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Getting his due: Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., who headlines a local card this weekend, is finally earning praise as boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter. (SANTOS A. PEREZ, 1/21/05, Miami Herald)

Tatap, tatap, tatap, tatap, tatap. . . .

The repetitive sound, resembling the banging of drums, emanated from Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s fast hands as he pounded his gloves into uncle/trainer Roger Mayweather's mitts. The impact of gloves on mitts generated a rhythmic beat, giving Mayweather's entourage surrounding the ring another reason to cheer.

This part of a workout at the Fight Club Gym in downtown Miami seemed so routine to a fighter who has been connected to the sport since he took his first baby steps. Thanks to his bloodlines, Mayweather might have been spoon-fed boxing from an early age, but he has certainly feasted on each segment of his successful career.

In fact, Mayweather, who headlines a card Saturday night at AmericanAirlines Arena, has reached the group of pound-for-pound elite -- best fighter in the sport. [...]

If Mayweather, 27, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., continues the pace he has established since turning professional after the 1996 Olympics, he could be considered one of the best of all time when his career is done.

Mayweather has won all 32 of his professional fights, including 21 by knockout. His run on perfection includes world titles in the super-featherweight and lightweight divisions. Opponents futilely seek to track down Mayweather, only to find air.

Puerto Rico's Henry Bruseles (21-2-1, 13 KOs) is next on the list of fighters seeking to bring down Mayweather's aura of invincibility. Bruseles will fight Mayweather in the main event of the AmericanAirlines Arena card. The winner of the super-lightweight bout is scheduled to fight for a 140-pound title against the winner of next week's match between Arturo Gatti and ''Jesse'' James Leija.

''I don't look past Henry Bruseles,'' Mayweather said. ``He's a tough, solid opponent. This is the biggest fight of his career, and I look at every fight as if it's my biggest fight.''

In a verbal exchange during a news conference Thursday at Bongo's Cafe, Bruseles said Mayweather is not brave enough to engage in close-range encounters.

''We are prepared to win the fight, but it all depends if Mayweather comes to fight and not run,'' Bruseles said in Spanish. ``That's the only thing he knows how to do, run. That's why he doesn't sell.''

Mayweather countered, ``To become a champion, he has to respect a champion. Come Saturday, I will take him to school. I'm the darling of the sport. I run boxing.''