Will Floyd drive into the sunset with a 49-0 record? Not likely
It was much different from the last time, other than the fact any media day involving Floyd Mayweather Jr. runs on restful and relaxing time, meaning the fighter probably does a lot of both while keeping everyone waiting far beyond the fictional scheduled start to things.
He does so, well, because he can.
It’s a power thing.
But the opponent this time isn’t Manny Pacquiao, which is why there wasn’t a tent erected in the parking lot at Mayweather’s gym and why those inside didn’t include Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury. Of course, Bishop Gorman junior quarterback Tate Martell has since picked Texas A&M over the Red Raiders and others, so Kingsbury’s trips to our city might not be as frequent.
This was instead a day to hype a fight against Andre Berto on Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden, to continue promoting the idea that this will be the final time Mayweather steps into a ring before riding off into a sunset dripping with dollar signs in his fleet of luxury automobiles, including the $4.8 million Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita he arrived in Wednesday.
Maybe that’s why he was more than 90 minutes late.
Maybe $5 million doesn’t get you as much in gasoline as it used to.
You won’t find many who truly believe this is Mayweather’s final go-round, that he will be content finishing his career 49-0 and concluding such a run against Berto, a two-time world champion and yet a guy who has lost three of his past six fights.
A guy who lost to Robert Guerrero and Victor Ortiz, both of whom Mayweather handled easily.
But if, just for a second, we accept the idea that Mayweather will walk away and not attempt to win his 50th fight next year in the new MGM-AEG Arena behind New York-New York, isn’t his an ideal ending for any champion?
Mark Kriegel believes so, a New York Times best-selling author and boxing expert who, while not sure we are about to watch Mayweather a final time, is certain there could be far worse endings.
“Listen, there is something to be said for getting a victory lap,” Kriegel said. “Would you rather watch Floyd fight Andre Berto and finish with all his faculties and fortune in tact, or would you rather watch (Muhammad) Ali against Trevor Berbick or Roberto Duran against who-the-hell-knows, a procession of guys, or Mike Tyson against Larry Holmes? If this is a victory lap, you can make the argument Floyd is entitled to it.
“We’ve seen this sport destroy guys neurologically, psychologically, orthopedically, financially, every which way. If Floyd wants to go off and be unfathomably rich and undamaged, God bless him. I do think there is some merit to a guy retiring undefeated and with all his faculties.”
But does he believe Mayweather will retire after the Berto fight?
“In my gut,” Kriegel said, “no.”
He does think Berto will offer far more action that many have forecast, that because the historic night against Pacquiao in May produced such a boring tussle, Mayweather purposefully chose an opponent this time who, while no real risk to ruin his perfect record, will at least engage enough to excite those willing to purchase a ridiculously high ($75 in high definition) pay-per-view price tag.
Maybe. Berto has nothing to lose to be in the best shape of his career and leave everything in the ring, given he’s a bigger underdog than a shot of tequila within reach of Steve Sarkisian.
“Floyd understands fighting and styles better than Talmudic scholars did scripture,” Kriegel said. “Something about Berto makes Floyd believe this will be a good fight. He figures the same people who bashed him about the Manny fight will applaud this one.”
I still contend 50-0 means far more to Mayweather than he is willing to share, that while a victory lap on Sept. 12 might be comfortable and all, he more than anyone else understands the historic implications of breaking Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.
Mayweather has been criticized for ducking fighters in their prime, for beating talented ones before they were ready, for calculating risk instead of taking any. But the sport has never known a better businessman, and the idea he would pass on building a promotion around 50-0 is inconceivable.
“When you’re that close to such a record, it means something,” said Mayweather’s father and trainer, Floyd Sr. “Knowing the way Floyd is and the way I am, I think he will go and try to attack that record. I think he’s going to try and get to 50. That’s a big number. He’s so damn close. It would be hard not to go for it.
“Just open up the gym one more time and go to work.”
Yeah. I’m thinking we’re not about to see any victory lap.
Let’s hope so. I’m getting closer each time to winning the media pool as to what time Mayweather will show up.
Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on “Seat and Ed” on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney.
