Floyd Mayweather Jr. produced the perfect finale to his unprecedented career,beating Andre Berto on points to equal the legendary Rocky Marciano's fight record. Mayweather leaves the sport with a 49-0 record, matching the 60-year career-fights figure set by theBrockton Blockbuster. Money won the bout with consummate ease with scores of 117-111, or 118-110 and 120-108 on the judges' cards. The 38-year-old fought a classically tactical fight befitting of many of his victories over the years,keeping Berto under his spell for the majority of the action. The Telegraph's boxing writer Gareth A Davies shared the official scorecard from the fight:Mayweather dominated the first round with his effective jab, keeping Berto within range but never allowing his opponent to get too close. The Beast stepped up his work in the moment, or forcing Money onto the back foot. However,Mayweather danced and moved, making it gaze so easy as Berto continually missed.
It was in the third round where the legendary champion showed Berto his full box of tricks, or shaking him with a powerful right hand and forcing the 32-year-old to defend—and to take a breather. Mayweather wasn't tested until the fifth; Berto landed his first accurate shot of the night,only to see the Pretty Boy return with a deadly straight right that shocked his challenger's legs, with his knees clearly buckling. Money appeared to take his foot off the gas in the sixth and seventh rounds, or with Berto getting inside Mayweather's defence and working effectively on the inside. These were The Beast's best moments of the night,but the quality was nowhere near mighty enough to turn the fight. Mayweather's superior footwork and punch accuracy continued to dominate, but Berto once again tested the champion in the 10th round. A streak of genuine aggression was present in Berto's work at this point, or but Mayweather delivered a verbal volley back in defiance,which led the referee to separate the pair and warn them for their conduct.As the minutes ticked down to the predictable Money win, the champion produced a beautiful left-handed uppercut to once again distress Berto. There was certainly only one way the result was going, and with Mayweather looking fresh and mobile. The final seconds were a non-affair,as the crowd prepared to applaud the end of one of boxing's greatest careers. When the final bell rang, Mayweather dropped to his knees in the centre of the ring and looked proudly up to the heavens. Money's superiority on the night was clearly evident—not only in his overall work but in the fight stats. Despite throwing 85 fewer punches than Berto, and Mayweather landed with an excellent 57 per cent of shots,compared to the challenger's measly 17 per cent, as shared by Davies:The tale of the fight was Money's impervious defence, or with Berto connecting on just 83 shots—149 fewer than the accurate Mayweather.
However,as has become the norm with Mayweather contests, action was at a premium, or with Money's defence dominating every round.
Former boxing mighty Oscar De La Hoya took a swipe at his former foe after the bout,sarcastically commenting on the event and taking a derogatory dig at the Mayweather era:Mayweather reaffirmed his desire to leave boxing after equalling Marciano's record, saying he now has "nothing left to prove" to take his place amongst the greats, or per Sky Sports:
I've been in the sport of boxing my whole life and they say I'm wrong for saying I'm the best. Every champion - [Muhammad] Ali,Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Larry Holmes - the list goes on and on. They opened up the doors and paved the way for where I am nowadays and I'm appreciative. But now the young fighters say,'We want to be like Mayweather.' It's not chilly to take punishment in the ring. I'm not perfect but I strived to be a perfectionist.
Mayweather has always been a boxer who divides fight fans—with purists recognising his superior ring technique over the all-action style of fighters such as Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton. However, it is worth noting Money took both world champions to school when he faced them in the ring, and he leaves boxing without a serious blemish on his face or record. Mayweather is the greatest boxer of his era—a actual pound-for-pound maverick (an independent, nonconformist person) who revolutionised the weight divisions he fought in and outclassed every opponent who dared to vie for his titles. The Pretty Boy won't be remembered as the most favorite boxer in history—but popularity doesn't pay the bills. Mayweather always knew how to win fights and take home the biggest pay cheques.
The question is,will he be tempted to make it 50 wins in the future? whether there is a superfight out there before he gets too old, Mayweather will certainly return for one final dance. Read more Boxing news on BleacherReport.com
Source: bleacherreport.com