Pacman in background as Mayweather eyes Cotto

For once Floyd Mayweather set the bluster and bombast aside as he looked forward to his battle Saturday with Miguel Cotto for the Puerto Rican's World Boxing Association super welterweight world title.

"Miguel is a true warrior, a tough champion, and to go down in the Hall of Fame as one of the best, you have to face the true champions out there," Mayweather said as the two met the press on Wednesday.

The American's gracious words were a stark contrast to the kind of vitriol he has directed at Manny Pacquiao -- the Filipino fight king who has evolved into Mayweather's nemesis even as a mega-fight between the two has repeatedly failed to materialize.

The mention of Pacquiao was enough to set Mayweather off on a diatribe on Tuesday, although he insisted he bore Pacman no ill-will.

"Just speaking my mind," Mayweather said. "When you have two fighters who get to this level there's no losing. That's the ultimate goal is for the top fighters to meet each other. AFP