Mayweather makes it 49-0, says goodbye in inimitable style

Truly “The Best Ever”?

When watching Floyd Mayweather box, one cannot help but envision a bullfight; a Toreador, unruffled in the face of a rampaging assailant. The sangfroid ‘Money’ employs is his trademark, along with the accuracy, speed and elusiveness that have dumbfounded all his opponents. And Mayweather’s last fight was a quintessential performance.

Atlanta, Gerogia, USA, 1996. A 19-year-old Mayweather earned the distinction of becoming the first American boxer to defeat a Cuban in 20 years. Two years later, the prodigy defeated then number-one ranked Genaro Hernandez to earn the first of five world championships. Boxing pundits predicted greatness in the young fighter’s future, but the magnitude would elude them.

Success would cascade and not ebb in the years to follow. Mayweather’s steady and absolute rise to fame left the wayside littered with the reputations of fallen foes: Corrales, De La Hoya, Gatti, Mosley, Maidana. A veritable trophy hunter’s wall. Nobody, regardless of style, could solve the ‘Money’ puzzle.

The young upstart who burst on the scene with his quickness and aggression gradually evolved into a sharpshooting technician with eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate goal. This departure from the style that left fans wanting more, coupled with his deliberately cultivated persona, would make him one of the most polarizing athletes of all time. 

His fight with Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao proved to be the peak of the dichotomy in people’s opinion of Mayweather. His precise execution of his trademark elusiveness and the record-breaking amount of money the fight generated resulted in a public outpour of emotion that rivalled a humanitarian crisis.

The flames jumped even higher when Mayweather announced that his next fight would be his last. Statisticians went to work right away, and the inevitable comparison to Rocky Marciano was made. Surely the final notch on his belt would be a worthy challenger.

But just like that, the flames were doused as Mayweather chose Andre Berto, a former two-time welterweight champion, as the partner for his swansong. 

Speculation of rematches with Alvarez and Pacquiao were quickly ended by the man of the hour himself, as he repeated that he had nothing to prove. The fight drew nearer with less hype than his previous outing against Pacquaio. Berto was expected to be dealt with in the manner of the previous power punchers that Mayweather had faced.

Unsurprisingly, that is exactly what happened. But be assured, Berto was no pushover. He snapped at Mayweather’s heels throughout the fight, and stuck to the strategy of cornering him against the ropes and targeting the body. Two of the judges even awarded him a couple of rounds.

But “The Best Ever” justified his moniker and put on a defensive masterclass, slipping and dodging with the reflexes of a mongoose and striking back with laser-like accuracy.

Berto’s hand speed was high and he maintained it throughout the fight, but Mayweather’s defence was near impenentrable as just 17% of Berto’s punches landed. Money’s superior footwork and evasion left his opponent hapless at times.

The first three rounds saw Mayweather being quite wary and keeping his distance while Berto charged at him. The middle rounds were classic Mayweather, though the two tangled too many times and had to be seperated. The fag end of the fight saw trash talking aplenty, with the referee actually warning Mayweather to do more with his hands than his mouth. Mayweather even danced around the ring just before the fight ended. 

The final bell rang, Mayweather prostrated and looked to the sky in gratitude. The deed was done. 49-0.

Mayweather acknowledged his opponent’s performance and thanked long-time advisor Al Haymon as well as all his fans. The moment did not humble him, as he nonchalantly said he is the best ever and retorted in his own way to all the heckles. He stated that he was walking away from the sport with this faculties still sharp, to focus on his family.

$700 million and 49 undefeated fights later, he repeated that he had nothing left to prove, no unscaled peak.

But this isn’t the first time Mayweather’s retired. Consider the numbers. He’d fought 4 times in 5 years before signing a contract that bound him to fight 6 times in 30 months. Perhaps this could prove to be a long hiatus and we might yet see the shoulder roll and lightning right hand pushing the number to fifty.