By Carlos Boogs
WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (48-0, 26KOs) says Andre Berto will be his 23rd contest with current or former world champion. Mayweather believes that he currently has the record for beating the most world champions in the shortest amount of time.
The fight with Berto is scheduled for September 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with Showtime Pay-Per-View carrying the event.
Berto is a former WBC and IBF welterweight champion, but viewed as a huge underdog after going 3-3 in his last six fights and dealing with injuries over the last few years.
The fight is being billed as the final contest of Mayweather's career. He credits himself with being the man who brought the humongous paydays down to the lower weight classes after decades where the heavyweight division was the cornerstone of being home to the largest purses in the sport.
"If I'm not mistaken, I don't know and you guys let me know, but I think beat more world champions than any other fighter....22. This going to be 23. Guys like Julio Cesar Chavez, it took guys like him 100 fights where it took me less than half of his fights - and that was one of the guys I looked up to. I loved to see him fight. He was a remarkable fighter. He's a guy who paved the way for me in boxing," Mayweather said.
"When I retire, I think they are going to appreciate me more. When I got in the sport, it was all about heavyweights. I brought in all the big money to the smaller weight classes. Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Canelo..you can go down the list, all of them got their biggest payday with Floyd Mayweather."