Floyd Mayweather brushed off talk of facing Jake Paul and old nemesis Manny Pacquiao at his first press conference for his bout with Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers – and insists he cannot underestimate him despite their gulf in quality.
‘Money’ faced off with the unfancied Brit for the first time in London on Wednesday ahead of their exhibition showdown at the O2 Arena on Saturday but was quick to dismiss suggestions he could be in line for any high-profile fights in the future.
Mayweather – who ended his professional career at 50-0 – has been enjoying a relaxed post-career with straightforward exhibitions against social media stars and martial artists, easily overcoming Deji – the brother of KSI – in Dubai in November.
At a bizarre and chaotic press conference that saw a horde of screaming fans pack out the room, Mayweather said he refused to let his body take any more damage after his storied career.
‘If I was taking brutal punishment I couldn’t do it anymore,’ he said ahead of his first fight in the UK. ‘My career was great because of my defence. My faculties were important to me. I retired from the sport and I didn’t let the sport retire me.
Floyd Mayweather has dismissed suggestions of high-profile fights in the future
‘Money’ faced off with Aaron Chalmers for the first time in London on Wednesday
‘We spoke to Jake Paul before and we can only do an exhibition because of the weight disadvantage. I’m not chasing it anymore. I have accomplished everything I could in boxing. We have so many young fighters in boxing today. Give them a chance to go out there so they can shine. It’s not about Jake Paul, it’s not about Floyd Mayweather. I’m going to entertain the people so support me and my opponent.
On his old enemy Pacquiao, who he overcame via unanimous decision in 2015 in one of the most memorable bouts in recent memory, he said: ‘We had a chance to do it when it really counted, for all the marbles. I was able to go out there and generate crazy numbers. You know what the result was.
‘My focus is Saturday – that’s why I’m here, to entertain people and the United Kingdom. Blood, sweat and tears.’
Given the chaos of his last press conference in the UK against Deji – which saw pandemonium after fans and children stormed into York Hall to catch a glimpse of the superstar – we expected no different here at the Leonardo Royal Hotel.
Mayweather stole the show in typical fashion, referring to himself in the third person at every given opportunity and then leaving the room stunned in silence after requesting that a screaming baby be removed from the room.
When asked what he expected from Chalmers – who has experience as an MMA fighter – he said he couldn’t afford to overlook the Newcastle-born star, but claimed he wouldn’t need quick hand speed or footwork to outsmart his opponent.
‘I want him to believe in his skills, believe in himself. I had my first fight in 1987, everything I ever dreamed about, I was able to do. I went to the Olympics, I fought the best, I was world champion in five different weight classes.
‘I’ve seen everything but you can never overlook a guy or underestimate a guy. He believes in his skills and talent. My job is to entertain and do what I do. I don’t have to have fast hands or feet. The proof is in the pudding.
‘My advice to him is to leave here with skills. He’s rough, tough and got experience in combat, so I’m pretty sure he’ll be at his best. I’ve got so much experience at highest level. I’ve fought at the best events.
Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015 and ended his professional career at 50-0
Former MMA athlete Chalmers (R) will be fighting in the boxing ring for the second time
‘Experience plays a major part. With all these fighters, I want them to give it 100 per cent. We’re here to entertain. The UK has big fight market, it’s huge. I want him to be at his best and give it his all.’
Chalmers – gearing up for arguably the biggest moment of his life – was in a bullish mood and promised to show Mayweather ‘no respect’ in the ring, claiming he was eager to set up future bouts against the likes of Jake Paul and Tommy Fury, who fight in Saudi Arabia this Sunday.
‘I have nothing to lose,’ he told the press conference. I took the fight at five weeks’ notice.
‘Floyd could’ve chose many opponents so thank for the opportunity to come and put on my best performance. I’ve had lots of problems in my personal life, this puts me in the mix for fighters in the YouTube world – the likes of Jake Paul and Tommy Fury.
‘I’m coming to give it everything I can. For however long the fight goes on for, you’ll be getting no respect for me. This is for my future.’
He even took a swipe at Deji – Mayweather’s last opponent – who was stopped in the sixth round in their Dubai bout last year and widely criticised for not stepping up to trouble the American great.
‘I’m not Deji – I’m not a gamer,’ he said. ‘I won’t sit back. I fought in front of 7 or 8,000 people – that’s not as much as what [Mayweather] has fought at but I’ve been in arenas and been booed by fans. This is a chance to put me in a good position
‘I’m not going to give anything away, I’m just excited. We’re here now, it’s been a whirlwind four weeks. I know his jab is unbelievable, can I handle that jab? You’ll find that out on Saturday.
‘I’ve tried to be sharp and fit, I’ve got a nutritionist and there’s no stone unturned when facing Floyd. He’s 46 on Friday, he’s got 10 years on me, so it’s just about being sharp and being in his face. He’s one of the best boxers so I can’t get too carried away and get clipped. If you face the best of all time, the rest should be much easier. This was the offer that came in and I grabbed It with both hands.
Mayweather’s latest outing brings the question many are asking – how long can he keep putting on these exhibitions where we all know what the end result will be?
Jake Paul, Mike Tyson and Pacquiao have prospered from the interest in exhibition bouts
Fans are set to be charged £24.88 on the Zeus platform to watch this fight on PPV – a steep price when no star name will be in Mayweather’s opposite corner.
Mayweather, though, claims he is giving fans excitement as he boasted about his role as a ‘pioneer’ for exhibition bouts – a lucrative business that is now being pounced on by the likes of Logan and Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Pacquiao and even Ricky Hatton.
‘I’m a pioneer of being a boxer,’ he added. ‘I’m an entrepreneur. I’m playing chess in the real world. I’m truly blessed. I can’t take my opponent for granted. It’s entertaining.
‘Everyone knows when Floyd Mayweather wants to change the pace, he can do it. In this exhibition world, I’m the pioneer of this. I’ve taken an MMA guy to boxing, and a boxing guy to the MMA. I’m happy we’re able to come together and give people excitement.’
