Floyd Mayweather Marcos Maidana
Floyd Mayweather Junior and Marcos Maidana will meet for a welterweight unification bout Saturday in Las Vegas. Getty Images

Hoping to become the first fighter to take down undefeated champion and pound-for-pound boxing king Floyd Mayweather Junior, Argentine star Marcos Maidana is fully confident a complete effort in the ring will carry him to previously uncharted territory. While career triumphs over Josesito Lopez, Martin Angel Martinez and most recently Adrien Broner have all been tremendous achievements, Maidana (35-3, 31 KO’s) is fully aware that a triumph over one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport would place him in elite status. Speaking at his final press conference before the May 3 meeting at the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Maidana said he’s not concerned with the hype surrounding the undefeated champion.

“No one has given anything to me,” the 30-year-old said. “The opportunity, I earned it myself, I know this is a very difficult fight. That’s why I trained like never before. Mayweather is a great fighter, but I don’t give a (expletive) about this guy. It’s very important to land the combos and keep at him. I’m prepared for whatever he brings. If he wants to trade blows, we’ll trade blows. If he wants to run, we can handle that, too. We’re prepared for everything. I’m relaxed. We’re good. I talk a little trash because it gets me mad, gets me ready.”

Set to earn a minimum guaranteed purse of $32 million this weekend, ‘Money’ Mayweather (45-0, 26-0) is preparing for this fight the same way he’s prepared for his previous 45: with nothing but hard work and determination. While many feel the 37-year-old still has plenty left in the tank, Mayweather – who took down Saúl Canelo Álvarez in his last bout – isn’t sure whether or not his career will extend past the upcoming match-up with Maidana. Though he’s contemplating an upcoming slate of matches, the five-division world champion remains focused on the task at hand, which comes in the form of another talented fighter.

“I may have three fights after this, I’m really not sure,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. But I can promise you this: Saturday, I’m going to give you guys what you want to see. It’s not going to be the same fight that I fought with Canelo; it’s not going to be the same fight that I fought with Robert Guerrero. It’s going to be a totally different fight. No game plan at all. I’m going to be right there throughout.

“As far as the future is concerned, I’m not really all that consumed with going 50-0,” he continued. “I'm being honest- I be contemplating every day...getting out of the sport now. I'm very comfortable. Very comfortable. If I choose to walk away then I walk away. It's just me being a human being. If I feel like walking away then I'm walking away.”

Will History Be Made?

With both fighters ready to step between the ropes, fans of the boxing world are preparing to see a bout that should not disappoint. While many have already pegged Mayweather Jr. as the undoubted winner, Marcos Maidana’s consistent preparation and determination will serve him well in the ring. If he’s able to match Mayweather’s energy and tremendous ability, boxing enthusiasts across the globe could finally experience something the sport has not yet seen.

Floyd Mayweather Junior vs. Marcos Maidana: DATE, TIME & VIEWING INFO

DATE: Saturday, May 3

TIME: 9:00pm, ET

TV COVERAGE: Showtime Pay-per-view

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