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Floyd Mayweather

WASHINGTON. – Floyd Mayweather said he is more likely to end up in movies than keep boxing, as he rounded on his critics ahead of what he insists will be his last fight. The unbeaten pound-for-pound king takes on massive underdog Andre Berto on September 12 in Las Vegas in a welterweight world title showdown that has so far failed to capture the public imagination.

The brash American (38) will make it 49-0 with victory – equalling the record of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano – and has consistently said he will hang up his gloves afterwards. Few believe him.

In a conference call with reporters, Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said there had been “significant” entertainment possibilities for the champion for when he calls it quits – including three “major” movie offers in the last week alone.

“I’ve been approached on numerous occasions (to act) but I’d rather be behind the scenes. I’ve had my time to shine,” said Mayweather, reiterating Berto would be his last bout and he is having no second thoughts about giving up the fight game.

Boxing fans and pundits have hit out at the self-styled “Money” and “TBE” (“The Best Ever”) Mayweather’s choice of Berto (30-3), who has lost three of his last six fights and was cherry-picked ahead of more exciting – and more dangerous – men.

“When you are in my shoes, they are always going to criticize, that comes with the territory,” said Mayweather, the highest-earning sportsman in the world.

“I couldn’t care less. Nobody is forced to watch. Watch if you want to watch, don’t watch if you don’t want to watch. Write about it if you want to write about it, if you don’t want to write about it, don’t.”

The experts may have written off Berto (31) but Mayweather insists he is taking his opponent seriously and says he is training harder for the rank outsider than he did for his so-called “fight of the century” against Manny Pacquiao earlier this year.

Mayweather extended his unbeaten run with a unanimous points decision over the Filipino in a disappointing bout.

Underestimating Berto, an aggressive fighter who is likely to be on the front foot against the defensively brilliant Mayweather, would be a dangerous mistake, said the champion.

“He has nothing to lose and when you have a guy that has nothing to lose, that makes him work that much harder,” said Mayweather.

“He’s got a chance to be the top guy in the sport when I’m through. . .anything can happen (in a fight) so I’m prepared and in top shape, as I’m sure he is.

“But I’m not going to overlook this guy.”

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum says the Filipino boxer is ready to hang up his gloves after one more fight in 2016 and then make the switch to being a full-time politician.

Arum told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday night that the 36-year-old Pacquiao wants to get on with his political career and run for the Senate in the Philippines.

“I believe he’ll take one more fight, then run for the Senate in the Philippines,” Arum told the newspaper in a telephone interview from China.

“He could fight twice more, I guess, but it sets up better for him to fight, then run.”

Pacquiao lost a unanimous decision to Mayweather in Las Vegas four months ago in a fight that Pacquiao fought with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Pacquiao then underwent surgery after the Mayweather fight which generated a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys.

Arum told the Times it is unlikely Pacquiao and Mayweather could fight again.

“From what I’ve heard, Mayweather is retiring,” Arum said. “I guess they could fight again, but many things would have to happen.”

Mayweather has said his next fight against Andre Berto on September 12 in Las Vegas would be his last, but few are taking him seriously after he made the same claim about several of his most recent title fights. – AFP.