By Ryan Maquiñana

Wednesday’s initial press conference to announce the Fight of the Century was as grandiose as it was cathartic, with everyone from fans to the fighters’ teams relieved that the May 2nd showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is actually going to happen.

When Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum was asked to predict the winner outside the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, his answer was unequivocal.

“My fighter,” Arum said Wednesday before the much-ballyhooed presser. “I went to the (Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood) yesterday, and I saw him training downstairs. They kicked everyone out so there wouldn’t be any distractions. I can tell you that Manny is going to be at his best on May 2nd.”

Freddie Roach concurred when asked about his fighter’s focus when training in the uncharacteristically quiet gym.

“We had a good workout, and I told him, ‘Isn’t it nice this way?’ And he just looked at me,” Roach said. “I know he would rather have his friends around, but he knows what we have to do.”

Later, Roach regaled a throng of reporters about the changes at Wild Card, and how they’ve even affected Pacquiao’s celebrity friends.

“We have a new rule in camp: If your body isn’t doing anything, get the (expletive) out,” Roach said, according to KNBR.com . “I kicked out Dave Chappelle and his family … and I felt bad about it.”

While Mayweather told reporters he has already been sparring nine rounds at a time and has employed former opponents DeMarcus Corley and Zab Judah to emulate the southpaw Pacquiao’s style, Roach played his cards a little more close to the vest. Only Finnish lightweight Edis Tatli was identifiable when Roach rattled off descriptions of sparring partners, but no names.

Ryan Maquiñana is the Boxing Insider at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and contributor to KNBR.com. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Email him at rmaquinana@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @RMaq28.