KNUCKLING DOWN

What's running through your mind during this work?

Just being mentally strong. This stuff comes with the territory. I push myself to the limit. That's why I'm where I'm at. I'll show the fight fans I'm still capable of taking time off and performing, coming back again against a top pound-for-pound opponent.

Your layoffs have been long. How do they affect you?

The layoff won't hurt me. It helps me. I get mentally stronger, enjoying seeing my children get stronger, knowing even more about the sport. Self-preservation is an important thing to me. I'm staying sharp without getting beat up in there.

Ring rust is a great unknown until you're actually fighting. One of your assistants said you're not truly fit until you can hit that heavy bag 10,000 times in a session. How do you know if you've recovered all the skills you've had in the past?

He pushes me hard. I think being in the 7,000-8,000 range is pretty good, but they want me to break records in here. When I first got to the gym, I admit that I was not as sharp as I want to be. But everyone says now that I'm as sharp as a razor. I'm feeling fast, and I have some good sparring partners in here. They're not pushing me around, and I'm getting top-notch work. When I come to the gym now, I'm happy, enthused to get in here and work with my team. Everything's going as planned.

Victor Ortiz is younger, bigger, stronger. Your uncle, trainer Roger Mayweather, thinks you'll win by out-boxing Ortiz. What do you expect in this fight?

He's bigger, but is (Ortiz) the smarter, more disciplined fighter? I'm walking around at 150 (for the 147-pound fight), not (160-plus) like him. I'm responsible. I believe my speed remains, and we know how everyone describes me as a defensive fighter. I'm not in this sport to take punishment. I'll be fine.

You like it when doubters raise questions. You use that as fuel, right?

Everything people say I couldn't do, I've done. They said I'll never be a big pay-per-view star. I'm the biggest out there. They said that Marquez was too small, that Shane Mosley was too old. Mosley wasn't too old for Antonio Margarito. Look who Marquez is fighting (Pacquiao in December). I never get my just due, but I'm right where I want to be in this sport. To be in here almost 20 years as a pro and to be this sharp, that's truly amazing. I just want to be the best. I haven't been in an all-out war. That doesn't mean I'm not the best.

What about the outside distractions, such as the criminal case?

My thing is to worry about my job and leave it to my attorneys. I will ask, where's the pictures (showing abuse of the mother of his children)? My attorneys are dealing with it.

And Pacquiao's lawsuit?

I don't think about it. He's a congressman, right? But he has the worst contract in boxing history. How smart is he? I'm just going to be working hard.

lpugmire@tribune.com