LOS ANGELES – Floyd Mayweather Jr. began promoting his final fight by doing what he does best.
Fending off every attack with defense that looks effortless.
The pound-for-pound king of boxing insisted Andre Berto is a worthy opponent for his grand farewell when they made a joint appearance in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday, just over five weeks before they’ll meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 12.
“I don’t know why, but I’m just training a lot harder for this fight,” Mayweather said. “I just want to go out with a bang, I guess.”
Mayweather also repeated his declaration that this is the last bout of his career, although he grinned broadly while saying it. Mayweather previously retired in 2008, but it barely lasted a year.
“They say they’ll offer me a lot of money” to keep fighting, Mayweather said. “I have a lot of money. I’m OK. … It’s the end of my (Showtime) deal. I’m an old man now. I’m 38.”
advertisement | advertise on newsday
Three months after Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) dominated Manny Pacquiao in the most lucrative fight in boxing history, the welterweight champion was in a noticeably upbeat mood as he began the difficult business of promoting his next bout with Berto. The former 147-pound champion has lost three of his last six fights, including two losses to fighters who have already lost to Mayweather.
Mayweather acknowledged the backlash from his choice of Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), but cited the challenger’s aggressive style and his own determination as reasons to buy the fight. Mayweather, who has knocked out one opponent in nine bouts since 2007, even promised an exciting fight to fans who still feel short-changed by his technical display against Pacquiao in May.
“With the way he comes, and with the way I’m going to come, if it’s not a knockout, there’s going to be some knockdowns,” Mayweather said. “A lot. And there’s going to be blood. There’s going to be knockdowns, and there’s going to be blood. A lot.”
Mayweather’s last bout raised his profile outside boxing to new heights, but also exposed him to unprecedentedly widespread criticism, with his legal history of violence against women spotlighted throughout the run-up to his win.
