Floyd Mayweather Jr. is officially fighting Andre Berto on September 12, and no, it will not be for free on CBS. Boxing fans will be asked to shell out $75 to see Mayweather on pay-per-view for what he says will be the final time, as he attempts to tie Rocky Marciano’s perfect 49-0 record.
Mayweather has been boxing’s top draw for a long time now, but there seemed to be a tipping point with his May 2 “Fight of the Century” vs. Manny Pacquiao, which cost $100 for fans to see in high definition. Hardcore boxing fans were likely not surprised by Mayweather’s victory; he coasted by Pacquiao without much trouble, and outside of eating one hard left hand, never really was hurt.
5 ridiculous matchups for Floyd Mayweather that would be better than Andre Berto
The millions of casual fans the hype attracted left dissatisfied, and it is unlikely many will return to see Mayweather face Berto, who is 3-3 in his last six fights. That’s not the only reason fans shouldn’t buy this bout, however.
There Were Many Opponents That Were Both Better And Available
“The Best Ever” and “TBE” are two of Mayweather’s many nicknames, but few grant them any credence. Mayweather has a reputation for cherry-picking opponents that are either past their prime or poor style fits against Mayweather’s cautious, defensive approach. While the cherry-picking label can be debated endlessly, facing Berto does him no favors.
After fighting Pacquiao, there truly weren’t many places left for him to go. Still, a few names stand out. Amir Khan (31-3-0, 19 KO) was a frontrunner, and posed some threat because of his size and his unnaturally fast hands. He has flaws—most notably a questionable chin—which would only make the matchup MORE exciting because of the prospect of a rare Floyd Mayweather knockout. Mayweather said no.
Amir Khan's now focusing on fighting Manny Pacquiao
He could have faced Keith “One-Time” Thurman (26-0-0, 22 KO), a powerful but skilled young fighter who also would enter undefeated. Thurman said he was willing to jump right back into training for that fight and he just finished stopping Luis Collazo in July. Nope.
He could have been really bold, and truly risked his perfect record, by facing middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (33-0-0, 30 KO)at 154 pounds, which GGG said he’d do. Mayweather’s fought his last three fights at 147 pounds, but he still has belts at junior middleweight. Nah.
Mayweather wants the fans’ hard-earned money, but won’t put on a show. It’s time to stop buying.
Speaking Of Hard Earned Money, Save It For Better PPVs
Feel free to pass on Shane Mosley vs. Ricardo Mayorga, a fight straight out of 2002, but there are two fantastic fights coming up that will blow Mayweather vs. Berto out of the water.
First up is Golovkin vs. David Lemieux in a middleweight title unification fight that should have action-fight fans salivating. Golovkin and Lemieux are both knockout artists, and Lemieux in particular fights like Rocky Balboa hopped up on Red Bulls. That fight will be cheaper, and is guaranteed to deliver more action. More importantly, it’s possible that Golovkin could lose. With Mayweather, the possibility is microscopic.
Then in November fight fans get Miguel Cotto vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (hopefully) in a renewal of the storied boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico. That is another bout promising major action, and between two established super stars in the sport. There’s also the prospect of the winners of these PPVs facing off. This is what boxing’s about, not glorified sparring sessions.
Take A Peek At Berto’s Resume
A quick look at Berto’s track record shows a smooth ride until 2011 vs. Victor Ortiz, who happened to be his first name opponent. He dropped unanimous decisions to Ortiz and Guerrero—two opponents Mayweather has already beaten soundly—and then was knocked out by Jesus Soto Karass, a man who at the time of the fight had eight losses and three draws on his resume.
Even in Berto’s last two fights, both wins, he has shown little development. He still gets hit flush very often and shows little calculation when he goes on the offensive. It works against journeyman brawlers like Josesito Lopez, but it will be child’s play for someone as great as Mayweather. If Pacquiao’s fast hands barely touchded Mayweather, and his explosive power couldn’t rock him, what hope does Berto have?
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