[ 2015-05-03 ]

Mayweather: One more fight and I am calling it a day
F LOYD MAYWEATHER says he will not attempt to
break Rocky Marciano’s prestigious undefeated
record, emphasising that September will signal the
final bout of his career.

Former American heavyweight champion Marciano, who
fought between 1947 and 1955, retired with a
perfect 49-fight record. Mayweather is satisfied
simply to equal that mark, confirming that he
plans to retire from competitive boxing after one
more fight.

“My last fight is going to be in September,”
he said. “Then it’s time for me to hang it up.
I’m almost 40-years-old now. I have been in the
sport 19 years. I have been the world champion for
18 years. I’m truly thankful and blessed.”

Mayweather, expected to receive $180m once all the
pay-per-view receipts have been confirmed, emerged
the winner of the self-billed ‘Fight of the
Century’ with marks of 118-110 ,116-112 and
116-112 on the judges’ scorecards.

“When the history books are written, I’d say
it was worth the wait,” Mayweather said.
“Manny’s a hell of a fighter. I take my hat
off to him. Now I see why he’s one of the guys
who is at the pinnacle of the sport of boxing.

“I knew he would push me, I knew he would win
some rounds. You know he had moments in the fight
but I kept him on the outside. I was a smart
fighter. I outboxed him. I wasn't hit with a lot
of shots – until I sat right there in a pocket,
that’s when he landed some shots.

“I’m a calculated fighter. He’s a tough
competitor, a true champion at heart. He’s a
very awkward fighter. I had to take my time and I
had to watch him extremely closely.”

Mayweather paid tribute to his father Floyd Snr, a
former fighter-turned-trainer, who “without him
I wouldn’t be where I am at now”.

Meanwhile, a crestfallen Pacquiao, who lost for
the sixth time in his 65-fight career, felt he had
done enough over the course of 12 rounds to emerge
as the victor. “It was a good fight. I thought I
won” said the 36-year-old.

"Floyd didn’t do nothing. He always moved [on
the] outside. I got hit many times. But I think I
won the fight.

“He was moving around – and it’s not easy to
throw a lot of punches if he’s moving around.
But if he stays [still] then I can throw a lot of
punches.

“I could handle his power. He’s not stronger
like other opponents I have faced. He’s bigger
than me, but it’s not about the size. The size
doesn’t matter. I have fought bigger [men[ than
him and had no problems.”

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson said:
“Manny had a good beginning but Mayweather
controlled it from there. He has great endurance.
He did a good job.

“This is Floyd’s era, his time, and nobody can
stop him. He’s invincible."

Carl Froch, a four-time world super-middleweight
champion, spoke of his admiration for Mayweather,
but criticised the lack of quality on display.

He said: “As a boxing fan I feel really
deflated. I feel a bit let down and dissatisfied.
That was a boxing purist’s performance. If you
love your boxing, if you understand the sport,
then you’d know that what Mayweather did there
was nullify Pacquiao. I can understand why he is
unbeaten and so good. He is so proficient.

"He deserves every penny he gets – but that
wasn’t the spectacle we thought it was going to
be.”

Source - The Times(UK)

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