PRESS TOUR INSIDER REPORT: DAY 3

HBO.com tags along on Floyd and Oscar's eight-city road show | February 22, 2007. Chicago, IL Detroit, MI

Photos by Rob DeLorenzo/Golden Boy

Five cities in three days. There are so many people packed onto these press planes, limos and cars that the luggage has been stored in the airplane bathroom. That makes for a long flight, very long.

In Chicago, things cooled down a bit, with only minimal showboating from Mayweather. He and Oscar must have been impressed with the number of people that came out. With its huge Latino community, Oscar had a big fan base here, shouting "Oscar! Oscar!" and he and Floyd both posed for photos and signed autographs. Floyd made it known that this wasn't a black or a Hispanic thing, just the biggest event in boxing history. He was also quick to note that even without his famous trainer father in Oscar's corner, De La Hoya's chances were slim to none.

On the way to Detroit, Floyd chilled with his right (and left) hand man Leonard Ellerbe while his crew watched movies. Detroit, cold and windy as ever, was marked by Tommy Hearns' appearance. The "Hit Man" posed for photos with Oscar and Floyd before the two fighters finished the event with another long stare down.

Alright, week one concludes in Miami on Friday. Week two continues Monday in Houston & Dallas.