Mayweather: A master craftsmen we should appreciate

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Harry How/Getty Images)
Harry How/Getty Images)
Harry How/Getty Images)

A forgone conclusion. This phrase can be applied to a great many of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s fights, but prior to the announcement of his latest match it was a testament to Floyd’s outstanding ability and not to his opponent’s lack thereof.

On September 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, the long-reigning pound-for-pound king will look to extend his unblemished record beyond it’s current standing of 48-0 with 26 knockouts.

He will make the attempt against the Floridian powerhouse Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KO’s), a man whose recent form has led many to question his eligibility to face the best technician in the sport today, the mere association of whom will grow Berto’s profile tenfold.

Younger, hungrier, more dangerous opposition have been overlooked in Berto’s favour. Men like WBA World welterweight champion Keith Thurman, IBF champ Kell Brook, Amir Khan, and Shawn Porter will feel hard done by, but the deal has been made and we will watch the subsequent event transpire.

Floyd’s father and trainer Floyd Sr. recently gave his opinion on the match-up to ESNEWS and as ever, saw no other result than a victory for his son. In fact, he looked bored as he relayed his thoughts on the matter.

“Floyd gon’ come out and you gon’ see him move around two or three rounds and get to blasting’ him. You know the deal. You’ve seen it a hundred times.”

Senior’s blasé countenance here is certainly reflective of the social media reaction to this fight; who cares?

But at this point Floyd has climbed the mountain top over and again. Recently he may have made a point of avoiding the names previously mentioned in favour of less dynamic individuals like Marcos Maidana and Saul Alvarez, but they are still top level guys who can finish you off if complacency creeps into your game.

And let us not forget his shut-out against Manny Pacquiao earlier this year. His schooled his perennial nemesis in such a routine manner he has yet to receive the proper credit for the win, such was the lack of drama in that bout.

The man is 38 years old, has fought the best over the years regardless of whatever asterisks may be placed by names like Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto and even Pacquiao. He fought them.

With little left to prove this fight -his last on a lucrative six-fight deal with Showtime- is purported to be his last and will stand as a memorial to his talent, against a man not expected to bring any trouble, giving us a final showing of his full range of abilities.

Floyd may well choose to cruise beneath the waves for a while before making a ‘surprise’ comeback somewhere in the not-too-distant future, welcomed as the returning king with praise and mountains of coin.

Senior was ready to give his thoughts on that very subject but caught himself halfway through, as if he was about to slip a guarded secret.

“Well, let me tell you this here; I don’t know cuz that’s not my mind. That’s not my mind, that’s not my body, that’s not my soul. So I can’t tell you nothing but I do believe that -this is just a belief- [pause] I don’t know.”

Senior looked rather sheepish as he backed out of making his presumption; a rare sight. If he is privy to some knowledge on the matter he wasn’t prepared to tell, but it would be very much like his son to pull a spectacular stunt like that for our pleasure and his own profit.

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Andre Berto may not be the most enthralling, competitive or imaginative pairing we have seen, especially given the clear disparity between the two men. It is, however, a chance to see a master craftsman perform in what is surely one of his final appearances, if not the very last.