Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather and his Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe insist that former WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto is a worthy opponent and assured boxing fans that he is coming to wage war in the ring against Mayweather.
Mayweather is facing Berto in the ring on Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for the last of his $200 million six-fight contract with CBS/Showtime. For having chosen Berto as his opponent for what appears to be his retirement fight after a 19-year spotless boxing career, Mayweather has been on the receiving end of harsh and intense criticism from boxing fans across the globe. In justifying his choice of the the Haitian-American ex WBC welterweight champion, Mayweather has praised Berto for his fighting style and skill. ?Berto can fight. He?s a two-time champion. He?s hungry. He comes to wage a war. There is never a dull moment when he fights so I expect a hell of a fight out of him. We?ll all see how it plays out,” Mayweather said. Mayweather has stated during the last press conference to promote the fight that fans are always critical about his choice of opponents but later they always end up buying his fights. ?This fight, no matter who the opponent, somebody would have something critical or negative to say. Some people are never satisfied. But I?m satisfied,” he added. Mayweather denied that he always go for easy fights to preserve his unbeaten record saying none of his fights have been easy. ?All 48 of my fights have been hard. None have been easy. All played a major key. It?s the ?Mayweather Era.? I feel that every fighter is an artist and they all take pictures their own way. I?m just one of the very best artists,”he said. For his part Ellerbe said Mayweather isn’t taking Berto lightly and is convinced that Berto is coming to fight. ?We know Berto is coming to fight, that he is coming to win and shock the world. There?s no way Floyd takes him lightly. He is working just as hard for this fight as he did the previous 48,” Ellerbe said. A win by Mayweather over Berto will match his record with legendary American boxer boxer Rocky Marciano, who retired unbeaten with 49 wins in as many numbers of fights.
