Floyd Mayweather has been a magnet for negative press and fan criticism from the very moment he had the professional leverage to say the things he wants and live the life he chooses to live. And while the five-division world champ and current pound-for-pound kingpin has deserved much of the negative attention, a case could be made that some of it has been overblown and based on personal dislike of his character more than actual professional wrongdoing.
However, if the recent and widely-distributed rumors are true, Mayweather will deserve every last bit of the criticism and bad publicity surely to ride with him until his official retirement from the sport.
According to Michael Woods of The Sweet Science, who quotes unnamed inside sources, ?Money? Mayweather is set to take on Andre Berto this upcoming September 12 in what was supposed to be Mayweather?s final bout under a six-fight deal with Showtime. Instead, according to Woods, Mayweather will be facing Berto on CBS, the parent company of Showtime, with the possibility of a return to CBS for one more bout next year if this September 12 experiment delivers dividends for all parties.
If the rumors are true, this would take Mayweather to his 49th win without a defeat, tying Rocky Marciano, and then to 50-0, surpassing the heavyweight great before officially hanging up the gloves.
The problem is not really the breaking of Marciano?s record and it definitely isn?t the experiment of putting pay-per-view fights on free network TV. The real bit of nastiness in all of this is that, from the apparent choice of opposition, it appears as though Mayweather has every intention of finishing his controversial career with a short trip down the path of least resistance.
Andre Berto, without sparing any words, is regarded by most informed boxing people as damaged goods. A former WBC and IBF world titlist, he was never regarded as anything other than a very distant ?also ran? in the welterweight world ruled by Mayweather and Pacquiao. 3-3 in his last six bouts, Berto has been manhandled and beaten by Mayweather conquests Victor Ortiz and Robert Guerrero and stopped by fringe contender Jesus Soto Karass. Of his most recent victories, only Josesito Lopez has been anything better than journeyman-level since the Haitian-American native of Florida beat Luis Collazo in a razor-thin decision back in 2009. Yes, Berto has a certain degree of mental toughness and enough talent to be listed on any top 20 welterweight list. But he?s hardly the type of penultimate opponent worthy of someone who calls himself The Best Ever.
And if Team Mayweather can get away with Berto for win no. 49, why should anyone believe that an even older Mayweather would be paired against anyone more challenging for no. 50?
It all seems such a shame. Love him or hate him, everyone has to acknowledge that Mayweather has meant a great deal to the sport of boxing. But rather than go out with a blaze of glory, this first ballot Hall of Famer seems intent upon sneaking out the back door.
