Floyd Mayweather admits that his undefeated records and high salary was made possible by his carefully handpicked opponents.
“Sometimes they say, ‘Well, Floyd Mayweather’s opponents was handpicked.’ That’s a good thing,” Mayweather said during a conference call with reporters to promote Saturday’s fight, GMA News reports.
“I commend my team,” he added. “When I sit back and I think about my career, I say ‘you know what? I had a cool career. I didn’t take any punishment.'”
Mayweather was listed by Forbes and Sports Illustrated as one of the top 50 most-paid athletes, but has been criticized throughout his career for dodging tough opponents.
“If they say these guys were handpicked, they was handpicked to make $40 and $50 and $60 million, then you know what? Keep handpicking them. If they’re going to keep paying, keep handpicking them,” said Mayweather.
Mayweather is a five-division world champion who has won eight world titles and the lineal championship in three different weight classes.
The fight against Alvarez marks the second time Mayweather will be in the ring this year — the first was with Robert Guerrero back in May.
The card is also set to feature some of the rising starts of Mayweather Promotions, such as Chris Pearson, Luis Arias, Ronald Gavril and Lanell Bellows. Also confirmed is a showdown between welterweight champion Danny Garcia and Lucas Matthysse.
The American cable network Showtime could be paying Mayweather over 200 million over his six-fight deal, GMA reports, but has been guaranteed at least $ 41.5 million for this fight.
The fight will take place in a 12-round showdown at the Las Vegas MGM Grand.