Fight blog recap: Round by round analysis of Mayweather's final fight
Floyd Mayweather outboxed an outmatched Andre Berto for 12 rounds Saturday to win a lopsided unanimous decision in what he says is the final fight of his career.
Mayweather showed his signature defense as he constantly allowed Berto to press forward throughout 36 minutes while making him miss with the majority of his punches.
When it was all said and done, Berto was able to land only 17 percent of his punches.
Mayweather countered with a series of jabs and left hooks that rattled Berto throughout the fight. While Mayweather never knocked down his opponent, he landed a few combinations that tagged Berto as they got into exchanges off the ropes and in the center of the ring.
The fight was never all that close as Mayweather made Berto miss so often that he didn't have to come back with much offense. When Mayweather opened up, he cracked Berto consistently and opened up a wide margin in the scoring round by round.
When it was over, Mayweather was declared the winner, moving his record to 49-0 and as he promised before the fight, the outspoken champion said that his career is finished following the victory over Berto.
"It's official," Mayweather said about his retirement. "You've got to know when to hang them up."
Full play by play and results below:
Official result: Floyd Mayweather def. Andre Berto by unanimous decision (117-111, 118-110, 120-108)
FLOYD MAYWEATHER VS. ANDRE BERTO
Round 1:
Mayweather peppering Berto with lefts to the head and body early, good volume for the champ so far. Berto looks stiff considering Mayweather is standing in front of him for most of the round and not dancing much. Mayweather with a hard left hook that tags Berto. Good start for Mayweather.
10-9 Mayweather
Round 2:
Berto just throwing single punches while pursuing Mayweather without landing much. Mayweather still connecting with hard left hands, especially on the break. Berto gets aggressive against the ropes but he can't land very many shots as Mayweather ducks out of the way. Not a ton of offense that round but Mayweather the only one landing.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 3:
Berto tossing out his jab in the third, but he still can't find a target for his punches. Mayweather counters with a quick left-right combo with speedy shots. Berto trying with another double jab late in the round, but Mayweather is able to get out of the way although he slips for just a moment. Mayweather still in complete control while Berto is throwing everything behind his punches and coming away with nothing.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 4:
Mayweather continuously backing up against the ropes but he's avoiding any real offense from Berto. Mayweather just ducks out of the way and counters with a hard counter left. Mayweather catches Berto coming in with a nasty right hand that stuns his opponent. The crowd rises for the first time in the fight as Mayweather lands his best punch all night.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 5:
Berto is just diving in with his punches and it lands him in a clinch with Mayweather over and over again. Mayweather up 71 to 21 in total punches so far. Slight low blow from Berto and he gets a warning from referee Kenny Bayless. Mayweather with a straight left and a hard right hook as they begin to exchange a bit. Mayweather just tapping away and Berto only throwing with power but he can't find a home for his punches.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 6:
Berto slams home a left hand that pops Mayweather in the nose and that's his best shot all night. Mayweather opens up and he's fighting a little angry as he cracks Berto with a fast series of punches, blasting away at the head and body. Mayweather with a stiff left uppercut and he's jabbing away at the body as well. Mayweather still eating away at Berto's body with shots from the outside and in the clinch.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 7:
Mayweather rips a left and a right to start round seven as Berto continues to press forward without putting any kind of effective offense together. Mayweather stands on the outside and just launches his jab repeatedly and Berto has no answer. Berto finally tags Mayweather on the ropes, but it's short lived success. Mayweather comes back with a quick combination with almost every punch landing.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 8:
Berto opens with a nice left but Mayweather quickly counters with a hard left hook and another body shot. Berto has been the busier fighter, but he just can't land much of anything against Mayweather's patented defense. Mayweather isn't putting up much volume but when he throws, he lands.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 9:
Mayweather with a short right in the clinch and another body punch. Mayweather slows down Berto at every turn with his defense and his clinch. Berto gets aggressive against the ropes but it's Mayweather getting the better of the exchanges despite not landing with any real power. The fighters exchange some words after the break and Mayweather opens up with a flurry before the round ends.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 10:
Mayweather complains between rounds that his hand is hurting. Mayweather and Berto are jawing at each other and Bayless pauses the fight and tells them to stop the chatter. Berto opens with another combination and Mayweather counters with a jab right down the middle. Berto definitely busier that round as Mayweather is content to play defense. Close round, maybe the first going to Berto.
10-9 Andre Berto
Round 11:
Mayweather with a pair of left hooks that pop Berto on the jaw. Mayweather stands in the middle and tags Berto with a couple more left hands before backing up against the ropes again. Mayweather seems content to land a few shots and then play defense. Mayweather is making Berto miss before finally uncorking a quick left-right combo. Mayweather is smiling and just dancing before a few more punches are thrown.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
Round 12:
Mayweather connecting with a few more counters while Berto just can't seem to land much of anything. Mayweather tags Berto with an uppercut and he's got him hurt! Mayweather with another flurry as the crowd rises to its feet! Mayweather with a jab to the body and another to the head. The time ticks away as the final round comes to an end.
10-9 Floyd Mayweather
FOX Sports scores it 119-109 for Floyd Mayweather
Official result: Floyd Mayweather def. Andre Berto by unanimous decision (117-111, 118-110, 120-108)
