Defeated Berto struck by Mayweather's IQ in the ring

LAS VEGAS -- For Andre Berto, Floyd Mayweather's boxing IQ was the most impressive attribute on show at the MGM Grand on Saturday as the five-division world champion ended his professional career with a perfect 49-0 record.

Berto, a 30-1 underdog, could do very little against his fellow American as Mayweather once again delivered a consummate tactical display in the ring to retain his WBC and WBA welterweight titles on a unanimous decision.

"He's smart, really smart," twice former welterweight world champion Berto told reporters after being beaten for a fourth time in his last seven fights to slip to 30-4.

"He knows how to con his way in certain situations to keep his distance or to use that moment to get some rest time or to use clinches to breathe and come back with a few punches.

"I used a lot of speed but he was really crafty, he was using little things to kind of get me out of my rhythm. We pushed him to the limit but we fell short."

Berto, who described himself as a man 'on a mission' during the build-up to Saturday's fight, was asked to assess Mayweather's standing among the pantheon of boxing greats.

"He's sharp but it's hard for me to say because I haven't been in the ring with Muhammad (Ali) or (Rocky) Marciano," the American said of Mayweather, who is regarded as one of the best defensive fighters of all time.

"But right now, for him to be 38 years old and still have that speed and that timing, it's unheard of. I definitely commend him for that.

"The run he's had for 19 years, being world champion and continuing to move forward to greatness. As a fighter, not too many people can do that."

Many pundits have doubts over Mayweather's insistence that his career is now over, and point to the American's unexpected U-turn when he came back from a 21-month retirement to fight Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009.

For Berto, Mayweather has earned the right to do whatever he wants.

"It's up to him," he said. "I'm not Floyd. He has done tremendous things for the sport, he's accomplished so much, he has broken all those records and made a shit-load of money.

"If he wants to retire, he can do what he wants to do. This sport is brutal by itself.

"If he wants to retire, he should be able to. If he wants to come back, that's on him as well."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Mayweather beats Berto in ring farewell

LAS VEGAS -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. cemented his place among the pantheon of boxing greats with a unanimous decision over fellow American Andre Berto on Saturday in what he has repeatedly said would be the final fight of his career.

Mayweather, 38, easily outboxed his younger opponent over the 12 rounds to retain his WBC and WBA welterweight titles and improve his perfect career record to 49-0, matching the benchmark set by former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.

Five-division world champion Mayweather dominated most of the exchanges in the MGM Grand Garden Arena with his lightning jabs and agile movement about the ring to finish ahead on all three judges' scorecards.

Berto, a 30-1 underdog against one of the best defensive fighters of all time, dropped to 30-4 as he suffered his fourth loss in his last seven fights.

"Andre Berto has heart, a tremendous chin, he wouldn't lay down," Mayweather said in a ringside interview. "It was a good fight.

"I knew he would be a tough competitor. Experience played a major role tonight. He is a very athletic boxer. What can I say? I was the better man tonight."

Asked if he might be tempted to come back for a 50th fight, Mayweather replied: "My career is over. It's official.

"You've got no one to hang it up, so I think it's about time for me to hang it up. I'm not going to be doing it now. I'm close to 40 years old, I've been in this sport 19 years, been world champion for 18 years, I've broken all records.

"There's nothing left to prove in the sport of boxing.

Back in the ring for the first time since May when he beat Manny Pacquiao in a "mega-fight" that became the richest bout in boxing, Mayweather landed 232 of 410 punches while Berto connected with just 83 of 495.

However, it was a welterweight showdown that failed to capture the public's imagination given Berto's relatively low profile globally and his mixed run of results over the past four years, and it was low on entertainment value on the night.

Barely five hours before the start, the MGM Grand box office said "a bunch of tickets" were still available for the arena in the price range between $300 and $1,500, and the official attendance ended up at 13,395 -- 3,000 short of full capacity.

"I was in shape but he was difficult to hit, experience played a big part," said Berto, a 32-year-old twice former welterweight world champion who overcame a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2013 to knock out Josesito Lopez in March.

"I was coming forward, I used a lot of speed but he was really crafty, used little things to get me out of my rhythm.

"Tonight I felt like we put on a great performance. We pushed him to the limit but we fell short. He's where he is for a reason. Floyd is definitely one of the best out there for sure."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Khan blasts 'childish' Floyd, looks forward to Pacquiao bout

MANILA – Former world champion Amir Khan of Britain has once again lashed out at Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the unbeaten American superstar last week formally announced that he will fight Andre Berto in September.

Khan has repeatedly challenged Mayweather to a fight, most notably after his victory over Chris Algieri in late May. The American, however, did not rise to the bait, and instead picked Berto, another former world champion, as his opponent for what he says will be his final fight.

When asked about Khan, Mayweather suggested that he should first try to avenge a loss to Danny Garcia that came in 2012, much to the dismay of the British boxer.

"He's just putting all these obstacles in front of me, because he knows that I'm obviously a big threat to him," Khan said, as quoted by Sky Sports. "Work it out. Look at my last few opponents, and he's fighting Berto."

"No disrespect to Berto, who is a friend of mine, but obviously, there are levels in boxing," he added.

Berto has gone only 3-3 in his last six fights, and the announcement that he will be Mayweather's opponent was mostly met with derision and disappointment by fans and boxing media alike.

"I think he's just being a little childish," Khan said of Mayweather. "He knows that Amir Khan will give him a tough fight, and he's kind of avoiding it."

Khan says he still has a lot of options, including a potential fight with countryman Kell Brook, as well as a showdown with former sparring partner Manny Pacquiao.

"If he (Mayweather) is not going to man up and fight me, then I'll have to fight Manny Pacquiao, or someone like that. Someone who would fight me," he added.

Khan further said that he believes the Pacquiao fight "can be made quite easily."

"I think Manny is a man, and he would definitely take that fight," he added.

Pacquiao cannot fight until 2016 as the Filipino icon is still recovering from a shoulder injury that he aggravated during his May 2 loss to Mayweather in their "Fight of the Century."

Pacquiao and Khan were stable mates and sparring partners until 2012, when Khan left Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym and hired Virgil Hunter as his trainer.

 

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com