Floyd Mayweather Jr. insists Andre Berto is a worthy opponent for his grand farewell amid a barrage of criticism from his peers and fans who accused him of choosing “an easy fight”.
Five weeks out from their September 12 fight, which will take place in Las Vegas, Mayweather acknowledged the backlash from his choice of Berto (303, 23 KOs), but cited the challenger’s aggressive style and his own determination as reasons for the fight.
Three months after Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) dominated Manny Pacquiao in the most lucrative fight in boxing history, the welterweight champion was in a noticeably upbeat mood as he began the difficult business of promoting his next bout with Berto.
The former 147-pound champion has lost three of his last six fights, including two losses to fighters who have already lost to Mayweather.
Mayweather, even went as far as promising an exciting fight to fans who still feel short-changed by his technical display against Pacquiao in May.
“With the way he comes, and with the way I’m going to come, if it’s not a knockout, there’s going to be some knockdowns,” Mayweather said. “There’s going to be blood. There’s going to be knockdowns, and there’s going to be blood. A lot.
"I just want to go out with a bang, I guess. They say they’ll offer me a lot of money” to keep fighting; I have a lot of money. I’m OK. ... It’s the end of my (Showtime) deal. I’m an old man now. I’m 38.”