CLEVELAND, Ohio – Floyd Mayweather is the best pound-for-pound boxer around, but that crown comes with a host of criticism that has followed him for much of his 19-year career.
Critics claim Mayweather does not have an exciting boxing style. He is a great defensive fighter but he spends more time playing it safe than mixing it up. Despite victories over Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto and Oscar De La Hoya, fans still question Mayweather’s opponents.
Especially now.
Mayweather fights Andre Berto (30-3) on Saturday in what Mayweather claims is his last fight. That isn’t likely, because one more victory after Berto would give him a 50-0 record. Plus, Mayweather surely would like to become the opening act at the new MGM-AEG Arena that opens in Las Vegas in 2016.
But before that happens, Mayweather will face an opponent that many fans scoff at based on his last few fights. Berto, once one of the top welterweights, has become a borderline journeyman, losing three of his last six fights.
Despite rumors that Mayweather would fight Berto on free TV as a make-up call for his underwhelming fight against Pacquiao, Saturday’s fight is on PPV. The numbers on PPV are down, to no surprise, and plenty of tickets are available at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
So besides the die-hard boxing fights, why would anyone pay to see this bout?
Will you pay for the Mayweather-Berto fight?
Yes, I love boxing.
No, I have better things to do. Vote View Results Mayweather is such a heavy favorite, 50-to-1 in some circles and getting higher, that if you want to win money on Mayweather you would have to bet $3,500 to win $100.
So unless you expect an upset such as James “Buster” Douglas over Mike Tyson, or if one-sided fights are your thing, shelling out nearly $75 for Saturday’s PPV is an easy choice.
More on Mayweather-Berto Despite the odds, this is how Berto can upset Mayweather on Saturday (CBSSports). Is there some bad blood between Berto and Mayweather (New York Daily News)? Five keys for Andre Berto on Saturday night (ESPN). Questions surround Mayweather’s drug testing in his last bout (SBNation.com). Mayweather defends his choice of Berto (DailyMail.com).
Around the ring Friday: Adonis Stevenson vs. Tommy Karpency for Stevenson’s WBC light heavyweight title at 9 p.m. on Spike TV. Saturday: Cornelius Bundrage vs. Jermall Charlo for Bundrage’s IBF junior middleweight title at 4 p.m. on NBC. Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto for Mayweather’s WBC/WBA welterweight titles; Roman Martinez vs. Orlando Salido for Martinez’s WBO junior lightweight title; Badou Jack vs. George Groves for Jack’s WBC super middleweight title at 9 p.m. on Showtime PPV.
