It was in the 11th round that it happened: Floyd Mayweather so brilliantly bamboozled Andre Berto that it was possible to buy into his claim of being “TBE” — The Best Ever.
Certainly dozens in the crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday thought so, chanting “TBE! TBE!” as Mayweather earned a unanimous decision over the limited Berto.
The widely expected victory gave the American, 38, a perfect 49-0 record to equal the feat of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano.
Mayweather said before the bout that he had achieved all he could from the fight game, and Berto was to be his final victim — and he repeated that assertion afterwards.
“I’ve been in the sport 19 years and I don’t know anybody who’s been in the sport and made upwards of $800 million,” he said, handing more ammunition to critics who say Mayweather has been the best ever only in terms of knowing how to make more money from boxing than anyone else in history.
Colorful boxing promoter Don King has seen many of boxing’s legends up close, having arranged some of the biggest bouts in the sport’s history, including the “Rumble in the Jungle” between Ali and George Foreman.
Mayweather will be remembered as “one of the greatest fighters that ever lived”, the famously wild-haired King told reporters on the eve of the Berto showdown.
Source-AFP
