adminLAS VEGAS. — The question is not whether Floyd Mayweather will beat Andre Berto. The question is whether he really will retire after tomorrow night’s fight in Las Vegas. Hardly anyone doubts he will retain his WBC and WBA welterweight titles. Berto (32) has lost three of his 33 professional fights and is not regarded as the best possible challenger in the division.
But not many boxing enthusiasts believe Mayweather when he says this will be his last fight; that he won’t come back to break Rocky Marciano’s record of 49 wins and not a single defeat in his career. The difference, of course, is that there was only one champion in each division when Marciano ruled the heavyweight division between 1947 and 1955.
Mayweather, until recently also the WBO champion, has fought in an era when there were at least four “world” titles in each weight class. His first professional fight was in October 1996 when he won against Roberto Apodaca. Since then he has defeated every opponent his promoters lined up, including Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Ricky Hatton, Robert Guerrero, Miguel Cotto and South African Phillip Ndou.
He says his fight against Berto at the MGM Grand – it will be broadcast live on SuperSport on Sunday morning – is his last. Seven years ago, Mayweather also said he was going to retire. That is why almost no one believes he won’t fight at least once more to take his record to 50-0; one better than Marciano’s mark. — SuperSport.
Online Reporter