Mayweather1.jpg">
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Rocky Marciano Now A Part of Boxing History at 49-0
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (September 13, 2015)– Floyd Mayweather Jr. won a unanimous 12 round decision over Andre Berto last night, Saturday evening, September 12, 2015, at the MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the main event, to retain his World Boxing Council Welterweight and World Boxing Association Super World Welterweight titles.
Mayweather, from Las Vegas, Nevada, rose to 49-0 with 26 knockouts and formally retired in the ring after the bout, tying Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0 as world heavyweight champion. Marciano’s record of 49-0 has stood since his retirement in 1956. Berto, form Winter Haven, Florida, fell to 30-4 with 23 knockouts.
Mayweather expressed his gratitude to Al Haymon for helping to advise him and make the money he earned of his career. Floyd noted after the bout “I’m almost 40 years old. I still have my faculties. I’m still sharp. I’m still smart.” Floyd also expressed his love and personal gratitude with a thank you to his loyal fans, who stayed with him and made him during his 19 year career. Floyd also felt he had nothing left to prove. Mayweather connected on 232 of 410 punches for a 57% accuracy rate. Berto landed 17% of punches thrown.
Mayweather outworked Berto by huge numbers, landing accurate body shots and head jabs while slipping punches throughout the contest. Other than a brief slip to the canvas by Floyd, the 12 rounder on Showtime was relatively uneventful and quiet, and proceeded largely as expected. Floyd praised Berto as an excellent fighter who came to fight, and wouldn’t go. Berto praised trainer Virgil Hunter after the bout, explaining “We (my team) trained hard, but we came up short.”
In retirement, Floyd accomplished what Larry Holmes (48-0), Brian Nielsen (49-0), Paul Spadafora (48-0-1), Chris John (48-0-3) could not. Others such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Nino Benvenuti and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. ran off impressive winning streaks from the start of their career before losing. Floyd, like Marciano, accomplished everything he felt he could in his career and got out for good at the top. Amir Khan seems unlikely to lure Floyd back for bout 50, and that being the case, Floyd’s day in the limelight has come to an end.
However, few believe Floyd will stay retired, given the MGM Grand is opening a new 20,000 seat arena in May 2016, and Floyd could reach 50-0 if he fights once more and opens the place. Amir Khan would seem to be the likely opponent. Keith Thurman, Kell Brook (if he beats Diego Gabriel Chaves next month), Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter and Timothy Bradley are the best opponents. Manny Pacquiao (for a rematch) is also a possible opponent. “I’m financially secure and in good health,” insisted Floyd, but the temptation to break Marciano’s record could lure him back into the ring to surpass Rocky Marciano once and for all. Brook is 35-0. Thurman is 26-0. Garcia is 31-0. Cesar Rene Huenca, an Argentinian junior welterweight who holds a world title, is 48-0. Take your pick.
Berto, in the meanwhile, by being the last person to fight Floyd, could be a candidate to fight for the vacant WBC World Welterweight title when Floyd officially vacates the belt.
Result: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Win 12 Andre Berto, Welterweights
Mayweather retains the WBC and WBA Super World Welterweight titles
Scoring: 120-108, 118-110, 117-111 for Mayweather. Referee: Kenny Bayliss
In the preliminary to the main event, Roman Martinez received a horrible 12 round split decision draw to retain his World Boxing Organization World Junior Lightweight title over ex-champion Orlando Salido. The durable Salido was busy throughout and outworked Martinez in nearly every round, throwing an incredible 1037 punches, probably a divisional record. The decision appeared clear, but two judges did not see it that way.
It was Puerto Rico versus Mexico all the way, as Martinez, 29-2-3 with 17 knockouts, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, traded knockdowns in round three with Salido, now 42-13-3 with 29 knockouts, Phoenix, Arizona by way of Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. Salido stepped on the front foot of Martinez and then sent him to the canvas off balance with a punch for a flash knockdown, costing Martinez one point and the win. Martinez protested the flash knockdown call, and knocked Salido down later in the round.
Roman Martinez Split Draw 12 Orlando Salido, Junior Lightweights
Martinez retains the WBO World Junior Lightweight title
Scoring: 115-113 Martinez. 115-113 Salido. 114-114 Draw.
In the other preliminary to the main event, Badou Jack, a Swedish fighter out of Las Vegas, Nevada, retained his World Boxing Council Super Middleweight title with a 12 round split decision over disappointed George Groves, 21-3 with 16 knockouts, Hammersmith, United Kingdom. It was the first trip out of the Great Britain for Groves, the European and WBC silver titleholder, who lost twice to Carl Froch for the IBF and WBA versions of the super middleweight titles, and just cannot seem to win the big one.
Jack and Groves went at it toe to toe in an entertaining slug fest for all 12 rounds, with Jack appearing to clearly win most of the rounds on accuracy and volume. With the judges, you never know. Regardless, Groves did not figure to win a title decision on enemy territory. Groves was knocked down in the first round, but came back strongly to battle even after six rounds. Jack landed solid power shots consistently as the bout progressed, and seemed to win the second half of the bout to retain his title. The rounds were somewhat close.
Badou Jack Win Split Decision 12, Super Middleweights
Jack retains the WBC World Super Middleweight title
Scoring: 116-111, 115-112 for Jack. 114-113 for Groves.
COMMENTS
English