FLOYD MAYWEATHER walked into the MGM Grand lobby in Las Vegas wearing the smile of a content man. If Andre Berto is indeed his final opponent, Mayweather seems intent on enjoying it.
As Mayweather’s Grand Arrivals go this was a relatively calm affair – certainly a far cry from the mayhem that greeted his and previous rival Manny Pacquiao’s separate entrances back in May – but the 38-year-old remains ludicrously popular here in Sin City.
Camera phones hanged in the air for what seemed like an eternity as Floyd Mayweather strutted in, flanked by his gargantuan bodyguards, and made his way to the stage to address his loyal faithful.
“First I want to thank everyone for coming,” he began when asked if this contest – his 49th as a professional – would indeed be his last.
“I’ve been here before so I know what it takes, but I couldn’t do it without the fans. I’ve had 19 years at the top of the sport,” he continued before triggering a chorus of his tagline by yelling “Hard work!” The crowd, needless to say, hollered back: “Dedication!”
Asked again whether this would be his last fight he replied: “We’ve got some remarkable fighters under the Floyd Mayweather banner. I want to find another Floyd Mayweather.
“It’s [my career] not over yet. We still got 36 minutes to perform. Andre Berto is rough, very rough and tough. I’ve got to be the best I can be and stick to the game plan.”
