Some of the heirs to Floyd Mayweather’s throne believe his title defence against Andre Berto might not be the cakewalk that many fans and critics have predicted.
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| Mayweather insists the fight in Las Vegas will be his last but other leading welterweights would like to get the chance to dethrone the “pound-for-pound king”. |
Mayweather insists the fight in Las Vegas will be his last but other leading welterweights would like to get the chance to dethrone the “pound-for-pound king”.
Mayweather, 38, faces Berto, who has lost three of his past six fights, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, striving to equal the record of 49-0 of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano.
The WBA and WBC champion insists it will be his swan song; the crowning moment of a glittering 19-year career as the best boxer of his generation.
But critics accuse him of using the retirement talk to flog a fight for which there were still tickets available 24 hours before the start of the bout.
Keith Thurman, who is undefeated after 22 fights, including 22 knockouts, said on Friday: "I'm here for the mystery factor: Is this his last fight or not?
"This might be the last performance. How eager is Floyd to make a statement and show the world that he is an entertaining fighter?
Danny Garcia, who is also unbeaten and, like Thurman, has designs on a Mayweather match-up, said: "I don't think it's going to be his last fight.
“If he has to pay taxes on that $250 million (in earnings for the fight against Manny Pacquiao) we are going to see him next year right back in the ring.
"Floyd's a rich man and has made a lot of money. He knows what he's doing."
Shawn Porter, whose record stands at 26-1-1, with 16 knockouts, and who could face the fearsome Thurman later this year, said Berto, 32, had youth on his side against Mayweather.
"People are overlooking that he is younger and has some speed and quickness," said Porter, adding that he had been looking for evidence that Mayweather was slowing up but had not found any.
"He still looks spectacular and he still looks great in every fight. That said, it's going to be a much more competitive fight than people anticipate."
Thurman, one of the most explosive talents in modern boxing, agreed. "A lot of people who fight Floyd fade in the late rounds.
"In the first four rounds Berto needs to try catch him off-guard because it takes time for Floyd to figure you out. He needs that time but it's in that time that he's most vulnerable.
"Berto has nothing to lose. If Mayweather loses he loses everything," Thurman said.
Garcia, who has a record of 31-0; 18, said Berto’s best chance would be to catch the champion with a big shot.
"But if Floyd goes in there and is Floyd, then I think he can probably stop Berto," said Garcia. "I think it'll be about seventh round. Floyd will probably stop him."
Source: Supersport
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