never thought that this was going to happen. So many people were trying to say Floyd was scared. Lets see on May 2 who is scared.

“I can’t tell you why or how, but here’s an update, Floyd is going to kick his a** and knock Pacquiao out.

“I didn’t watch one tape on Pacquiao. There is no reason to study him. He’s not at this level.

“Floyd is the best, I must confess. Nothing is going to stop Floyd Mayweather.

“Pacquiao’s trainer Coach Roach (Freddie Roach) is lying to you. Trying to trick you all. Floyd’s not getting knocked down in the gym. Floyd is the one knocking people down. Roach blows smoke with no hope.“
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For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.SHO.com/Sports,www.hbo.com/boxing and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @SHOSports, @HBOboxing and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/SHOsports andwww.facebook.com/HBOBoxing.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank

By Norm Frauenheim–

LAS VEGAS — On a day when powerful winds kicked up clouds of dust that obscured The Strip’s skyline like a dirty fog, only one thing was predictable:

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was late.

Everything else, especially Mayweather, was unexpectedly low-key Tuesday. Maybe, that shouldn’t qualify as a surprise. What else can possibly be said about his long-awaited fight with Manny Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand.

A crowd that stood in a parking lot outside of his gym in a strip mall summed it up. David Hasselhoff posed for photos. Every high-end car or stretch limo had people standing on chairs, garbage cans and scrambling up light poles for a better view of a fighter who was scheduled to appear at his media day.

There was one false alarm after another. Finally, there he was, about 90 minutes late. It didn’t matter. This crowd would have waited through the night and perhaps through a cyclone. Truth is, it has been waiting for him to fight Pacquiao for about five years now. What’s a little bit of lost sleep and dust in the wind?

“Everything in life is about timing,’’ Mayweather said in a tent that rattled around in a storm that blew across the Nevada desert. “I don’t regret anything. The timing is right. Before I wasn’t as big. But I’ve been getting bigger and bigger and not just inside the sport of boxing.’’

The potential adds up to something bigger than ever. Mayweather’s minimum is $100 million. Pacquiao is guaranteed $60 million. Since the welterweight bout was announced on Feb. 20, projections have multiplied at an astonishing rate. Now, there’s a chance that Mayweather could collect $180 million and Pacquiao $100 million.

Let the numbers do the bragging. Mayweather doesn’t have to.

He teased Pacquiao, but never said anything remotely offensive or even outrageous. When asked if he was surprised at how much bigger he was than Pacquiao when he stood next to the 5-foot-6 ½ Filipino at a news conference in Los Angeles, the 5-8 Mayweather smiled and said:

Nah,’’ he said. “He wears a lift in his shoes, so he looks a little taller than he really is.’’

He also said that this one fight would not define him or his legacy, which he believes will improve to 48-0.

“It’s just one fight for me,’’ Mayweather said. “If just this one fight defines my legacy, I wouldn’t have had to fight all of those other fights.’’

Mayweather also said he did not believe that the Pacquiao fight will be remembered mostly for his masterful defensive skill.

“When it is said and done, when the book is written, they won’t say Floyd Mayweather was a defensive wizard,’’ he said. “They’ll say he was a winner.’’

Still a winner at 38 years old, he said, because the natural counter-puncher fights with a different style than the aggressive Pacquiao.

“He’s a very, very reckless fighter,’’ Mayweather said. “I can’t say for sure, but I probably wouldn’t have lasted this long if I had been as reckless as him.’’

NOTES: There still was no official word Tuesday on how much tickets will cost before most of them wind up on the secondary market at an inflated price. But Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe promised that the news is forthcoming. “This week, this week,’’ Ellerbe said. …The Nevada State Athletic Commission is expected to announce the referee and judges at a scheduled meeting next Tuesday. …Junior-featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz worked out for the media at Mayweather’s gym Tuesday. Santa Cruz is on the PPV portion of the undercard. But his opponent has yet to be determined. Whoever it is, Santa Cruz promised to be ready for what he hopes is a steppingstone for a showdown with Abner Mares.

HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. (April 7, 2015) – SACRÉ BLEU! We have all heard of France’s New Wave style of filmmaking but has FLOYD “Money” MAYWEATHER decided to incorporate New Wave training into his preparations for his battle against Fighter of the Decade Congressman MANNY “Pacman” PACQUIAO or is he just a fish out of water? Their welterweight world championship unification battle takes place Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

By the looks of the footage Mayweather posted on his Instagram account http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/boxing/9793142/floyd-hits-the-pool it seems like the undefeated reigning welterweight and super welterweight world champion is underwater from the pressure of his impending battle with the man he has finally been forced to fight — eight division world champion and boxing superhero Pacquiao!

“Sounds like we should start calling him Floyd “Flipper” Mayweather,” said Hall of Famer and seven-time Trainer of the Year World-Famous Freddie Roach. “Team Mayweather would be wise to add a lifeguard to their corner on fight night because Manny is taking ‘Mr. 47 and 1’ into deep water. Swimming lessons or whatever he thinks he is doing will not help him survive the shark-infested waters he will be entering on May 2. I’m betting his little buddy Justin Bieber will be walking him into the ring singing this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEOeTX1LqM.”

Promoted by Mayweather Promotions and Top Rank Inc., the Mayweather-Pacquiao live pay-per-view telecast will be co-produced and co-distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.

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For more information visit: www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.toprank.com, www.hbo.com/boxing, www.SHO.com/Sports, and www.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @MannyPacquiao, @mayweatherpromo, @TRBoxing, @HBOboxing, @SHOSports, and @Swanson_Comm, and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather, www.facebook.com/TopRankMannyPacquiao www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions, www.facebook.com/TRBoxing, www.facebook.com/HBOBoxing and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

April 2, 2015 –Fight fans captivated by the fast-approaching welterweight unification title fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao can enjoy a revealing look at Pacquiao’s brilliant ring career when HBO Sports presents three of his all-time classic bouts back-to-back.

On Friday, April 17 at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT) and Saturday, April 18 at 8:15 a.m. (ET/PT), HBO2 will replay Pacquiao vs. Bradley II 2014, Pacquiao vs. Cotto 2009 and Pacquiao vs. De La Hoya 2008 back-to-back.

In the bright spotlight of Las Vegas on April 12, 2014, Manny Pacquiao avenged a controversial loss with a dominating performance over then undefeated Timothy Bradley Jr. in their championship title rematch.

Pacquiao’s reputation as slugger was solidified on November 14, 2009 with a resounding 12th round TKO triumph over Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Rounding out the three-hour Manny fight marathon will be Pacquiao’s signature triumph over Oscar de la Hoya on Dec. 5, 2008 that catapulted the young prizefighter from the Philippines into a superstar personality. The fight was halted in the 8th round as Pacquiao’s unrelenting attack dominated the action.

All three fights will also be available 24 hours a day to HBO On Demand® and HBO GO® subscribers beginning Monday, April 20.

The Mayweather vs. Pacquiao mega-fight takes place Saturday, May 2 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on pay-per-view beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT.

Photos by Chris Farina / Top Rank