LONDON (Nov 20) – Miguel Cotto’s trainer Freddie Roach wants the Puerto Rican ace to rematch and knockout pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather.

The Hall of Fame trainer believes he has the right strategy to overcome boxing’s number one fighter and wants four-weight champion Cotto to face him again should he be victorious in his middleweight blockbuster this weekend against Canelo Alvarez, live on BoxNation.

35-year-old Cotto was outpointed by Mayweather when they met in May 2012 but had not yet joined forces with the much respected Roach, someone who Cotto believes would have helped him knockout the now retired superstar.

“I would love for Miguel to win this fight [against Canelo] by knockout, call out Mayweather and then end his career,” said Roach.

“Miguel always tells me that if he had me in his corner when he fought Mayweather he would have knocked him out. He tells me that story all the time.

“I think Miguel could pull off the strategy I have to beat Mayweather. I think that would be a good fight for him. I think I could put Miguel in a very aggressive mode,” he said.

Any hopes of facing Mayweather however could be dashed this Saturday night when Cotto steps into the ring against Mexican foe Canelo.

The former unified light-middleweight champion goes in as the bookies favourite in the fight but trainer Roach says his man is in top shape and ready to expose the Latino boxing idol.

“Miguel has had a great training camp for this fight. We’re 100% ready for this fight, the biggest fight of the year. I’ve never seen Miguel better than this,” said Roach.

“We are going to box a lot in this fight. We’re not just going out there looking for a knockout. I don’t want him doing that. I want him using his foot speed and his angles. He’s a more complete fighter now than ever.

“Canelo’s defence is terrible. He follows you wherever you go. He’s like a robot. If you use angles on him, he will be lost. He cannot make adjustments well,” he said.

Flame-haired Canelo though is well aware of the threat he is up against but will be looking to continue the momentum from his last fight that saw him knockout James Kirkland inside three rounds.

“I’ve had a great preparation. I’ve worked very hard. I am patiently waiting for Saturday night to have my hand raised in victory once again. It’s going to be a difficult fight – I know that – but that is why I prepared properly, and I am ready to give a great fight,” said Canelo.

British fighter Lee Haskins is also set to feature on the undercard as he takes on Randy Caballero for the IBF bantamweight world title.

The Bristol boxer will get his chance to shine under the bright lights of Las Vegas and can’t wait to step into the ring.

“Fighting in Las Vegas, fighting in a fight of this magnitude, I never thought in my dreams I would be on an undercard like this, that’s what’s giving me the extra push. It feels absolutely amazing just to be here,” said Haskins.

“The magnitude of the fight, seeing everybody here, just up in the middle of the Vegas square, it’s incredible.

“I’m sure he’s done a lot of sparing and he’s just as ready as myself. I’m just looking forward to having a great fight,” he said.

Cotto v Canelo is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525, TalkTalk 415, online or app) this Saturday night. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
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According to Dan Ran Rafael of espn.com, Oscar De La Hoya had some parting words for Floyd Mayweather in this month’s Playboy Magazine.

“You did it. You made it to the 49-0 mark, a milestone that you like to say only the great Rocky Marciano reached but that was actually achieved by others, including my idol Julio Cesar Chavez — but who’s counting,” De La Hoya wrote. “And now you’re retiring. Again. (The first time was after our fight in 2007.) This time you say it’s for real. You’re serious about hanging up the gloves. On to bigger and better things. So I’m writing to you today to wish you a fond farewell. Truth be told, I’m not unhappy to see you retire. Neither are a lot of boxing fans. Scratch that. MOST boxing fans. Why? Because the fight game will be a better one without you in it.”

“Let’s face it: You were boring,” De La Hoya wrote. “Just take a look at your most recent performance, your last hurrah in the ring, a 12-round decision against Andre Berto. How to describe it? A bust? A disaster? A snooze fest? An affair so one-sided that on one judge’s card Berto didn’t win a single round? Everyone in boxing knew Berto didn’t have a chance. I think more people watched ‘Family Guy’ reruns that night than tuned in to that pay-per-view bout. But I didn’t mind shelling out $75 for the HD broadcast. In fact it’s been a great investment. When my kids have trouble falling asleep, I don’t have to read to them anymore. I just play them your Berto fight. They don’t make it past round three.”

“Another reason boxing is better off without you: You were afraid. Afraid of taking chances. Afraid of risk. A perfect example is your greatest ‘triumph,’ the long-awaited record-breaking fight between you and Manny Pacquiao,” De La Hoya wrote, referring to the May 2 fight that set every revenue record in boxing. “Nearly 4.5 million buys! More than $400 million in revenue! Headlines worldwide! How can that be bad for boxing? Because you lied. You promised action and entertainment and a battle for the ages, and you delivered none of the above. The problem is, that’s precisely how you want it.

“You should have fought Pacquiao five years ago, not five months ago. That, however, would have been too dangerous. Too risky. You’ve made a career out of being cautious. You won’t get in the ring unless you have an edge. Sure, you fought some big names. But they were past their prime. Hell, even when we fought in 2007 — and I barely lost a split decision — I was at the tail end of my career. Then later you took on Mexican megastar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but he was too young and had to drop too much weight.”

“I got into this business to take chances. I took on all comers in their prime,” he wrote. “The evidence? I lost. Six times.”

“The mantra of my firm Golden Boy Promotions is simple: the best taking on the best. It’s too bad you didn’t do the same,” De La Hoya wrote. “You took the easy way out. When you weren’t dancing around fading stars, you were beating up on outclassed opponents. A lot of your opponents were above-average fighters, but they weren’t your caliber. You’re a very talented fighter, the best defensive fighter of our generation. But what good is talent if you don’t test it?

“Muhammad Ali did. Sugar Ray Leonard did. You? Not a chance. You spent 2000 to 2010 facing forgettable opening acts like Victoriano Sosa, Phillip N’dou, DeMarcus Corley, Henry Bruseles and Sharmba Mitchell. There were guys out there — tough scary opponents like Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams — but you ran from them. Were you ever on the track team in high school? You would have been a star.

“Boxing will also be a better place without the Mouth. Your mouth, to be precise, the one that created ‘Money’ Mayweather. I know you needed that Money Mayweather persona. Before he and Golden Boy Promotions came along, nobody watched your fights. You couldn’t even sell out your hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Mouth made you money. More money than you could spend in a lifetime. (Wait, I’ve seen those episodes of 24/7. You probably will spend it all.) But the Mouth doesn’t have a place in boxing; save it for the WWE. Unless you’re someone like Ali, whose fights were as scintillating as his banter, the all-talk, no-entertainment model cheapens our sport. Boxers should speak with their fists and with their hearts. They don’t have to say anything to prove themselves. You’re going to have a legacy. You’ll be remembered as the guy who made the most money. As for your fights? We’ve already forgotten them.”

You’re moving on to a new phase of life now, a second act,” De La Hoya wrote. “I’m sure it will be nice not to have to train year-round. … But I’m wondering what you’re going to do. You have a lot of time and, at the moment, a lot of money. Maybe you’ll put your true skills to work and open a used-car dealership or run a circus. Or maybe you’ll wind up back on ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ It’s a job that’s safe, pays well and lets you run around on stage. Something you’ve been doing for most of your career.”

By Norm Frauenheim

Floyd Mayweather Jr. must love all the attention he’s getting this week. He’s retired – or so he says – and yet he’s still generating the kind of controversy that would inevitably erupt during the week before one of his fights. Oscar De La Hoya and Adrien Broner have gone Ronda Rousey on him.

It’s hard to figure, other than to say it’s just another chapter in social media’s voracious need for content. Say what you want about Mayweather, but he is TBE at using and maintaining his prominence in social-media.

His mastery of all the digital platforms propelled him to the GDP-like purse he collected for the pay-per-view blockbuster in a victory over Manny Pacquiao that will be remembered more for the number of tweets than the number of punches.

Broner’s profane rant on YouTube isn’t exactly a surprise. It’s also a redundancy to use profane and rant next to Broner’s name. Sorry for that. Still, it’s almost comical to see Broner — angry at Mayweather’s criticism of his October victory over Khabib Allakhverdiev — go off on his ex-hero. Broner did everything but flush TMT T-shirts and TBE caps down the same toilet that was a receptacle for some of his cash a few years ago. Maybe, that’s the sequel.

The surprise was De La Hoya’s letter in the latest issue of Playboy. It was honest. It was forthright. It was funny. De La Hoya summed up what so many are thinking: The business is better off without Mayweather. But why now? Why publish the dismissive farewell to Mayweather at the very time De La Hoya is promoting a Canelo Alvarez-Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.

De La Hoya has a fight that has the potential to say a lot more to Mayweather than any letter in Playboy could ever say. It’s a real chance for the business to get beyond the deflating hangover that still lingers from the public dismay over Mayweather-Pacquiao. Perhaps, the timing is just a result of the magazine’s publishing schedule. Deadlines can do things that writers don’t intend. It would have bee nice if De La Hoya had simply written: Mayweather? Who’s he? But that would not have been enough for Playboy, which is seeking a different kind of content these days. The magazine announced it wouldn’t publish nude photos anymore. About 10 days before Canelo-Cotto, however, I’d prefer a centerfold to De La Hoya’s letter.

Once the headlines subside, perhaps the business will be better for De La Hoya’s rhetorical swipe at his old rival. And, maybe, this is the opening salvo in a promotional rivalry that could evolve into the modern version of Bob Arum-versus-Don King. Arum-King was as entertaining and intense as anything that happened within the ring. It helped fuel the 1980s, one of the game’s best eras.

For now, however, I can only think that Mayweather has won another one. Inside and outside the ropes, he has always been able to dictate pace, style and timing. He’s doing it again. We’re talking about him when we should be talking about Canelo-Cotto.

PROVIDENCE (November 12, 2015) – Undefeated super welterweight contender Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (22-0, 15 KOs) is ready to participate in the proposed World Boxing Council (WBC) 154-pound division tournament to determine its successor for retired Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

A 2008 U.S. Olympian and 2007 AIBA World Championships gold medalist, Andrade is also a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) super welterweight champion, who was stripped of his title earlier this year due to inactivity.

The 27-year-old southpaw from Providence snapped a 16-month hiatus from the ring last month, stopping former South American champion Dario Fabian “El Gallo” Pucheta (20-3, 11 KOs) in the second round for the vacant WBO International super welterweight championship. Ineligible to be world ranked during his stretch as WBO champion and then inactivity, Andrade is now rated No. 3 by the WBC, as well as No. 4 by the WBO.

“I’m happy to be rated No. 3 by the WBC and will be honored to participate in its tournament,” Andrade said. “Hopefully, (Jermell) Charlo and (Austin) Trout will agree to fight in the tournament, so everyone will finally know who No. 1 in the 154-pound division is. I’m ready to prove myself again and I hope they step up to the challenge, too.”

Follow Demetrius Andrade on Twitter @AndradeATeam.

CHICAGO — November 5, 2015 — One of Chicago’s favorite sons, Mike “Hollywood” Jimenez, returns to the Windy City on November 25th in the main event at Fight Night at the Horseshoe, the popular Hitz Boxing fight series, where he will compete for the NABA Super Middleweight and the WBC Continental Americas Super Middleweight titles. Jimenez is coming off of a spectacular knockout win over Argentinian Francisco Ramon Benitez, a fight that earned Jimenez the UBF All-American Super Middleweight title. Jimenez’s fight with Benitez, which took place in Victoria, Australia, put Jimenez back in the win column after he suffered a highly-questionable stoppage versus Jesse Hart on the undercard of Mayweather-Pacquiao in May.

“It was a good opportunity for me to fight away from home, and be in a different realm,” said Jimenez of his last two fights. “It was good experience to fight around a different fan base where you don’t have the whole house going for you. You’re away from home, you don’t know anybody. It’s just you and the guy across the ring from you.”

Jimenez didn’t let the change in venue get into his head. “My mentality stays the same. I’m there to do one job – to take the guy out. At the end of the day, that’s really the only thing on my mind. Getting the win.”

Fighting away from home gave Jimenez a new appreciation for fighting in front of his friends, family and fans. “It means a great deal to me to come home to Chicago,” said Jimenez of his upcoming fight. “I have a little bounce in my step because the fights away from home are tough. Coming home, having all your friends, family, and the city behind me…it’s pretty exciting for me. More than anything I want to give them a good showing. I want to give them a big victory, and show my appreciation for everyone back home.”

Promoter Bobby Hitz expressed pride and excitement at “Hollywood’s” return. “We’re excited to have him back,” said Hitz. “I think it shows a lot of what he’s made of, how he rebounded so quickly, went halfway around the world and fought a tough fight to pick up that title. He didn’t sit and ponder what happened to him in the Jesse Hart fight. He just got back on his horse, went to a different country, a different part of the world, and won a tough fight over there. I’m excited to have him back home. Myself, the Chicago boxing community, Chicago’s boxing fans are eager to see him back in the ring at home.”

Doors to The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond open at 6:00 Wednesday, November 25th, and first bell is at 6:30. Tickets are priced $90 and 40, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. Boxing fans must be 21 years and older to attend events at the Horseshoe Hammond.

By Norm Frauenheim–

It’s been nearly three weeks since the boxing business was left to wonder whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. is really retired or already plotting a comeback.

Who knows? Better yet, who cares?

The bet here is that he’ll hint at a comeback throughout the next year and maybe longer just to prolong the guessing game. Above all, he loves to be in control of everything around him. Those hints, dropped at the right time and in the right place, are just another way of exerting that control.

For the rest of the business, however, the real task rests in how it proceeds in an attempt to redefine itself.

At this point, the GPS is a mix of conflicting signals. There’s some good news, of course. To wit: Adrien Broner (30-2, 22 KOs) — who tries to re-start his erratic career Saturday in hometown Cincinnati against Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-1, 9 KOs) in a Showtime bout — still isn’t talking to the mainstream media.

Hard to say whether Broner’s silence will last longer than Mayweather’s retirement or vice versa. Maybe, both are permanent. We can hope. Then again, odds against that Daily Double are higher than Andre Berto’s chances were against Mayweather on Sept. 12.

The big question is this: Who becomes the face of the battered game?

It’s beginning to look as if reigning heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko is getting closer to the end of ihs brilliant, yet unappreciated career. That much was evident last week when his bout with Tyson Fury was abruptly shelved by a calf injury sustained in training.

Meanwhile, Deontay Wilder’s status as Klitschko’s heir-apparent looked to be a little shaky last Saturday in a late-round TKO against Johann Duhaupas, a Frenchman who could have been Charles De Gaulle for all anybody knew. Or cared.

Turns out, not many cared. Wilder won, but the ratings for the NBC telecast were down in an ongoing ratings decline for Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) shows.

Above all, the business looks to be at an uncertain crossroads. But potential clarity looms, first at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Oct. 17 when middleweight Gennady Golovkin appears in his first pay-per-view bout against David Lemieux on an HBO card that also includes Mayweather’s pound-for-successor, Nicaraguan flyweight Roman Gonzalez against Brian Viloria.

The guess in this corner is that Golovkin blows away Lemieux in the mid-to-late rounds after the wild-swinging Lemieux exhausts himself in a furious and futile attempt to score a huge upset in the early going.

Lemieux is fun, but the Canadian just doesn’t have enough skill to hang with the unbeaten GGG.

The true mid-October test rests in how Golovkin does in the PPV market. Does anybody other than hardcore fight fans know the middleweight from Kazakhstan? We’ll see. If the PPV numbers are more than 300,000, it’ll be a pretty good jumping-off point for the next stage in GGG’s career.

Then, there’s Nov. 21 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay in an old-school revival of the Mexican-Puerto Rican rivalry with Mexico’s Canelo Avarez against Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto.

It promises to be a big money maker for all involved –fighters, promoters and HBO. It also could set the stage for a bout between GGG and the Canelo-Cotto winner in what would be another biggie and another reason to forget tired talk about what Mayweather will, or won’t, do.

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, The Floyd Mayweather – Andre Berto bout from last Saturday did not break 550,000 buys.

Industry sources said it could have done as low as 400,000 buys.

“Being generous, it might hit 550,000 buys,” one source said.

“I think Floyd is a victim of his own success,” said Stephen Espinoza of Showtime. “No matter what we did following that massive May 2 event, it was almost guaranteed to be viewed as a letdown. Was Mayweather-Berto the biggest Mayweather fight ever? No. But we got four very entertaining fights on the pay-per-view card and a historic night in that Floyd announced his retirement. All in all, we’re very happy with the event as a whole.”

As for the low sales, Espinoza offered a supposed cause.

“We know that a large chunk of the audience watches Floyd to see him lose,” he said. “And for those people, the best chance of somebody beating Floyd was Manny Pacquiao. So once Floyd beat Manny, and beat him definitively, a lot of the intrigue was gone. If Manny couldn’t beat him, nobody would beat him. So they didn’t buy the fight. I also think we were suffering a little bit of a hangover over from May 2.”

Espinoza acknowledged that the selection of a better and more dangerous opponent, such as Amir Khan or Keith Thurman, might have come close to the 1 million sales mark Mayweather usually generates.

“In short, the Mayweather deal has far exceeded our expectations financially. In 2½ years, we had six pay-per-view events that generated over 10 million pay-per-view buys and $800 million in gross revenue from domestic pay-per-view. No matter how you slice it, this deal is a huge win for Showtime, CBS and Floyd.”

Espinoza said that at some point he will talk to Mayweather, a five-division champion, about the prospect of returning to the ring.

“We’ll let some time pass before we have that conversation,” Espinoza said. “He’s been absolutely consistent in saying this is his last fight. He seemed very content and at peace with that after the fight. We show some of that in the locker room after the fight on the ‘All Access’ epilogue episode on Saturday night. It was like a farewell. But there will definitely be some texts and phone conversations and attempts to take his temperature on an ongoing basis.

“Personally, I don’t see a return to boxing for him in the near future. He’s been doing it for 19 years, and this countdown to his retirement has been in his head since he signed this deal. He felt a duty to play out all six fights in the timetable he promised he would, and now, he feels he has nothing left to prove. Where he’ll be in a year, nobody knows. But he seems pretty content with his decision.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

Reports of low pay-per-view sales for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto fight are more predictable than Mayweather’s victory.

Berto, after all, had a better chance at landing the proverbial lucky punch on Sept. 12 than a casual customer had at spending $74.95 for a high-definition telecast of a bout already defined as one sided by style, records and odds.

The only surprise at the reported numbers – anywhere from 400,000 to 550,000 – is that they were bigger than expected. At least, they were in this corner.

All the aforementioned reasons for not buying the Showtime production worked against a promotion that also was battling unprecedented pre-fight hype for Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao and a lingering hangover from that May 2 disappointment.

There’s more, however. The public, I suspect, is just sick-and-tired of Mayweather. Sick of seeing him pack his bags full of cash. Sick of his Ferraris and Bugatis. Sick of the TMT caps. Sick of the TBE T-shirts. Sick of the soap-opera string of controversies that this time around include Thomas Hauser’s story of a banned IV on the eve of the Pacquiao bout. Sick of the boring fights, too, although those bouts almost became an afterthought amid all of the other stuff generated by Mayweather’s money and lifestyle.

The Mayweather story, perhaps, is like any other. It has run its course. The media, especially the social wing, has moved onto other celebrities who can be targeted and exhausted from every angle, legit to twisted to wrong.

All of that is just another reason to think Mayweather is serious about retirement. Few believe him. But Mayweather has been more of a celebrity than a fighter since his 2007 victory over Oscar De La Hoya. He made more money than anybody in any sport not because of his evident athletic skill. He did it by being a celebrity who happened to be a terrific boxer. You can’t be either for too long. Sure, maybe, Mayweather comes back because he’s bored, or he needs to pay his legal fees. Maybe.

But what would his comeback be worth? Consider the Berto fight, which he vows was his last in a 49-0 career. He collected $32 million. Presumably, there was plenty still left in the bank from the Mayweather-Pacquiao GDP-like revenue to cover that paycheck.

But could he ever collect $32-mill in the ring again? The reported PPV for the Berto bout is reason to think he can’t. When Mayweather picked Berto, the guess here is that there was an underlying assumption his celebrity would sell the show. It didn’t.

For the guy who calls himself Money because he’s defined by it, there’s a message in numbers that are a little bit like the odds favoring him against Berto. Retirement with no chance at a comeback is the overwhelming choice.

By Bart Barry

Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena, American Floyd Mayweather decisioned American Andre Berto in a historically awful match Mayweather promised will be his last. By the late rounds, Berto, as near to an infinity-to-one underdog as pay-per-view has yet uncovered, compromised Mayweather’s attention span long enough to strike him cleanly perhaps a half-dozen times, and that was that. Berto called the fight “great” immediately after Mayweather called himself “great” immediately after another Las Vegas crowd booed itself hoarse through another final round of another Mayweather fight.

As he said himself after the absurd session with Berto: Floyd Mayweather is the best ever, just like Jim Gray – the man Showtime employs to hector punchdrunk fighters. Hell, in honor of the moment, we should go a bit further: Floyd Mayweather is bester than Jim Gray – who’s not even average. In fact, in a competition between the two record holders, Floyd for being the nth fighter to win 49 fights in a row and Gray for being the first interviewer realtime-bounced from World Series coverage for being a jackass, it’s not unreasonable to declare Floyd altogether bestest.

Repeatedly in that postfight flirtation, Mayweather referred to his records, plural, as opposed to his record, 49-0, which is his record the same as tens of thousands of fighters have their records, 0-1 or 27-3 or 173-19-6 (108 KOs) – Sugar Ray Robinson’s, for whatever it’s worth, which is probably quite little to The Money Team, no matter Robinson’s having well more than twice as many knockouts as The Best Ever has victories – and that might have prompted Gray to ask Floyd about his other records, but never mind. Floyd has boxing records, plural, in the equivocating, prepositional, SportsCenter-sense of the word: Floyd retires as the greatest fighter, to call Las Vegas home, after relocating from Michigan, while fighting in the last 25 years, after having been taught by his father, during a troubled childhood, before winning an Olympic bronze medal, without having beaten a single great fighter in his prime.

Someday, after Floyd is forgotten, a thing that will happen with lightning rapidity in the next decade, an enterprising young sportswriter in the year 2050 or so will decide a biography of Floyd is just the thing – and by then biographies will probably be virtualreality videogames in which the reader lives the subject’s life for a day or two – and he’ll marvel at his great good fortune at being the first man to have an idea like committing some years of his life to preserving the official record of a flamboyant American athlete who wore a gaudy cap with “TBE” on it (and whose father wore a Canadian-themed “TMT” hat in his corner during the final match of his career for reasons that, however unknown and unimaginable, somehow feel wonderful). What that ambitious young author will find on digifiche at his local bibliotech is a lack of quality writing about Mayweather that is disproportionate to Mayweather’s record.

“Surely,” he’ll think, “a black man beating everybody he fought and making hundreds of millions of dollars while calling himself ‘Money’ must’ve inspired soaring prose and an insight or two about the human condition.”

Actually, no. Actually, no, not at all. There were, are, plenty of excellent writers plying the craft during Mayweather’s career, but not one of them would call anything he wrote about Mayweather his life’s best work. The passion talented writers feel for Mayweather is akin to the passion Mayweather feels when seeing a new zero on the end of his savings-account balance: a jolt of energy followed by thoughts about more substantial things.

For there is something insubstantial about Mayweather and his record and his legacy and the current incarnation of the sport he now leaves. When I endeavor to think about memorable moments from his career – as I hope, after this column, to honor his retirement by never writing about him again – very little comes to mind. I thought about it Saturday night, and had an idea, and now it is Sunday morning, and I cannot remember even that idea. Let’s go freestyle and see if it comes: He bought some cars and won some bets and didn’t knock-out anyone but Victor Ortiz and said the same thing over and over and over and – wait, yes, now I recall.

It was during his award-winning (another record!) autodocureality-thing he did for Showtime during one of his forgettable promotions, and no matter how much money he flashed or slogans he shouted or hangerson he fluffed, always, in seemingly every scene, there was someone, and quite often most everyone, asleep in the peripherary. There would be Floyd, racing hither and yon round his Big Boy Mansion, riding his Big Boy Elevator, bouncing on his Big Boy Sofa, ordering his Big Boy Burger, courting Big Boy Bieber, and inevitably, someone in the shot would be acting sleepy. You can’t buy a personality, the subtitles read, and evidently Floyd hasn’t one.

I remember this too: I interviewed Floyd once – after waiting hours in the South Texas heat for Floyd to bless us, each journalist was allowed to ask Him one question – and when I asked about the epidemic of African-American incarceration by a for-profit prison system, Floyd told me he likes to focus on the positive because it’s not a black-and-white thing. It wasn’t just a thoughtless answer to the question I actually asked him; it was a witless answer to whatever voice played in Floyd’s head while I spoke. My interview with The Best Ever ranks about 93rd or so – give or take where Saturday’s match lands on an entertainment spectrum for anyone who’s been paying to watch boxing since Mayweather turned pro.

Since Floyd Mayweather asked the public to rank him immediately after his final match, here goes: Top 10 talent, Top 25 accomplishments. The end.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Saturday’s welterweight world championship between Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto will premiere on SHOWTIME® next Saturday, Sept. 19. The delayed telecast of Mayweather vs. Berto will include the junior lightweight world championship bout between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido II and will be immediately followed by the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. Berto Epilogue. The Sports Emmy Award-Winning “Epilogue” shines the spotlight on fight week and takes viewers inside the ropes and into the mind of a prizefighter like no other show on television.

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather Jr. said it was his last dance. If it was, he also got the last laugh.

In what he promised was his farewell fight Saturday night, Mayweather mocked Andre Berto. Beat him. too, for most of 12-one-sided rounds for a unanimous decision that put him alongside Rocky Marciano in the historical ledger at 49-0.

Everything, including his body language, said he would not fight again. He hugged and kissed his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., on the cheek before the start of the 12th and perhaps his final round.

After the 118-110, 117-110 and 120-108 scores were announced, he knelt at the center of the ring, pointed one of his green-gloved hands toward the ceiling and look up as if he were saying a goodbye prayer.

“My career is done,’’ Mayweather said.

After the ninth, he complained to his father about an injury to his left hand.

“It doesn’t matter whether I hurt my left hand or my right hand,’’ said Mayweather. who collected another $32 million guarantee in the sixth and final fight on his Showtime contract. “My career is over.’’

As definitive as his statement was in the wake of his victory over Berto, speculation will continue about whether he will pursue a 50th victory sometime in the spring, perhaps at a brand new Las Vegas arena scheduled to open next spring.

His decision to face Berto had been mocked the day it was announced. In the end, Mayweather managed to mock Berto, if not the mismatch, himself.

Sometimes, he moved robotically as if to mimic a tiring and clueless Berto. Sometimes, he moved as if had been hurt. He wasn’t. Mostly. He just made fun of Berto. At the strta of the 10th, Mayweather talked non-stop at Berto. Finally, referee Kenny Bayless called timeout and warned both.

“Just trash talk,’ said Mayweather, who hasn’t knocked anybody in eight years.

Berto was cheered for just about anything he attempted from the 13,395 in a crowd that began to fill a Grand Garden Arena that about 90 minutes before opening bell appeared to be nearly half empty.

In the early rounds, however, Berto must have felt like he was playing dodge-ball with a target always close enough to hit, yet always elusive enough to make him miss.

“He a great fighter,’’ said Berto, who didn’t call him greatest when as if he thought Mayweather was The Best Ever.
Berto will let history decide that one.

The rematch was supposed to settle the argument. It didn’t.

Instead, Orlando Salido and Roman Martinez have more to fight about after battling to a draw Saturday night in junior-lightweight bout on the Floyd Mayweather Jr .-Andre Berto card at the MGM Grand.

“I won this fight,’’ said Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs), a Puerto Rican who scored a unanimous decision over Salido in April

Salido (42-13-3, 29 KOs) was credited with a knockdown in the third. Martinez complained to no avail. Turns out, Martinez was right and referee Vic Drakulich wrong in ruling it a knockdown. Video replay showed that Salido stepped on Martinez’ foot, knocking him off balance and onto the canvas.

Later in the third, Martinez scored a legit knockdown, landing a big right that sent Salido back on his heels and onto his rear end. Salido was clearly hurt. But he was able to survive and then managed to drag the fight into the kind of bruising exchange he so often wins. He threw 1,037 punches. Martinez threw 691.

“I should have won,’’ Salido said. “That’s not fair.”

Anybody for a trilogy?

Badou Jack scored a first-round knockdown that proved to the key to a split-decision over George Groves in the first defense of his WBC super-middleweight bout.

Jonathan Oquendo of Puerto Rico and Johnny Gonzalez of Mexico opened the PPV part of the card in a super-featherweight bout that began with fireworks and then settled down into a battle of wits, survival and some blood. In the end, Oquendo (254, 16 KOs), prevailed, winning a 10-round majority decision after suffering a knockdown in the first round, knocking down Gonazlez (58-10, 49 KOs) in the second and sustaining a nasty cut on his legs ye;id in the sixth.

The Floyd Mayweather-Andre Berto show opened Saturday during the noon hour, or probably before Mayweather rolled out of bed.

In an empty MGM Grand Garden Arena, Atlanta junior-welterweight Trakwon Pettis didn’t waste any time in his pro debut. Pettis stopped Devante Seay (0-1) of Martinsville, Va., at 2:24 of the first round. He was done in time to catch a late lunch.

In the afternoon’s second matinee, London junior-welterweight Ashley Theopane (39-6-1, 11 KOs) outworked Steven Upsher (24-5-1, 6 KOs), winning a one-sided decision over the Philadelphia fighter who lost to Berto last year.

Then, Baltimore lightweight prospect Gervonta Davis (12-0, 11 KOs) took over with a fast and furious beating of Filipino Recky Delay (8-2, 5 KOs), who was down twice in the first and signaled to referee Russell Mora that he was done at 1:34 of the round.

In another afternoon beating, Romanian super-middleweight Ronald Gavril (13-1, 9 KOs) punished Scott Sigmon (25-7-1, 14 KOs) before the ringside physician ended it before the ninth.

A disciplined, patient Vanes Martirosyan waited as if he knew Ishe Smith would leap and lunge. Smith did. Not once, but twice. Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs), a middleweight from Glendale, Calif., capitalized both times, scoring knockdowns with well-timed counters late in the third round and again in the eighth for a majority decision over Smith (27-8, 12 KOs), a Mayweather-promoted fighter.

Dayton middleweight Chris Pearson (13-0, 10 KOs) rocked Canadian Janks Trotter (9-2-1. 9 KOs) repeatedly in the sixth and finally floored him in the seventh for a stoppage at 2:59 of the round.

In the last fight before the pay-per-view portion of the card, Uzbekistan junior-welterweight Sanjarbek Rakhmanov (2-0, 1 KO) rocked an overmatched, yet durable Farkhad Sharipov (4-5, 1 KO) of Kazakhstan repeatedly in scoring six-round unanimous decision.

Follow all the action as Floyd Mayweather fights in his final fight of his career against Andre Berto.  The action kicks off at 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT with a 4 fight undercard that will feature 2 world title bouts

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Round 1 Mayweather suing the left..lead left hook.

Round 2 Right from Berto..

Round 3 Mayweather landing rights to body..Double jab from Berto

Round 4 Jab from Berto..Lead left from Mayweather..body..Hard right..

Round 5 Counter right from Berto..Right from Mayweather..

Round 6 Good counter left from Berto…Hard body shots from Mayweather..left uppercurt…right hand..

Round 7 Right uppercut in inside from Mayweather..Berto works the body with the left hook..Left from Berto..

Round 8 Mayweather lands a left uppercut…terrific combination..1-2..Counter left from Berto…

Round 9 Berto jabs to the body…Right over top from Mayweather…

Round 10 Both guys are talking to each other..

Round 11 Lead left hook from Mayweather,,good uppercut..Nice combination…

Round 12 2 huge uppercuts on the inside from Mayweather,,counter right..jab to the body…right over the op…left uppercut…

117-111, 118-110 and 120-108

Punch Stats

Mayweather  232 of 410    Berto 83 of 495

Round 1 Uppercut on inside from Martinez..Salido lands a combination…Combination from Martinez

Round 2 Hard right from Salido..combination..

Round 3 Right FROM SALIDO AND RULED A KNOCKDOWN..Jab from Martinez…LEFT AND DOWN GOES SALIDO..Big right from Martinez

Round 4 Huge right buckles Salido..Counter right from Salido..

Round 5 Hard right from Salido and a left hook..Jab from Martinez..

Round 6 terrific action…Salido pressing

Round 7 Jab from Salido..another jab..hook…

Round 8 Hard right from salido..

Round 9 Right from Martinez..Right from Salido on the inside..uppercut in the inside..Martinez lands a right..Hard combination by Salido…Hard combination,..

Round 10 Martinez landing hard shots in the counter…counter left hook and right from Salido..terrific exchange..

Round 11 Big right from Salido

Round 12 great infighting..Martinez lands a left hook….

115-113 Martinez, 115-113 Salido, 114-114—-DRAW

Punches Martinez: 189- 691    Salido 285- 1037

Round 1: Jack lands a jab..Double left hook and right from Groves..right..Good right…HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN Goes groves…

Round 2 Jack lands a jab..combination from Groves..Body and right..Combination from Jack…Counter from Groves..

Round 3 Body shot from Goves…Trading jabs…1-2 from Jack..

Round 4 Groves lands a right over the top..right uppercut

Round 5 Right from Jack..Good right from Groves..

Round 6 1-2 from Jack..Jab and right from Groves..another right..

Round 7 Body shot from Jack…Hard right from Groves

Round 8 Hard right from Groves

Round 9 Good right from Jack…

Round 10 Groves lands a jab that buckles Jack..Sharp right from Jack..

Round 11 Left to the body from Jack..left hook to the jaw..

Round 12 Body work from Jack…Groves lands a right…trading good rights..Groves lands a hard right that sets off a great exchange

114-113 Groves; 115-112 Jack; 116-111 Jack

Punch stats: Jack 210- 506    Groves 154- 721

Round 1: Uppercut by Gonzalez..BIG UPPEERCUT AND DOWN GOES OQUENDO…

Round 2 Right uppercut from Gonzalez…3 punch combination…Blood over the right eye of Gonzalez..right from Oquendo…HUGE RIGHT AND DOWN GOES GONZALEZ…Big left staggers Gonzalez…

Round 3 Good body work from Gonzalez..Straight right from Oquendo..Left hook…Combination from Gonzalez..Oquendo switches southpaw..Body shot from Oquendo..

Round 4 Combination from Oquendo..left hook..Jab to the body..left hook..right

Round 5 Left to body from Oquendo

Round 6: Overhand right from Oquendo..Triple Jab…Good right from Gonzalez..Nice Left

Round 7 Left hook from Gonzalez..Jab..Oquendo working the body…Gonzalez lands a hard right..

Round 8: Gonzalez cut over left eye from accidental headbutt…Left and right from Gonzalez..Jab…Jab from Oquendo drives Gonzalez to the corner..

Round 9 Doctor looking at cuts on Gonzalez…

Round 10 

94-94; 95-93 and 98-90 for Oquendo

Punch stats:  Gonzales –139 of 502    Oquendo: 100 of 455

Round 1: Good left from Smith

Round 2  Jab from Martiroysan…Combination..Right to the body..Counter left from Smith

Round 3:  2 shots to the body from Martirosyan..Left from Smith..Counter left..RiGHT FROM MARTIROSYAN AND RULED A KNOCKDOWN

Round 4:  Jab from Martirsyan…right…right to body from Smith,,,Nice right from Martirosyan..

Round 5:  Good combination from Smith..Good uppercut..Good combination..right lead..3 punch combination..counter right…

Round 6:  Good combination..right to body and left to the head..Body…Combination..

Round 7: Smith lanleft to head and left uppercut..lands a left..right

Round 8: Huge LEFT AND DOWN GOES SMITH

Round 9 Nice combination from Smith..good left to body and head..Swelling under the right eye of Martirosyan..Left..

Round 10  Good right from Smith

95-95; 97-91 two times Martirosyan

By Norm Frauenheim

Las Vegas — Floyd Mayweather has his “May-Vinci “ code.

He was talking about Leonardo and not Roberta, of course.

Nobody knew who Roberta was until Friday when the tennis side of the Vinci family put together her own Leonardo Da Vinci-kind-of-masterpiece in a huge upset of Serena Williams at the U.S. Open.

The upset of Williams was an inevitable angle at the weigh-in Friday for the Mayweather-Andre Berto fight Saturday night (Showtime PPV, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Williams’ dominance of women’s tennis is the equivalent of Mayweather’s prize-fighting reign. Williams has looked unbeatable and Mayweather has been.

The question after Berto and Mayweather stepped off the scale was inevitable.

Two huge upsets in successive days?

“Of course,’’ said Berto, who is probably as unknown to tennis fans as Roberta Vinci is to the boxing crowd.

Of course, that’s exactly what Berto would say. But the odds say something else. Berto was a 30-to-1 underdog at the MGM sports book when he stepped off the scale at 145 pounds Friday afternoon. His best shot, perhaps his only one, is the proverbial one-punch knockout. He was a 20-to-1 shot to pull that one off.

Translation: Berto, who will collect $4 million, has no chance at all. Put it this way: Chances are better that Mayweather won’t be controversial. Maybe, historical upsets come in pairs. If they do, Mayweather is headed for sainthood.

The “May-Vinci code, a take off on a popular film starring Tom Hanks, was Mayweather’s way of summing up his defensive genius before his two fights against Marcos Maidana. Nobody could crack it and nobody has. That’s why he is poised to equal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 milestone against Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) in the sixth and final fight on a Showtime contract he signed 30 months ago.

There are potential distractions. A story by Thomas Hauser broke Thursday in SB Nation about Mayweather undergoing a banned IV after the weigh-on on the day before his victory over Manny Pacquiao on May 2. There is controversy about Arizona Cardinals assistant coach Jen Welter accepting a Mayweather invitation to the Berto fight because of his history of domestic violence.

But controversy is nothing new in the weeks and days before any Mayweather fight. It’s almost expected. Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) is no stranger to any of it. Perhaps, it’s part of the theater. Or perhaps it’s marketing. Or perhaps it’s just Mayweather being himself. Or maybe it all of the above.

Whatever it is, Mayweather insists he is doing it for the last time despite the chance to surpass Marciano’s record and at putting more money into a bank account that is guaranteed another $32-million for the Berto fight.

“Last time I’m getting off a scale,’’ he said after weighing 146 pounds for what he says his final pro fight.

Really? It might take another Vinci to figure that one out.

NOTES: The televised portion of the pay-per-view card includes three fights before Mayweather-Berto. The televised card begins with Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) at super-featherweight against Jonathan Oquendo (25-4. 16 KOs). Each was at 129 pounds Friday. …Mexican Orlando Salido (42-13-2. 29 KOs) fights for the WBO’s 130-pound title against Roman Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs). Salido was at the junior-lightweight mandatory Friday. Martinez tipped the scales at 129.5. … In a third televised bout, super-middleweight Badou Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) fights for the WBC title against George Groves (22-2, 16 KOs) Jack was at 167.5 pounds. Groves, of Britain, was at 168. A crowd of about 6,000 was at the weigh-in. Many were from the UK. “I was going to say it’s great to be back in London,’’ Groves told his cheering countrymen.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Reports of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s intravenous injection for possible dehydration on the day before his victory over Manny Pacquiao is clouding his potential farewell fight against Andre Berto Saturday with controversy amid questions about fairness, transparency and the procedures employed by the drug-testing bureaucracy.

In an explosive story posted by SB Nation before Wednesday’s Mayweather-Berto news conference at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, author Thomas Hauser, also a Home Box Office employee, reported that Mayweather underwent a banned IV after the weigh-in for the May 2 fight.

The reported substance, saline and vitamins, is legal, according to World Doping Agency (WADA) rules, which are followed by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). USADA conducted the Mayweather-Pacquiao testing. But the method is illegal. According to WADA guidelines, an IV can mask a banned substance.

In a statement Thursday, Mayweather denied any wrongdoing, saying he “did not commit any violations of the Nevada or USADA drug testing guidelines.”

But the current controversy continues amid questions about USADA’s timing in its approval of Mayweather’s IV. According to USADA’s contract with Mayweather and Pacquiao, an exemption for IV use could be granted for therapeutic reasons. USADA discovered Mayweather had used an IV when it visited him for a test at his Las Vegas home after the May 1 weigh-in.

According to Hauser’s report, however, Mayweather did not formally apply for the exemption until May 19, 17 days after the fight. USADA granted him the exemption on the next day, May 20, 19 days after he underwent the IV.

“Although Mr. Mayweather’s application was not approved until after his fight with Mr. Pacquiao and all tests results were reported, Mr. Mayweather did disclose the infusion to USADA in advance of the IV being administered to him,’’ USADA said Thursday in a statement.

The reports about documents dated after the fact come in the wake of condemnations for the way Pacquiao disclosed an injury to his right shoulder at the news conference immediately after losing a one-sided decision to Mayweather on May 2 in a fight that generated record revenues.

According to Pacquiao, manager/adviser Michael Koncz and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Pacquiao asked for an exemption for an injection of Toradol, a pain-killer. The Nevada State Athletic Commission denied the request, saying it was not done “in a timely manner.’’

Thus far, however, it’s not clear how – or even if – USADA and the Nevada commission communicate.

Bob Bennett, executive director of the Nevada Commission, told the media on Thursday that only the Commission can grant exemptions. USADA did not inform the Commission of Mayweather’s IV until three days after the fight, he said.

Pacquiao’s representatives said they had told USADA that they wanted an injection of Toradol for the ailing shoulder before opening bell. When the Commission learned about the planned injection, it intervened, saying it had not been formally notified.

Pacquiao blamed the shoulder injury for his sub-par-performance. He had the shoulder in a sling when he met Filipino media in his Las Vegas hotel suite the morning after and underwent surgery about a week later.

Lawsuits across the nation were filed after Mayweather-Pacquiao. The plaintiffs allege that the bout was fraudulent. They are seeking damages and class-action status. Allegations already include a failure to disclose Pacquiao’s shoulder injury. Controversy over Mayweather’s IV might become another one.

NEW YORK – September 10, 2015 – For the first time ever, fans will be able to watch a SHOWTIME PPV boxing event on their computers and mobile devices via cbs.com/fight, as Floyd Mayweather puts his undefeated record on the line, in what Mayweather says will be his final fight, against two-time world champion Andre Berto this Saturday (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT).

CBS Interactive Advanced Media will stream the pay-per-view event to U.S.-based users at cbs.com/fight for $64.99. The purchase includes access to additional fight week events streamed live at cbs.com/fight:

Weigh-in Live – Fri., 9/11, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT
Countdown Live – Sat., 9/12, 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
The four fight pay-per-view telecast – Sat., 9/12, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
In addition to the main event, the live stream will also feature three undercard fights. Roman “Rocky” Martinez will risk his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch of a Fight of the Year candidate against the boxer he dethroned, four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido. In addition, Badou Jack “The Ripper” will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves, and Mexico’s Jhonny Gonzalez will face Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo in a 10-round super featherweight bout.

With the pay-per-view purchase of the fight online, U.S.-based users will also receive a three month free trial of CBS All Access, the subscription video on demand and live streaming service for the CBS Television Network. For more information on CBS All Access, visit cbs.com/allaccess.

Mayweather vs. Berto, a 12-round welterweight world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA 147-pound titles, is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, LLC and sponsored by Tecate. The event will take place Saturday, September 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Sept. 10, 2015) – The fighters who will appear on the stacked, action-packed “HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto” undercard this Saturday, September 12 live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena took part in their final press conference Thursday at MGM Grand.

In the three pay-per-view fights preceding Saturday’s main event between Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) and Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), Roman “Rocky” Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will defend his WBO Junior Lightweight Title in a rematch against four-time world champion Orlando “Siri” Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), Badou Jack “The Ripper” (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World Title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves (21-2, 16 KOs) and former three-time world champion and Mexican power-puncher Jhonny Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) will be opposed by Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo (25-4, 16 KOs) in a 10-round 130-pound match.

Former IBF World Champion Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith (27-7, 12 KOs) and longtime top-10 contender Vanes Martirosyan (35-2-1, 21 KOs), who will clash in a scheduled 10-round junior middleweight fight during “COUNTDOWN LIVE: Mayweather vs. Berto” telecast live on SHOWTIME® (6:30 p.m./3:30 p.m. PT), were also in attendance.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC. are priced at $1,500, $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per household for all ticket prices except the $150 ticket category, which is limited to four (4) per household. To charge by phone or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters had to say Thursday:

ROMAN MARTINEZ

“I understand that Salido is a strong fighter. We know each other well. That is why we trained very hard for this fight, even harder than for our first. I look forward to gaining this victory for all of Puerto Rico.

“The exposure for this fight is amazing; the entire world is going to be watching. We are so accustomed to each other and we understand that we have to put forth a tremendous performance on a card of this magnitude.

“I want to continue to be a world champion for all of Puerto Rico. I’m in peak condition and I’m ready to get the win.

“Salido can say whatever he wants. I know him and I was able to knock him down in the first fight. I’m confident I can go finish him.

“I understand why this fight is happening. Who wouldn’t want to see us go at it again? But I thought I clearly won the first time, and I am confident I will win again on Saturday.’’

ORLANDO SALIDO

“You saw what happened the last time we fought. You know this is going to be a spectacular matchup. I know Rocky very well and I know he is a smart fighter. Last time I got out of my game plan. This fight, I’m focused and looking forward to a great fight.

“I’m a better fighter than he is. I know that Martinez is going to run, but I’m in great condition to seek him and get the victory.

“It’s about getting on the inside for me. Martinez is an intelligent fighter and he knows how to use his reach. If I can get inside his chest and attack the body I will get the win.

“It’s going to be the best fight of the night. We’re going to exchange blows and pick up where we left off. I’m treating this like it is the biggest fight of my career and I can’t wait to demonstrate my skills one more time.”

BADOU JACK

“I’m very excited for this fight. We had a tremendous camp. We’re ready to go. I don’t talk much. I’m all about fighting.

“Groves is absolutely not in my head. I’m focused and mentally strong on my task at hand. I won my biggest fight that I’ve had up to date, he didn’t. He has had two shots at the title and has lost them both.
“Groves got famous for getting knocked out by Carl Froch. He’s a good fighter, but I’m very comfortable that I’m going to beat him.

“I just stay focused on what I have to do. No one is getting under my skin.

“I’ve always believed in myself. Things happen in boxing. I worked hard and that’s how I got to this moment.

“I’ve always been the underdog in my opinion. I like it. It motivates me. I’m going to prove my worth Saturday night.”

GEORGE GROVES

“It’s great to be here. I’m happy to have my shot at the title. We’re ready. I’ve been traveling to Vegas to box since I was 13-years-old. Year after year I’ve always been successful out here, always with knockouts.

“British boxers have been doing well in the ring as of late, but there is no extra pressure or incentive. We’re very prepared. We know what we need to know about Jack. We wish him luck, because he’s going to need it.

“It’s a huge fight for me with the title on the line. I’ve been involved with higher competition but I haven’t taken my eye off of Badou Jack. We’re looking forward to a good win on Saturday.

“Training up in Big Bear was great. The first week I realized the difference in the heat and altitude. But mostly I love being isolated. Out here it’s peace, I’m purely in camp. No other distractions.

“I’m confident of winning. I’m always confident of winning. The best way to describe this fight is that Badou Jack is a good fighter, but I’m a better fighter. I’m better than him at every phase of the game.

JHONNY GONZALEZ

“This is my second fight at 130 pounds and I feel much more comfortable, stronger, confident and secure than I did at 126.

“It is tremendous to be on this fight card. This is going to be a terrific fight. I’ve trained hard and I’m ready to go on Saturday. The reality is, this is the type of fight that can bring me a step closer to in another world title.”

JONATHAN OQUENDO

“The main key, whether I box or slug, is to fight smart. I’m very excited for this opportunity. It means a lot to me to be on a card of this magnitude. I’m excited to weigh in tomorrow.

“When you have Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, you get a war. I have no doubt there will be blood in the ring. Jhonny Gonzalez is very experienced and was a great champion, and I thank him for taking this fight. I look forward to getting in the ring Saturday.”

ISHE SMITH

“When I fought Cornelius Bundrage for the title, I knew I had to win. I had a lot of pressure on me. There was no doubt I had to win. It’s the same thing now. Vanes is a good fighter, but I have to win. I’ve had to bring myself up from the bottom.

“All of the other promoters gave up on me, but Leonard Ellerbe and Floyd took a chance on me and I’ll always be grateful.

“Vanes is a good fighter. It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I have to win. I have no choice. “

VANES MARTIROSYAN

“Ishe is a good fighter. He’s been in with a lot of tough guys. I have a lot of respect for him. It’s going to be a really good fight.

“It’s a blessing to be here. I had a really good camp and I’m excited that the fight is here. It’s great to be a part of a show like this.

“I can’t wait for this fight. You’re all going to see ‘The Nightmare’ on Saturday night.”

# # #

“HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Tecate. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). The co-main event will feature a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido for the WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The Martinez vs. Salido fight will follow Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack “The Ripper” making his first defense of the WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves. The Jack vs. Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. The first pay-per-view televised fight is a 10-round super featherweight showdown featuring Mexican power puncher Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo. The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP).

Mayweather vs. Berto will be shown on the big screen in theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

LONDON (10 Sept) – Boxing star Amir Khan will be BoxNation’s special guest analyst for Floyd Mayweather’s final fight against Andre Berto and has backed his stablemate to cause a ‘big surprise’.

‘The Channel of Champions’ will be showing the legendary Mayweather’s last outing exclusively live in the UK, with Khan making up a knowledgeable trio of on-air talent which also includes charismatic presenter Steve Bunce and two-weight world champion Steve Collins.

The star-studded guest list will see Irish hero Collins, who has shared the ring with some of Britain’s biggest names including Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, now sharing the couch with another in Khan as they bring BoxNation subscribers their unique and privileged insight.

28-year-old Khan was in the running to face the undefeated Mayweather this Saturday night but was left at the altar after the pound-for-pound king opted to face the hard-hitting Berto instead.

The two-time world champion though, who trains with Berto, is giving his full backing to his stablemate and thinks Floyd will be in for a shock if he has underestimated the all-action Haitian.

“It would be foolish for Floyd to go in there thinking that Berto is a pushover or an easy fight. I know how motivated Berto is for this fight and have seen all the graft he’s done in the gym during previous camps so he’s going to bring it on Saturday, no doubt,” said Khan.

“Floyd has been around a long time and has the experience so I don’t think he’s going to underestimate Berto. But you never know though, after Pacquiao there’s a chance he could go in there with less motivation but he says it’s his last fight so that will push him.

“If Floyd does overlook Berto then he’s in for a big surprise because Berto has the power to hurt him. I think no matter what, Berto is going to leave it all in the ring and will make sure he gives the fans an exciting fight,” he said.

The Olympic silver medalist believes that Berto has to make the fight as uneasy for the 38-year-old Mayweather as possible if he hopes to upset the odds and claim the WBC and WBA welterweight world titles.

Berto’s speed, and esteemed trainer Virgil Hunter’s tactics, are also keys to winning the fight.

“Floyd is used to guys pressing him and looking to push him back, and to a certain extent that has caused him problems like in the first Maidana fight but he’s very good at making adjustments and dealing with that,” Khan said.

“Berto will need to do bits of that in the fight but also use his speed at the right times. He’s quicker than Maidana and that will be an advantage for him because Floyd hasn’t been in with many quick guys in recent years and as you age your reflexes aren’t as sharp.

“I know Virgil will have a few game plans for the fight because against Mayweather you can’t just have one plan – you have to go in there with several and you need to know when to use and implement them.

“I know Berto is going to give Floyd a tougher fight than most people are expecting,” Khan said.

The bout represents Mayweather’s 49th fight and after a glittering 19-year-career, the five-weight 12-time world champion claims that this will be his last matchup before hanging up the gloves.

Khan, however, is unconvinced that Mayweather will call it a day, especially if he equals Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.

“I know Floyd has talked about this being his last fight but I can’t see it,” Khan said.

“To beat Marciano’s record when it is touching distance away isn’t an easy thing to walk away from. If he gets the win on Saturday then I’m sure we’ll see him in the ring next year.

“He’s had a great career and will want to end it with a bang, and what better way than beating Marciano’s record,” said Khan.

Mayweather v Berto / Groves v Jack is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525 and TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 9, 2015) – Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto participated in the final press conference for “HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto” on Wednesday at the David Copperfield Theatre at the MGM Grand ahead of their major showdown taking place this Saturday, Sept. 12 live on SHOWTIME PPV (8 p.m. E/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line when he faces power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Berto (30-3, 23 KOs). Three days before they meet in the ring, the two fighters and their camps were business-like and confident as they took their turns at the podium.

Here is what the fighters and executives had to say Wednesday:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER

“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 and mentally. We have a remarkable game plan.

“I want to thank everyone that has covered this event and my career over 19 years. Whether it was a good story or a bad story, you guys wrote about me and kept me relevant. That’s how I was able to do record breaking numbers.

“Training camp was unbelievable, like always. I was asked if I’d be able to get in top condition after the Pacquaio fight and I absolutely did. No matter who I chose, the critics would have something to say.

“I know what it takes for a fight at this magnitude. No matter what anyone says, it comes down to the two competitors and I know what I can do. One thing I can do, I can fight.

“When we talk about landing the highest percentage, I’m that guy. When we talk about doing the highest gate or PPV, I’m that guy.

“I can’t say I’m going out 49-0 because you can’t overlook anyone.

“Every fight played a major key. It’s not just the intelligence; it’s the sharp mind, the good chin, the tremendous heart. I never overlooked an opponent. I trained for every fighter the same way, by pushing myself. I believe in my skills and I believe in my talent. I’ve been in there with the best, and the results are always the same.

“You have fighters that may be faster than me, there are fighters that may hit harder than me, you have fighters who are very athletic, but you don’t have a fighter who can make adjustments like me. You don’t have fighters that can be on my level mentally.

“It’s never personal for me, it’s always business. Everyone fights for what they fight for. My thing is this; I keep my eyes on the prize. I don’t focus on things outside the ring. I focus on the guy in front of me.

“You get to where you get to by staying focused. My dream was to be the best. No matter what happens Saturday, when it comes to boxing, I’m the best at this.

“Some guys wanted to rush me, well what’s plan B? Pacquiao could set traps for other fighters, but he couldn’t set traps for Floyd Mayweather. You need a plan A, a plan B and a plan C. I’ve never beaten a fighter with my plan A.

“Berto you’ve had a hell of a career. You’re a tough fighter and competitor. It’s obvious you’ve done something right. My thing is, just put guys in front of me, and we’ll rate him after they face me.

“To be in the sport of boxing and make upwards of $800 million, my team has done their job. I’ve never focused on things on the outside. I’ve never put anything before boxing. At 4:30 in the morning when my opponent is sleeping, I’m working. I don’t want to leave anything in this sport.

“No fighter in history has been in bigger fights than me. No fighter in history has beat more champions than I’ve beat. But it’s not over yet. I’m going to push myself. I can go to places where no fighter can go mentally.

“The sport of boxing needs this. Berto is a tough, young, hungry fighter and that’s what we need to bring the best out of us. I’m going to come forward and be Floyd Mayweather. Trainers and fighters try to find ways to throw fighters off, but I know what to do when it’s all said and done.

“I want my legacy to be of a remarkable fighter inside the ring and a great businessman outside of it.

“We’re going for the knockout. I’m pretty sure he’s going for the knockout. It’s going to be something special.”

ANDRE BERTO

“It’s funny, when it comes to the media and critics. They’re not in that gym working and knowing the feeling of being a fighter. They don’t know the miles we run and the sacrifices that we have to make to become a world champion or come up to this level of fight.

“This camp has been intense. It has definitely taken me up to levels that I’ve never achieved. We’ve left no stone unturned, I’ve busted my ass for the last couple months.

“Anybody that steps in the ring, I have to respect. When it’s time to fight, I’m coming for my respect. Saturday night is going to be a good one I promise you.

“I’ve given my whole life to this sport. I’ve come in and I’ve entertained the people. That’s what I do. That’s why I came into this game. I’ve been counted out from day one coming from where I come from.

“I’m just coming for my respect. I’m coming for everything that I deserve.

“At the end of the day, I have to be able to take my game to a whole other level. Sometimes you need that opponent to get you to that point, and Floyd is the one.

“He has a great IQ, but one shot can change it all.

“You can be smart, you can be fast, but this is boxing.

“Floyd is sharp of course, but I have certain tools that I believe will make it a real difficult Saturday night. We’re going for the knockout. You definitely don’t want to miss it.

“This is huge for Haiti. The country of Haiti is just elated right now and Saturday night they will definitely be in the building. Saturday night will be historical for the country. This is the first time that an individual has been on this level to represent the country.

FLOYD MAYWEATHER SR., Mayweather’s Father & Trainer

“I see a real fight on Saturday. Don’t get me wrong because I don’t know what’s going on but I really think Floyd is coming to fight.

“I know Berto’s coming to fight. One thing I’ve seen from Berto is that he has no defense – and he’s messing with a defensive whiz.

“I definitely think Floyd will trap him somewhere along the way.

“Floyd respects Berto and is not overlooking him, but he might just stop him, it’s very possible.’’

VIRGIL HUNTER, Berto’s Trainer

“There are some things that a lot of people don’t understand. When you have two guys who were born in situations where they try to prove who the king of the school is, you get some real fights.

“I think about Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila”, when people thought he was done, but he fought over his head. Does Andre Berto have that capability? Yes, of course he does. We see it all the time in sports. There are nights when it just happens. Andre Berto is going to take it over his head and that’s what he intends to do and what he has to do.

“We can’t match his IQ, but there are other elements that make a successful fight. There is something brewing in the air. I’ve been around a long time and I know when something is personal. You better tell your people to tune-in for this fight. Trust me; it’s going to be a rumble.

“I’ve seen Floyd’s Plan B. I’ve seen him go to war. I’ve seen him rumble with guys bigger than him. I’m not going to be swayed by his skill. This fight is going to be fought from way deep down.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions

“We are thrilled that this fight night will be filled with high stakes matchups all night. We have a tremendous fight card. Of course, the main event has the highest stakes of them all as Andre Berto will be taking on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather.”

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

“Six fights in 30 months. Floyd, they said you wouldn’t do it, they said you couldn’t do it and once again you proved them wrong. The first five fights yielded nearly 10 million PPV buys, $750 million in PPV receipts and it’s all led here to fight number six, fight number 49.

“19 years undefeated, 17 consecutive years as world champion, 16 consecutive opponents who are former or current champions. On Saturday night none of that matters. Andre Berto isn’t fighting a legacy or a record book or history, he’s fighting a man, and men can lose.

“The conventional wisdom is that Floyd is going to win this fight, but conventional wisdom said that the first Maidana fight would be easy for Floyd. It said Canelo would be Floyd’s toughest challenger and it said Pacquiao could beat Mayweather. It didn’t account for Hasim Rahman or Buster Douglas and it certainly won’t account for Andre Berto’s heart or desire to rewrite boxing history on Saturday night.

“Like you, I don’t know what will happen on Saturday night. I do know that Berto is more athletic than any fighter Floyd has fought recently. One thing I do know, it’s not going to be boring. When you have fighters like our entire PPV card has, it’s a night not to be missed.”

RICHARD STURM, President of Entertainment & Sports for MGM Resorts International

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this championship fight between Mayweather and Berto that will kick off a sensational fall lineup of entertainment at MGM. We all look forward to history as Floyd looks to end his career at 49-0 and equal the record of Rocky Marciano that has stood since September 1955.

“We are pleased to welcome back Andre Berto. Berto will take on one of the sport’s greatest champions and there is no doubt he will be prepared for the challenge.”

BOB BENNETT, President of the Nevada State Athletic Comission

“There is no doubt that any commission in the world would be elated to have this fight, just like we are. We’re very appreciative of Floyd Mayweather for having this show in our backyard. The NSAC actually commissioned Floyd’s first fight 19 years ago and to date we have regulated 25 out of 49 of Floyd’s fights come this Saturday night when he tries to tie Rocky Marciano’s record.

“It’s been our honor and privilege to regulate these fights. Our officials spend a lot of time in training and we’re ready to go to work come Saturday night.”

* * *

“HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Tecate. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). The co-main event will feature a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido for the WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The Martinez vs. Salido fight will follow Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack “The Ripper” making his first defense of the WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves. The Jack vs. Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. The first pay-per-view televised fight is a 10-round super featherweight showdown featuring Mexican power puncher Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo. The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP).

Mayweather vs. Berto will be shown on the big screen in theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

LONDON (9 Sept) – British ace George Groves says he’s ready to burst onto the world scene as he challenges for the WBC world title in Floyd Mayweather’s final bout.

The 27-year-old takes on super-middleweight champion Badou Jack this Saturday night, live and exclusive on BoxNation, on the undercard of pound-for-pound king Mayweather’s last fight against Haitian hard-hitter Andre Berto.

It’s been a whirlwind career for Londoner Groves who has twice fought for the world title, those being two defeats to rival Carl Froch, but having bounced back with two wins including capturing the European title he insists he is ready to now take the boxing world by storm.

“Every fight is more vital than that last, more important than the last and there’s more to lose, especially once you’ve lost,” said Groves.

“I came back after losing last year and won the European title, I became the mandatory of the WBC. Since then we’ve been rolling and waiting for our opportunity to fight for the WBC belt. We knew it would come so we’ve been patient with it.

“People will consider this a 50-50 match up. We’re going to go in there and show people that they couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re in a great place and we’re just ready to perform, to steal the show and arrive on the world scene.

“So all the pressures and all the excitement and everything else that goes with fighting for the world championship, I don’t feel any of it because to me, it’s just a fight,” Groves said.

Hammersmith hero Groves has spent the last two months training in the US at Big Bear Lake, undergoing gruelling mountain runs to whip him into shape.

Up against Jack he’ll face an opponent with a record of 19 wins, with just one loss and a draw on his record, but Groves insists the Swedish born fighter won’t be on his level.

“We have plenty of motivation up here in the mountains. We’re working hard. It’s been a lifelong dream to become world champion. We’re just concentrating on Badou Jack,” Groves said.

“This is a fight against a good guy, but a guy who is not as good as me. For that reason, we’re just looking forward to getting in there and performing. And winning and everything that goes with it.

“Without trying to give too much away about the game plan, we know Jack’s strengths. We know his weaknesses. We plan to go in there, nullify his strengths and expose the weaknesses.

“But we’re in phenomenal shape. First we came up here, I was in good shape. I was struggling to breathe because of the altitude. But now, we are flying. We’re getting better results than we do back in London when we’re out in flat land and there’s more oxygen.

“We’re going to go bring the fight to Badou Jack. Make sure he works for every second of every round. From there on in, the game plan will develop,” he said.

31-year-old Jack, a Mayweather Promotions fighter, came to prominence with his majority decision victory over Anthony Dirrell in April of this year to win the WBC world title.

The 168-pound champion is unfazed at Groves’ confidence going into the bout and says he will do his big talking in the ring.

“For me it’s just another fight. I’m not a trash talker. I don’t get into all that trying to get into your mind and stuff,” said Jack.

“I’m staying focused on winning the fight. I might seem like a quiet guy or something like that, but come fight night, in the ring, it’s going to be a different story.

“It’s a 50-50 fight and I think that’s where you don’t know who’s going to win. That’s what makes it so exciting. I believe I’m the better fighter and I’m 110 percent confident that I’m going to win this fight,” he said.

Mayweather v Berto / Groves v Jack is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525 and TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 8, 2015) – The countdown to “HIGH STAKES: Floyd “Money” Mayweather vs. Andre Berto” continued Tuesday afternoon as Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto made their Grand Arrivals at MGM Grand in Las Vegas before their fight this Saturday, Sept. 12 live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. E/5 p.m. PT) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

In what is expected to be the final fight of his illustrious 19-year career, boxing superstar and pound-for-pound king Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) will put his undefeated record and WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships on the line against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Berto (30-3, 23 KOs).

Also making their Grand Arrivals Tuesday were the six other talented fighters who will compete on the four-fight pay-per-view telecast: Roman “Rocky” Martinez, Orlando “Siri” Salido, Badou Jack “The Ripper”, “Saint” George Groves, Jhonny Gonzalez and Jonathan “Polvo” Oquendo.

In world title fights, Martinez (29-2-2, 17 KOs) will risk his WBO Junior Lightweight title in a rematch against the boxer he dethroned, four-time world champion Salido (42-13-2, 29 KOs), and Jack (19-1-1, 12 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger Groves (21-2, 16 KOs). Opening the telecast will be a 10-round junior lightweight showdown between former three-time world champion and Mexican power-puncher Gonzalez (58-9, 49 KOs) against Puerto Rico’s Oquendo (25-4, 16 KOs).
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Mayweather Promotions LLC., are priced at $1,500, $1,000, $750, $500, $300 and $150 and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight (8) per household for all ticket prices except the $150 ticket category, which is limited to four (4) per household. To charge by phone or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Here is what the fighters and Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said at MGM Grand on Tuesday:

FLOYD MAYWEATHER
“To become great, you have to follow greatness. To become a great leader you have to be a great follower.

“I want every fighter to stay focused and on a parallel path.

“I’ve done a lot for this sport. Everyone used to be focused on heavyweights. My ultimate goal was to have everyone focus at whatever weight class I was, in my weight class. I’ve always been able to make noise at whatever weight class I was in.

“We want Andre to believe in himself and his skills.

“Every fighter that I’ve ever faced had the remedy to beat me, but the results have always been the same.

“I don’t overlook anyone, he’s a tough competitor, and we will just have to see what happens on Saturday.

“My ultimate goal is that we can find another Floyd Mayweather. When I turned professional I was a teenager and the MGM was Mike Tyson’s building. I’m just blessed and I feel like I was dealt a royal flush.

(On Jen Welter) “She is a remarkable woman; I look forward to meeting her. She’s a trailblazer.”

ANDRE BERTO
“I had a tremendous training camp. I am in better shape than I’ve been in years.

“I’m looking forward to making history on Saturday.

“I don’t know anything about any code that Mayweather has. When I want to walk through a door I just break through.”

LEONARD ELLERBE

“We’re really honored to be able to honor her (Jen Welter) at the Titans of Trade breakfast. This is our sixth breakfast; we’ve been able to recognize other great women who have contributed to sports.

“She’s a remarkable person and we look forward to honoring her and having her attend the fight.”

BADOU JACK

“This is my first defense so I’m excited and absolutely ready for Saturday. He says he is going to win, but we’ll see how it goes on fight night.

“I’m ready to go. I’m ready to knock him out.’’
GEORGE GROVES

“I’m feeling great, really focused and had a great camp. On Saturday all I have to do is be myself and I will get the job done.

“Jack is a good opponent but he is not as good as me.

“I appreciate all the support I am getting from the Brit fans, some of whom are here today. This is going to be a good week.’’

ROMAN “ROCKY” MARTINEZ

“I am very proud to be on this card and what better way to be a part of it than against Salido again.

“We all know Salido’s style: he falls and is used to getting up and continuing to fight. This is going to be a tough fight like our last one. But I am going to do my best and do what I can to win again.’’

ORLANDO SALIDO

“I’m ready to bring on the war, give it everything I’ve got and looking for a big win. I know I made a lot of mistakes in the last fight but I’m confident I corrected them.

“A big difference in this fight is that it is not in Puerto Rico like our first one, this one’s at a neutral site the United States. Whether it’s a decision or a knockout, I’m coming to win.’’

JHONNY GONZALEZ

“Oquendo is a great, tough fighter but I am ready to take him on. I expect this to be a great fight on Saturday and I will leave everything in the ring.

“This is going to be a hard fight. I’m coming here to win.’’

JONATHAN OQUENDO

“Jhonny Gonzalez is a champion of the world. We know he’s a powerful, dangerous fighter. But I’m here to fight and give my daughter a gift on Saturday.

“But this fight is for all the fans of Mexico and Puerto Rico.”

* * *

“HIGH STAKES: Mayweather vs. Berto,” a 12-round world championship bout for Mayweather’s WBC and WBA Welterweight World Titles takes place Saturday, Sept. 12 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas and is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and sponsored by Tecate. The event will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV® (8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT). The co-main event will feature a rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido for the WBO Junior Lightweight World Title. The Martinez vs. Salido fight will follow Mayweather Promotions’ own Badou Jack “The Ripper” making his first defense of the WBC Super Middleweight World title against mandatory challenger “Saint” George Groves. The Jack vs. Groves fight is presented in association with Team Sauerland. The first pay-per-view televised fight is a 10-round super featherweight showdown featuring Mexican power puncher Jhonny Gonzalez against Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Oquendo. The event will be available in Spanish through secondary audio programming (SAP).

Mayweather vs. Berto will be shown on the big screen in theaters across the country via Fathom Events. For more information visit www.FathomEvents.com

For more information visit www.mayweatherpromotions.com, www.SHO.com/Sports andwww.mgmgrand.com and follow on Twitter at @floydmayweather, @AndreBerto, @BadouJack, @StGeorgeGroves, @Romancito77, @siri_salido, @jhonnygbox, @JonathanOquen @mayweatherpromo, @SHOSports and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FloydMayweather,www.Facebook.com/TheRealAndreBerto,www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions and www.facebook.com/SHOsports.

LONDON (8 Sept) – Superstar Floyd Mayweather is adamant that his fight with Andre Berto this weekend will be his last.

The pound-for-pound king is set to hang up the gloves after his 49th fight, live and exclusive on BoxNation, admitting that he wants to get out of the sport while he has all his faculties intact.

“Number 49 is my last fight,” said Mayweather. “No one is in my shoes. My health is more important. If you stick around anything too long, anything can happen. I’m not really worried about losing, but I want to have a sharp mind. You can make a lot of money, but you still want to be able to talk, walk, and have a sharp mind.”

Some have doubted 38-year-old Mayweather’s claim that he will call it a day following his matchup with the spirited Berto, especially given the fact if he wins the unbeaten ace would be just one fight short of beating heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.

But the Grand Rapids born fighter believes he sealed his legacy long ago, with his record-breaking victory over Filipino hotshot Manny Pacquiao crowning him ‘The Best Ever’.

“I’m not Nostradamus but if you go look at an old interview, I talked about Pacquiao, what they were going to say, what they were going to do and how that fight was going to go,” said Mayweather.

“Everybody that said throughout the years that I was a coward, I was scared, he couldn’t beat Pacquiao. They gave him this. They gave him so many accolades and he’s an all-time great.

“But all these people had to eat their words. So if he’s an all-time great, then what does that make me? If they’re saying he’s the fighter of the century, what does that make me?

“So when they do rate me and when my fight is over, the only thing I can do is believe in myself and believe in my skills. I’m going to be ‘The Best Ever’ till the day I die,” he said.

Two-time world champion Berto goes into the fight as an underdog but despite that Mayweather is well aware that he cannot underestimate the Haitian hard-hitter.

“He feels like he has nothing to lose, and I think that when you’ve got a guy that’s put in that situation, it makes him work that much harder because he’s got a chance to be one of the top guys in the sport when I’m through,” Mayweather said.

“It’s like they say in football, any given Sunday. I say any given Saturday, anything can happen. So I’m prepared. I’m prepared mentally and physically. I’m in top shape. I’m ready. I’m pretty sure he’s in top shape and he’s ready. But I’m not going to overlook him.

“I want to win just like he wants to win. I’m working out – I’m pushing myself every day. As I get older I’m working harder. Actually, I think this camp I sparred a lot more, I pushed myself a lot more. I think I worked harder this fight than I did for the Pacquiao fight,” he said.

Britain’s George Groves is also in action on the night when he challenges WBC champion Badou Jack for the super-middleweight world title.

Mayweather v Berto / Groves v Jack is live on BoxNation (Sky 437/490HD, Virgin 525 and TalkTalk 415) this Saturday night at 1am. Visit boxnation.com to subscribe.

-Ends-
About BoxNation
BoxNation, the Channel of Champions and proud partner of Rainham Steel, is the UK’s first dedicated subscription boxing channel. For £12* a month and no minimum term customers can enjoy great value live and exclusive fights, classic fight footage, magazine shows and interviews with current and former fighters.

Previous highlights have included Haye vs Chisora, Khan vs Collazo and Mayweather vs Maidana.

The channel is available on Sky (Ch.437), Virgin (Ch.546), TalkTalk (Ch.415), online at Livesport.tv and via apps (ios, Android, Amazon). BoxNation is also available in high definition on Sky (Ch. 490), at no extra cost to Sky TV subscribers, providing they are already HD enabled.

BoxNation is also available to commercial premises (inc. pubs, clubs and casino’s) in the UK and Ireland, for more information on a commercial subscription please call 0844 842 7700.

For more information visit www.boxnation.com

*Plus £8 registration fee for Sky TV and new Livesport.tv customers.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U.S.A. – On Saturday night, September 12, 2015, super featherweight professional boxer, Gervonta “Tank” Davis (Baltimore, Maryland/11-0-0, 10 KOs) will face Recky “The Terror” Dulay (Philippines/8-1-0, 5 KOs) in an 8 round fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the main event, Floyd “Money” Mayweather (Las Vegas, Nevada/48-0-0, 26 KOs) will face Andre Berto (Winter Haven, Florida/30-3-0, 23 KOs) in a 12 round championship fight for Mayweather’s WBA and WBC Welterweight titles. Mayweather-Berto is being billed as the last professional fight for Floyd Mayweather. Davis’ fight on September 12 is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, and will take place on the non-televised portion of the Showtime PPV card.

In his previous fight on May 22, Davis needed just one minute and fifteen seconds to defeat Alberto “Ironman” Mora (Mexico/5-4-0, 1 KO) by TKO at the Claridge Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The fight was scheduled for eight rounds, but Davis landed an uppercut just a few seconds into the fight that floored his opponent. Mora beat the count, but still appeared to be hurt. Davis then backed him up with a body shot, and followed up with a combination that knocked out Mora’s mouthpiece. The referee waived the fight off at 1:15 of Round 1.
Gervonta Davis talked about his upcoming fight. He said, “September 12 is the first time I’ll be fighting as a pro in Las Vegas. When I was growing up, I always dreamed that one day I would fight on Floyd Mayweather’s undercard, and now it’s happening. For this fight, my team and I agreed it was time to step up the competition, so that I will be ready when it’s time to fight for a world title. I’ve seen that Dulay is a good fighter, but he hasn’t faced someone like me before. September 12 is one of the biggest boxing weekends of the year. Mexican boxing fans are some of the best, and many of them will be in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Weekend. I want to put on a great show for them, and show that I am exciting. They know boxing and I want their support. For the people who have been following and supporting me, you already know that I will make sure you get your money’s worth on September 12. Thank you Floyd Mayweather and everyone at Mayweather Promotions for what they have done for me, including allowing me to fight on the biggest card in boxing. Thank you to my team, Al Haymon, Yekim Customs, Nike Boxing, Athlete Performance Solutions, Ethika, Baltimore Parks and Recreation, and Upton Boxing Center. To my city of Baltimore, you know I’m going to keep making you proud. Keep supporting me, and I’ll fight for you.”
Davis’ longtime boxing coach, Calvin Ford (Upton Boxing Center), said, “Gervonta “Tank” Davis has advanced himself to the biggest stage in boxing, a fight on Floyd Mayweather’s card. This is great for the city of Baltimore, Upton Boxing Center, and Baltimore City’s Department of Recreation and Parks. I’ve personally witnessed Floyd Mayweather in a mentorship role for Tank. Floyd is passing on lots of knowledge to him, both in and out of the ring. That will help him become one of the biggest stars in boxing. This fight means a lot to me personally. I’ve had opportunities to travel to Las Vegas before, but I never went, because I wanted to go with one of my fighters. For this fight, we began training camp in Baltimore, and we are finishing it up in Las Vegas. Tank has a tough opponent this time in Recky Dulay. As always, we have to come into this fight with a great game plan. Dulay has experience and can box well. He is a slightly taller fighter than Tank, has very good movement in the ring, and he’s not easy to hit. This card has a lot of historical significance as far as the history of boxing goes, because this is Mayweather’s last fight, and we really appreciate him allowing our team to be a part of it. This is just the beginning of great things to come for Team Davis. Let the truth be told.”
Floyd Mayweather said, “Gervonta Davis is an unbelievable young fighter. Twenty years old. He’s one of the guys that are the future of boxing. You definitely don’t want to miss his fight on September 12. He will put on a show.”
Tickets to Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 12 in Las Vegas, promoted by Mayweather Promotions, are priced at $1500, $1000, $750, $500, $300, and $150, and are on sale now. Tickets are limited to eight per household for all ticket prices, except the $150 category, which is limited to four per household. To charge by phone, or with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster (800) 745 3000. Tickets are also available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

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