Mayweather vs Berto (Photo : Twitter)
LAS VEGAS -- Floyd Mayweather knelt at the center of the ring and looked up to the heavens, to thank god perhaps, for a wonderful career where's he's made hundreds of millions of dollars over a span of 19 dominant years, but also, to thank him for keeping his faculties intact -- undoubtedly the greatest prize has received if indeed this is his last fight.
For twelve rounds, Mayweather (49-0, 26 KO's) had little trouble in dealing with the outclassed Andre Berto (30-4, 23 KO's), showcasing his usual defensive brilliance and pinpoint accuracy. Berto could only muster but a few moments where he would catch Mayweather with a solid right hand here and there.
In the end, it was just another day at the office for Mayweather, who remained unbeaten to the tune of a unanimous decision victory by scores of 117-111, 118-110, 120-108. In truth, judges were a little more generous than they should have been, as Mayweather ran away with a virtual shutout.
In a fight that was devoid of any tangible action, fans witnessed another boxing clinic by the defensively sound Mayweather. Berto was by no means expected to upset the pound-for-pound king, but he was in the very least expected to swing for the fences -- something that he very rarely fails to do.
A known volume puncher, Berto was often out-worked and out-punched, appearing at times hesitant to throw his usual combinations.
By the middle of the fight, the two pugilists resorted to jawing and trash-talk at the center of the ring, which referee Kenny Bayless quickly put a stop to. That was however, pretty much the most action fans would get out of the fight.
By the 11th round, Mayweather was dancing and prancing around Berto, showboating with the 'Ali Shuffle' and a few moves from Jack Dempsey -- an homage to boxing legends.
In the final moments of the 12th, Mayweather cracked Berto with an uppercut that stunned the Haitian, and proceeded to dance his way to the end of the fight.
Earlier in the week, an issue regarding illegal use of intravenous administration of fluids in Mayweather's last fight against Manny Pacquiao overshadowed the lead up to the Berto fight. 'IV-gate,' as it's popularly called, brought into question some shady practices in the Mayweather camp and their involvement with USADA.
If indeed however the Berto fight is the last we'll see of Mayweather in a boxing ring, the undefeated American is content with leaving the sport on his own terms.
With the victory, Mayweather ties Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record.
Despite insisting that his career is finally over, many observers feel the allure of a 50th victory and the opening of a brand new stadium in Las Vegas next year, where Mayweather is a resident, could entice him to climb back in the ring in 2016.
In a sport where most fighters find it hard to walk away from the ring, time will tell whether or not this is truly the last time Floyd Mayweather performs as a professional prizefighter.
