Floyd Jr insists he'll be victorious

MANILA, Philippines - Just as Floyd Mayweather was assuring everyone that he’d beat Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino pound-for-pound champion was out partying with friends the other night, and thinking of an even bigger bash on his birthday on Dec. 17.

Mayweather, the flamboyant, undefeated American, appeared on the Joe Buck Live, an HBO talk show, and swept the crowd away by saying he’d come out victorious if and when his March 13 fight with Pacquiao takes place.

Someone from among the crowd shouted the name of Pacquiao, prompting Mayweather, the ex-pound-for-pound champion who just came out of retirement, to say, “I think he’s a good fighter,” as reported by The Examiner.

“I’ve been around the sport a long time. I’ve been dominating the sport for 15 years now. Nobody has defeated me yet so we’ll have to see.”

Mayweather added, “The thing I think is that I don’t want the fans to be really shocked by what happens. It’s nothing new because he’s been knocked out before and he’s lost before. I’ll be victorious, you can believe that.”

Neither fighter has signed the fight contract but their promoters have given it a go, and in just over a hundred days the world should witness the biggest fight of the new century, a fight that should easily gross over $100 million.

Mayweather sounded too sure of a victory.

“I already know what’s going to happen. Once we get in that square circle it’s just me and him, one on one. My record shows I am the best at what I do. I’ve been champion my whole career basically,” he said.

Thousands of miles away, at the Corinthians Garden home of his close friend Luis “Chavit” Singson, Pacquiao partied with his friends all night Tuesday, and went on stage to join different bands that came to play.

Pacquiao came with his wife, Jinkee, and was with friends, hopping from one table to another. He sang at least six songs and it looked like the party was to last until the wee hours of the morning.

Pacquiao, according to his close friend, Cris Aquino, was in a very good mood, cracking jokes.

“Sana pag laban namin ni Floyd maganda ang panahon (I hope when I fight Floyd the weather is fine)” he said. “At ayoko labanan si Yuri Foreman kasi apat ang kalaban ko (I don’t want to face Yuri Foreman because I’d be up against four men.”

There’s a lot more parties in store for Pacquiao in the coming holidays, but none would be bigger that the one being prepared on Dec. 17 in Gen. Santos City when the greatest boxer of this era turns 31. In last year’s bash, even President Arroyo graced the occasion.

His promoter, Bob Arum, said Pacquiao can party as much as he wants during the holidays, because in those days, the negotiations for the fight would not require the presence of either boxer.