Despite legions of boxing fans who cheer against Floyd Mayweather Jr. every time he steps inside the ring, the champion kept the sport relevant in the mainstream for years. He is a lightning rod who generates conversation and pay-per-view eyeballs, and it is difficult to envision just how the sport will move forward without him in the immediate future.
Boxing will undoubtedly survive his retirement just like it did with previous stars, but it won’t have to worry about facing that question just yet.
Mayweather has not fought his last bout.
While “Money” insisted his career was over at the podium following his routine Saturday destruction of Andre Berto for his 49th career victory in 49 tries, he will be back. The allure of a 50-0 record and an unquestionable legacy inside the ring will ultimately be too must to pass up.
After all, Mayweather is someone who has always been concerned with insisting just how great he is (financially and from a skills standpoint), and one of the greats will want to go out in an appropriate manner. His lackluster fight with Berto was one that nobody outside of boxing purists will remember years from now, and that isn’t how Money should end his fabled career.
Berto was once a promising fighter, but he doesn’t belong in the same ring as Mayweather. To be fair, few fighters do, but the lack of electricity within the MGM Grand Garden Arena was palpable. It wasn’t even sold out and was a far cry from the highly anticipated clash with Manny Pacquiao.
It simply didn’t feel like a Mayweather fight, even if he thoroughly dominated yet another opponent.
That performance is another reason Mayweather is not done just yet. The talent is still unquestionable even at 38 years old, as Dan Rafael of ESPN.com pointed out:
Regardless of how much the fight with Berto was savaged by fans and media alike (deservedly so), Mayweather, of Las Vegas, did what he always does—win in a dominant fashion without putting himself at any significant risk. It may not be exciting to most people, but it's why Mayweather has been able to remain a prominent fighter throughout his 19-year professional career, spending 17 years as a world champion (even though Mayweather incorrectly says 18 years).
The same “hit and don’t get hit” formula was there yet again. Mayweather mixed in deadly accurate jabs, impeccable footwork and unparalleled speed and defense that left Berto overwhelmed and swinging at air.
According to CompuBox statistics (h/t Rafael), Berto only landed 17 percent of his punches on his way to his fourth loss in seven fights, compared to Mayweather’s 57 percent mark.
Berto talked about Mayweather’s talent, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times:
He's just smart. Really smart. I got caught up, like everybody else, in trying to knock him out. Even when I was on the inside, he'd tie me up with his little tactics. You want to catch his [rear] and get him out of there. He's too sharp.
I haven't been in there with Rocky Marciano, but to have that speed and timing, it's unheard of.
That doesn’t sound like someone who is ready to hang up the gloves.
As it has for the entire second half of Mayweather’s legendary career, all of this circles back to an opportunity to face Pacquiao. This time, Money cannot be criticized for ducking the fight since he already beat Pac-Man once, but you would be hard-pressed to script a better way for Mayweather to cement his in-ring legacy than a 50-0 mark with a rematch victory.
A 50th win would also move Mayweather past Rocky Marciano's memorable 49-0 mark and add a legitimate talking point to the chamber of anyone who wants to claim Mayweather is the best.
Another win would silence any doubters who point to Pacquiao’s health questions from the first time around. It would also be an ideal way to open up MGM and AEG’s new 20,000-seat arena that is opening this spring behind the Las Vegas Strip. Boxing fans will forever see it as the house that Mayweather built if he can vanquish the one foe some thought could actually beat him in the ring.
It is all right there for the taking: a perfect 50-0 record, a chance to open a new arena in a city that made him famous and one more shot at Pacquiao. Mayweather has the chance to make one last statement in a career that has been defined by them.
He won’t pass that up.
via http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2566739-floyd-mayweather-will-fight-again-despite-retirement-announcement
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