Floyd Mayweather Jr's announcement on Friday that he has agreed to fight Manny Pacquiao brought an end to one of the most exhausting sagas in sports history.

Now that the money has been worked out and boxing has its biggest event in years lined up for May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the two can finally get down to fighting after more than five years of chit-chat.

But not before a little more talking.

Pacquiao spoke with Top Rank Boxing at his Philippines home on Saturday in his first interview since the fight was announced.

A day after Mayweather took to social media to prove the papers have indeed been signed, Pacquiao thanked fans for their patience and dedicated the fight to them.

"I'm excited because the fans are excited," he said.

He also tweeted: "I am very happy that Floyd Mayweather and I can give the fans the fight they have wanted for so many years.

"I dedicate this fight to all the fans who willed this fight to happen and, as always, to bring glory to the Philippines."

Mayweather later shared some of his thoughts with Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole.

​"I think the timing is right now because I'm a lot bigger status-wise than I was," he said in a phone interview with Iole.

"Status-wise, I'm still growing, but I'm bigger than I was. And I'm pretty sure that Manny Pacquiao, he is bigger, too. I have a lot of fans and he has a lot of fans and the fans around the world have been anticipating the fight for a long time."

Mayweather even complimented his opponent.

"A true champion knows how to take a loss and bounce back and overcome, and that's what Pacquiao has done," Mayweather said.

"I give him full credit for that. He deserves it. He's come back and gotten some solid victories.

"He has his supporters, who I'm pretty sure believe he's going to beat me, and I have my supporters, who I know believe I'm going to beat him. Let's get in the ring and see who wins, who the better man is. That's what boxing is all about, and we're going to give the fans the chance to find out on May 2."