Floyd flaunting familiar forecast
Mayweather assures the world he will retire unbeaten
Floyd Mayweather was in familiar territory on Thursday as he explained why he is the best boxer of his generation during a media conference ahead of the final bout of his career against Andre Berto on Saturday night.
The five-division world champion will put his 48-0 record on the line when he defends his WBC and WBA welterweight titles at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“We’re back,” Mayweather said, speaking softly and matter-of-factly while occasionally resorting to his brash style.
“We’ve been here so many times. I know talking doesn’t win fights. I know trainers don’t win fights. It comes down to the two competitors.
“I’m always prepared physically, I’m always prepared mentally. We have a remarkable game plan, we have a remarkable team and I’ve had a remarkable career. I believe in my skills. I believe in my talent ... and I believe I will win.”
Should Mayweather triumph, as is widely expected, he will retire with the same 49-0 record as the immortal Rocky Marciano and embellish a boxing legacy that he feels owes much to his superior mental strength.
“I’ve been in there with the best and the results are always the same,” said the 38-yearold, who is nicknamed ‘Money’ because of his flamboyant showmanship and extravagant lifestyle.
“You’ve got fighters that might be faster than me, you’ve got fighters that might hit harder than me, you’ve got fighters that are very athletic — but you don’t have any fighter that can make adjustments like me.
“You don’t have fighters that can be on another level mentally. I keep my eyes on the prize. I never focus on things outside the ring. My focus is on the guy that’s in front of me. And I know what I can do.”
Mayweather, the self-proclaimed ‘TBE’ (The Best Ever), will be fighting for the first time since he beat Manny Pacquiao four months ago and earned $220 million in boxing’s richest ever bout. But he has been criticized in some quarters for his choice of Berto as an opponent.
I’ve been there with the best and the results are always the same.”
Floyd Mayweather
Though Berto is a two-time former world welterweight champion, the 32-year-old will enter the ring as a 20-1 underdog after losing three of his past six fights.
“No matter who I chose, the critics were going to have something to say,” said Mayweather. “He’s a two-time world champion so it’s obvious he did something right.”
Berto, who arrived at the news conference wearing a black hooded tracksuit and sunglasses, spoke briefly when he stepped up to the podium.
“It’s funny but when it comes to the media ... they’re not in that gym busting their ass and knowing the feeling of being a fighter,” said Berto, whose 30-3 record includes 23 knockouts.
“They don’t know the miles that we run, they don’t know the punishment that we take in the gym, they don’t know the sacrifices that we have to make to become a world champion.
“It’s a very select few that can do that ... so anybody that steps into the ring, I have to respect. But at the end of the day, when it comes to fight time, I’m coming for my respect.”