Mayweather mocks De La Hoya

Floyd Mayweather pushed, prodded and provoked Oscar De La Hoya on Tuesday setting the tone for title showdowni on May 5.

Floyd Mayweather pushed, prodded and provoked Oscar De La Hoya on Tuesday, setting the tone for what promises to be a bad-tempered title showdown in Las Vegas on May 5.

In the absence of any must-see heavyweight bouts, the match between De La Hoya, a six-division champion with a 38-4 record, and lightning-quick Mayweather, who has ruled four divisions in going 37-0, has stirred the imagination of the boxing fraternity.

"I'm gonna bust his ass. I'm gonna do what I've done to 37 others," Mayweather told a packed news conference, seething with resentment at being overshadowed by "Golden Boy" De La Hoya, who defends his world junior middleweight title.

"They kept me in the dark. Now they have to face me. I'm the top glove in the sport," added Mayweather, moving up in class to fight at 154 pounds for the first time.

The hotly anticipated clash has already sold out at the 17,000 MGM Grand arena for a Nevada-record gate of $19 million. A record 1,200 closed circuit showings are expected for the fight that will be broadcast to 176 countries.

A horde of reporters and boxing fans crammed into the Starlight Roof suite at the Waldorf-Astoria to witness the launch of an 11-city U.S. media tour that might not go the distance unless Mayweather simmers down.

Mayweather took off his sweatshirt and stripped to his bare chest to display his physique as dapper De La Hoya made his entrance in elegant suit and tie. The Mexican-American pulled off his jacket and raised his shirt to show off his own muscles.

When the pair posed for the cliched "glare down" photos, the challenger chewed relentlessly while nose-to-nose with De La Hoya, bumping him with his chest and calling him a "pussy."

De La Hoya remained stoical, but said he would not forget the trash talk once they get into the ring.

"When he's talking, more fuel, baby," the champion said through gritted teeth.

BEST FIGHTER

De La Hoya holds the World Boxing Council title that will be contested, yet it is Mayweather's mantle as world's best fighter pound-for-pound that is most importantly at stake.

"I respect Floyd as a fighter, as the best pound-for-pound in the world," said De La Hoya, who this month turned 34. "Come May 5, when I touch you, you're going to hurt for weeks."

Once considered the best pound-for-pound fighter himself, De La Hoya has lost four of his last 11 bouts. He is now a wealthy entrepreneur and owns Golden Boy Promotions which is running this fight that will bring him a reported purse of $12 million with $8 million guaranteed for Mayweather.

"Why am I still fighting?" he said. "I love boxing. My body can still do it. I feel strong. I feel fast."

A key is whether De La Hoya, who has been trained the last six years by the challenger's father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., can land his devastating left hook against his slick opponent.

Freddie Roach takes over for the elder Mayweather in De La Hoya's corner.

WBC welterweight champion Mayweather mocked De La Hoya and said he would back up his bravado with cash.

"I'll bet you $1 million, $2 million, $3 million. Every dime in my bank account if you want. Right now," he said.