Mayweather the greatest. Maybe not? @TolaOgunlewe

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA. The man who calls himself “The Best Ever” walked in a boxing ring early Sunday morning in what he says would be his last fight of an astonishingly brilliant career. 49 fights, 49 victories and an unblemished record equaling the hallowed mark of legendary heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano. Floyd Mayweather Jnr would go down as the best fighter of his generation without a doubt. He dismantled Andre Berto by unanimous decision much like he did with Manny Pacquiao earlier in May. The nature of the fight however gave us a glimpse into why according to many lovers of the sport, he would never be remembered as “The Best Ever”.

Many believed going to into his supposed final bout, he would look for the knockout, engage more and be aggressive. But Mayweather relying on his brilliant defense moved and toyed with Berto while picking him apart. Many fans want something worth paying for, which is why they were very aggrieved after the Pacquiao fight. They want blood, they want action, knockouts, burst lips, broken noses and swollen eye sockets. But a person with the athletic ability of Mayweather, he sees no reason to make it look hard. Said Mayweather himself “I think if my fights were tougher, if I had to struggle to win, maybe then I would get the credit I deserve. Because I make it look easy, I don’t get the credit”.

For some fans his attitude outside the ring exudes pride and non affection for the sport. They rely on legend Mohammed Ali, who also talked a lot of thrash but never flashed his wealth in the public. No social media then ofcourse. During the post fight presser Mayweather said “they never talked about me giving back, or helping under privileged youths or donating to different courses”. That’s just the way sports is, you are judged on overall behavior inside and outside the sport. Ali was remembered as much for his Vietnam stance as his defining defeat of George Foreman in Zaire.

Pages: 1 2 3