Floyd Mayweather Jr. reflective after masterpiece that begs for more

Boxing has been scarred by examples of great fighters who stayed in the ring too long. Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson are all on the list.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., in a dominating Saturday night display of his “hit and don’t be hit” mentality, underlined his legendary stature by matching late ex-heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record and tying Louis with his 26th world title fight triumph.

The 38-year-old then made it clear he didn’t want to repeat those sad final chapters of the others, reinforcing his intention to retire effective immediately.

“I don’t know another fighter that made it look so easy … I made it look so easy,” Mayweather said in a revealing near-hour-long post-fight news conference that lasted until early Sunday morning.

He wasn’t talking about Saturday’s fight. He was speaking of his career.

And Saturday was just the latest example.

Mayweather beat Andre Berto, a former welterweight champion reduced to an 18-to-1 underdog, by unanimous decision, with one judge awarding Mayweather a sweep of all 12 rounds. Mayweather connected on 232 punches to Berto’s 83, and out-jabbed him, 83-39.

“He’s just smart. Really smart,” Berto said. “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.”

In his last fight, Mayweather earned more than $220 million by posting another signature unanimous-decision victory over Manny Pacquiao, who was viewed before that bout as Mayweather’s greatest threat.

Mayweather admitted people “are throwing money at me” and that another “nine-figure” offer beyond the $32 million he earned Saturday would be on the table if he chose to fight beyond his six-bout Showtime deal that has now expired.

MGM Grand is opening a new 20,000-seat arena in April that will likely sweeten the pot.

“I’m OK,” Mayweather said in rejecting -- at least for now -- the overtures.

He said he feels motivation to develop young fighters within his Mayweather Promotions stable and to enjoy his life.

He’s also currently overlooking a landscape of possible next opponents that includes three fighters he’s already proven he can beat – Pacquiao, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Miguel Cotto.

“Pac, Canelo and Cotto … it’s like bowling and I got a turkey,” Mayweather said.

His father and trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr., also mentioned unbeaten middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and unbeaten welterweight Keith Thurman, but dismissed Golovkin as “too big,” and Thurman as “a one-punch fighter,” the kind that Mayweather Jr. has made a career of defeating.

Retiring now, the younger Mayweather said, was part of a “longevity game plan” he had for his career that dated to the beginning of his pro bouts.

“I went to my promoter and said, ‘Put my name on the board,’” to fight, Mayweather recounted, “and they said, ‘You just fought.’ I said, ‘Put my name on the board again,’ and they told me, ‘We can’t pay you.’ ”

So he asked, “How much can you afford to pay?” He was told $7,500, and he responded, “Give it to me.” Then, he said, it wasn’t all about the money.

The scene repeatedly played out.

“I fought 17 fights in and became a world champion” less than two years after his pro debut.

The story was a reminder that he’s paid his dues.

Then he told a related tale of how three of his defining fights came against men who have since died. His first world title came against Los Angeles’ Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez. His first big showdown with a fellow unbeaten was against Diego Corrales. And his first pay-per-view card was against Arturo Gatti.

“Each one of those fights took me to another level,” Mayweather said. “Those things I remember.

“If I keep fighting,” Mayweather added about the possibility of risking long-term injury. “So I gotta get up out of there.”

Mayweather Sr. said he’ll monitor his son’s feelings toward the future, noting that with a 39^th birthday in February, it’s important to decide sooner rather than later if he’ll truly bypass a shot at 50-0.

“Fighting is never easy to do,” Mayweather Sr. said. “If you don’t want to fight, you better quit. Right then. When your mind is telling you, ‘I don’t want to do this no more,’ you better not do it no more. Because if you continue to do it, you’re going to get hurt.”

Mayweather Jr. was only slightly marked Saturday after leaving the younger Berto, with his 60-plus percent knockout ratio, to flail punches at air and chase an elusive target.

“This sport is brutal by itself,” Berto said. “He’s put in a lot of work. If he wants to retire, he’s earned that.”

Mayweather was definitely in the mood late Saturday to look back.

“I’m A-OK,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot of things about me: ‘All he does is hold. All he does is run. He’s cocky. Arrogant. He can’t write. Can’t read.’ It’s OK. If you all believe it, you’re dumb for believing it. I think everyone needs to go the Floyd Mayweather way. ...

“Can you all imagine how your bankroll would look if you bet on me 49 times?”

Whether there’ll be a 50^th fight is something Mayweather will determine when he sees fit.

He was asked if he’ll miss being in the spotlight, how he’ll feel being a former champion. His response showed that the competitive juices still flow, as he reminded reporters he currently has two welterweight title belts and a 154-pound belt too.

“So report that,” he said, smiling and pointing to the reporter whose questions he dodged as successfully as Berto’s right hand.

Those who know Mayweather well say that if some unseen-for-now challenger emerges by early next year, it could sway a comeback.

He admitted he can overcome any layoff rust rapidly.

“Once I get to the boxing gym and I get started, four hours of nonstop hard work” is all that’s needed, he said.

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