More excerpts:" He says he felt no need to challenge Mayweather’s claims that he hand-picks his opponents.

“I don’t need to defend my record. I think he knows that I’m no Victoriano Sosa,” De La Hoya said. “I’m no Henry Bruseles. I’m no Arturo Gatti. I’m no Baldomir. I’m no Hernandez.

“All the fighters he’s faced have not been effective with the jab. They couldn’t use it the way I will, throwing doubles and triples to get close to him.”

It’s when both De La Hoya and Mayweather analyze each others’ styles – not their records or personalities or perceived character defects – that it becomes obvious that they are serious about this fight, that it’s not just about money and business.

“I already know how to beat De La Hoya,” Mayweather said. “I don’t need my daddy’s advice. I will win this fight and I will win impressively.

“He makes a lot of mistakes. For starters, he don’t bend his knees. He’s too straight up.”

De La Hoya says he’s going to get a lot of leverage on his jab and hook from that “straight-up” position. And if Mayweather doesn’t like the heat and tries to flee the kitchen?

“If he runs I will cut off the ring,” said De La Hoya. “He likes to move to his left, he seldom moves to his right because there’s no power there. This is the first time I’ve really studied a fighter. I wish I would have done this for other fighters, but guys like Mayweather always take me to another level.

“I guess you can say I’ve become a student of the game because I really want to hurt him, I really do.”