Those who criticized the fight going in were called ?haters,? of course, but the final punch stats speak for themselves?
Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Floyd ?Money? Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs), from Las Vegas by way of Grand Rapids, Michigan, successfully defended his WBA and WBC welterweight titles by bamboozling Andre Berto (30-4, 23 KOs), from Winter Haven, Florida, over 12 one-sided rounds.
The final scores were 117-111, 118-110, and 120-108.
Those who criticized the fight going in were called ?haters,? of course, but the final punch stats speak for themselves.
Mayweather landed 232 of 410 total punches thrown (57%) to Berto?s 83 of 495 (17%).
Mayweather landed 83 of 191 jabs (43%) to Berto?s 39 of 301 (13%).
Mayweather landed 149 of 219 power punches (68%) to Berto?s 44 of 194 (23%).
The fight was, as expected, a romp.
Fighting out of the blue corner in black and grey trunks, Mayweather, even at the age of 38, was light years ahead of his hapless opponent in terms of ring acumen. The ultimate ring general, Mayweather has, without an ounce of exaggeration, forgotten more about boxing than Berto will ever know.
Fighting out of the red corner in white trunks with black and silver trim, Berto, six years Mayweather?s junior, at least gave it the old college try. But even if he had a game plan, even if he cut off the ring, even if he feinted, even if he didn?t smother his own offense, his technical inferiority was dazzling.
Mayweather was exceptionally sharp and fought like a man half his age. He toyed with Berto. He made Berto look clumsy. He made Berto look like an amateur. He made Berto look like a child.
But Floyd appeared to be enjoying himself. He was landing punches at will, making Berto lunge, making Berto miss, celebrating what he does so well and has done so well for so long, in what he reiterated, at the bout?s conclusion, is indeed his final fight.
?My career?s over,? Mayweather said. ?It?s official. You gotta know when to hang it up. It?s about time for me to hang it up. I?m knocking at the door now. I?m close to 40 years old. Been in this sport 19 years. Been world champion 18 years. I broke all the records. There?s nothing left to prove in the sport of boxing.?
Floyd may change his mind. People change their mind every day. But if it?s over, as he insists, at least it ended in a dignified manner.
