A lot of people were up in arms on Wednesday when it was announced that Floyd Mayweather will fight Andre Berto on Sept. 12 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, in what many believe to be the final bout of Mayweather’s career.
Mayweather has proclaimed this will be the final fight of his storied career. Going out against Andre Berto isn’t something fans were anticipating. They we’re expecting Amir Kahn, Keith Thurmond or Victor Ortiz.
But as Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rogers famously said: R-E-L-A-X.
After breaking every financial record in boxing history against Pacquiao along with the grueling training camp he put himself through, a “gimme” fight is understandable despite the fact that undefeated megastars don’t need “gimme” or “tune-up” fights.
The win will put Mayweather at 49-0 and tie legendary heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s record. “Money” has the ego unlike anyone has ever seen and regardless of what Mayweather says publicly, that is a record he wants. Getting a chance to break Marciano’s record can cement his legacy and lay claim to what he feels he already is, “The Best Ever”.
Also, there is a lavish new arena in Las Vegas scheduled to open in April and sources have told Sporting News, Mayweather would love christen the new building.
Initially the bout against Berto was scheduled to be on CBS, but Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe told ESPN more time was needed to sell advertising to cover Mayweather’s reported purse of around $35 million. The bout will be televised on Showtime pay-per-view. While not official, sources to the situation tell Sporting News it will cost $64.95 in SD and $74.95 in HD.
The last things casual fans want to do is shell out more money on a Mayweather fight following unexciting performance against Manny Pacquiao in May. Many fans think the onus should be on Mayweather to fight for free following the stinker against Pacquiao. But this is Floyd “Money” Mayweather we are talking about, a man who only moves to the beat of his own drum.
There is more money to be made, records to be broken and a beautiful arena to open.
It’s OK, everybody. The king of boxing isn’t going anywhere.
