For Floyd Mayweather Jr., money counts as much as anything - Los Angeles Times
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For Floyd Mayweather Jr., money counts as much as anything

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. motions to the crowd during an arrival ceremony on Tuesday.
Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. motions to the crowd during an arrival ceremony on Tuesday.
(John Locher / AP)
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Two of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s favorite possessions are his cash and the zero on his won-loss record.

With Saturday’s fight against Manny Pacquiao looming to boost his bank account and threaten his unbeaten standing, Mayweather said Tuesday he prizes one more than the other.

“At the end of the day, my daughter can’t eat no zero — she can’t spend a boxing record,” Mayweather said following his lavish arrival inside the fight’s venue, MGM Grand Garden Arena, with his Mercedes van led in by the Southern University marching band.

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“The great thing about my career is that I’m a smart businessman. Let’s talk about that. Nineteen years, no punishment on the body, hundreds of millions. ... She can eat with the money.”

Mayweather (47-0, 26 knockouts) said he expects to earn “upwards of $200 million,” in the pay-per-view bout that is expected to shatter boxing revenue records.

“Five years ago, this was a $50-million fight for me,” Mayweather said. “I want you guys to say Floyd is the smart one.”

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He said his associates reported that he’d made $11 million within the past 48 hours, declining to specify how, although the fighter was given hundreds of tickets for the fight. Tickets have reportedly been sold for as much as $130,000 apiece on the secondary market.

In a reflective, extended discussion with reporters, Mayweather touched on multiple issues, from his pursuit of an undefeated career, some chiding of Pacquiao and even another unfortunate reference to the mother of three of his four children.

He said he plans to give $50 million apiece to three of his children after this fight, but said he misses them while they’re under the custody of their mother, Josie Harris. Mayweather’s domestic violence against Harris led to him being jailed for nearly three months in 2012.

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“It’s been bothering me a lot that, three of them, I haven’t been able to see. You know how women are sometimes,” Mayweather said.

As for the fight, Mayweather said he’s unsure what Pacquiao’s fight plan will be, but he is confident he can handle it.

“Every [opponent’s] game plan is to come forward and throw a lot of punches. ... It hasn’t worked in [18] years, 47 fights … but if that’s the game plan, we’ll have to see how it breaks down,” Mayweather said.

Some of his confidence, he said, comes from the fact Pacquiao was knocked out in 2012 by Juan Manuel Marquez, the same man Mayweather dominated by unanimous decision in 2009.

“I truly believe I’m a more calculated, a smarter fighter,” Mayweather said. “He would be a better fighter if he wasn’t so reckless. He’s won fights being reckless, but you can be reckless and get knocked out. And getting knocked out in a harsh way can affect you in the long run.

“The great thing about my career — people have criticized me about being a defensive fighter — but last night when I was at home sitting with my mother and daughter, I thought to myself, ‘I’m proud of myself. To be in a sport for 19 years, the main thing is I’m going to be able to get out of the sport and still be sharp, have a sharp mind.’

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“I wasn’t involved in a lot of wars. Wars are wear and tear on your body. To still be sharp, to have all my faculties, to make sure my children’s children are secure, that’s what’s important.”

He said he plans to fight again in September, even though his contract with Showtime gives him the flexibility to also retire after this most lucrative bout of his career.

“I’m loyal, a man of my word,” Mayweather said.

If he wins both remaining bouts, he’ll match the late former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0.

“Two fights left. Rocky Marciano’s a hell of his fighter in his era … legendary champions paved the way for me,” he said. “Right now I’m TBE [The Best Ever] and before and after the fight I’ll still be TBE. One fight don’t define my career, it don’t make me.”

People, Mayweather maintains, will remember his body of work and opinionated style.

“I’m glad I was outspoken, flashy, but now I’m close to that big 4-0 — very close — so I look at things totally different,” Mayweather said. “I don’t have to come in here and bash Manny Pacquiao.

“I know what I can do.”

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