Mayweather:The British are coming to see me

FOXSports.com: A lot's been said about the large amount of English fans who are going to be in town to root for Ricky. Is that something you think about at all?

FM: I kind of tend to disagree with you on that. I think he's a very popular fighter in the UK. He's probably in the top two of their popularity. There's one thing I can say about the fans in the UK: They're very knowledgeable boxing fans. I will give them props for that. They're very, very knowledgeable. So they know what their hometown guy can bring to the table. They know that this is by far, by far the biggest thing he's been even remotely close to. And they know that it's a dream come true for him to even share the ring with me. They understand that. They know what I'm bringing to the table.
With all that being said and done, with all the fans he's bringing with him to Las Vegas, they're actually coming to see me. And this is why. If you want the facts, I can give you the facts. He's never sold out a fight before in the U.S. He's at his highest point, his peak in popularity right now. Wouldn't you agree?

FOXSports.com: Sure.

FM: So his last three fights have been in the U.S., and not one of those three fights has remotely come close to selling out. So you have to ask yourself as a fan, "If Ricky Hatton's fights have never sold out before, why in the hell did this fight sell out in 30 minutes?" And he's fought no one near the level of competition of myself. So if his fans have had unlimited access to tickets for his previous three fights in the United States, and they didn't come close to selling out, why the hell did this fight sell out so fast?
I can only give you the facts, though. In actuality, they're coming to see me. They're coming to see the best in the sport do what I do, and they feel honored that I'm giving him an opportunity to share the ring with me. And that's really what it's about, giving the guy an opportunity.

FOXSports.com: So if you win this fight on Saturday —

FM: WHEN I win this fight.

FOXSports.com: Sorry. WHEN you win the fight on Saturday, what do you feel you'll have left to prove in your career?

FM: I don't have nothin' else to prove. My legacy's already cemented.

FOXSports.com: So what do you think that legacy is?

FM: I'll be 39-0, 25 knockouts, six-time world champion, five different weight classes, under nine years, and remaining undefeated. Fought the best of my era, dominated my opposition...
And then, when my career's all said and done, whenever that might be, the fans will be able to judge and see what my place in history is. I don't gotta tell people, "Oh, I'm the best in the business." I'm universally recognized as that. They know. They know.
FOXSports.com: What do you see happening after this fight for yourself?


FM: I have no idea. I'm not thinking about anything other than destroying this guy on the 8th.

FOXSports.com: What do you think viewers should expect to see on Dec. 8?

FM: I think you'll see a very, very exciting, entertaining fight, for as long as it lasts. I know he's going to come out and lay it on the line because he's not going to want to let his country down. But he's bitten off way more than he can chew. I will be able to go out and show him, from Round 1, that he's not on my level. And no matter how hard he presses and tries, I'll continue to thwart him and to show him why I'm at a different level.
And I'll guarantee you at the post-fight interview, he'll be the first to tell you, "Floyd Mayweather is the best fighter I've ever faced and I see why he's the best. Tonight was his night, and there's no shame to losing to the best fighter in the world." That's what you will hear him say in the post-fight press conference.

 

How come they didn't have commitments for this fight?