Mayweather Smacks Berto Around for 12

For Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s supposed swan song, the 5-division titlist couldn’t have picked a better patsy than Andre Berto. The former welterweight beltholder’s body was willing but the skills were weak. He tried and tried but couldn’t pin down the oh-so-elusive Mayweather. At times, it was tantamount to a cat playing with its prey before devouring it; however, the self-proclaimed “TBE”, no stranger to the 12 round distance, stabbed and poked but didn’t go for the jugular. Berto, moreso because of Mayweather’s pacifistic largesse, made it to the final bell without a scratch. Let’s surmise - 3 plus million dollars richer, a slightly dented pride – not bad for a fighter who was 3 for 3 in his prior six bouts. If ever a loser could be considered a winner, Andre Berto can definitely stake his claim to the phrase.

Floyd, meanwhile, did what has become his modus operandi for the latter half of his career – potshot and outscore his opponent, shut down his offense and with victory assured, waltz away the final minute of the final round. It may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it has been effective for the Las Vegas resident, who is now 49-0 with 26 kos. TBE? That’s a discussion for another day. But on September 12, 2015, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was definitely TB in the ring. And that’s beyond debate.

For the blood and guts deprived, there were fights that night. Badou Jack, fighting under The Mayweather Promotions banner, retained his super middleweight title in a lively scrap against the thrice-denied George Groves. Groves, stopped by Carl Froch in his two previous title tries, heads back to England still the bridesmaid – maybe a reunion with his former trainer is on the immediate to-do-list. But the doozy was the co-main event, in which Orlando Salido and Roman “Rocky” Martinez played rock ‘em sock ‘em robots for twelve rounds in a sequel to their April 11th classic, in which Martinez annexed Salido’s WBO Super-featherweight title. Most observers saw Salido as the winner in a fight that was officially ruled a draw. There will undoubtedly be a third go ‘round in what is shaping up as a can’t miss, brutally fistic, proposition. Floyd may have danced the rumba against Berto but Salido and Martinez danced the rumble. And how sweet it was.