Summary Floyd Mayweather insists his September 12 showdown with Andre Berto will be his last bout.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Outspoken welterweight king Floyd Mayweather insists his September 12 showdown with Andre Berto will be his last bout.
"Nobody knows what the future holds, but right now, I m cool and comfortable and having no second thoughts at all about retirement," Mayweather said at an open workout in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
"I had a good career, I won every world title, but boxing is wear and tear on the body.
"It s time to hang em up. I m looking forward to working with some up-and-coming kids, going on walks and taking vacations."
It s a vision of retirement few who have watched his career can really picture for the ultra-competitive American, who will be trying to equal Rocky Marciano s legendary record of 49-0.
A chance to go to 50-0 could prove irresistible, as could the chance to inaugurate the MGM Grand s new 20,000-seat arena in Las Vegas next year.
But for now the 38-year-old Mayweather says he s glad his success gives him the chance to decide when to quit the ring -- a choice many in the sport are denied.
"I ve truly been blessed," he said. "I ve taken my time, kept my eye on the prize and done what I ve had to do," he said. "So I m able to make a choice when to retire. Most fighters really couldn t.
"Boxing has always been work to me, a job," he said. "If I could say anything to a youngster taking up boxing it would be to be smart and not take a lot of punches.
"It s called the sweet science for a reason. Hit and not be hit, make a lot of money without taking a lot of punishment. That s what it s about."
That slick defensive style has made Mayweather a target for some critics, as his choice of 40-1 underdog Berto for the bout touted as his last.
"Berto can fight," Mayweather said of the former welterweight world champion, who battled a severe shoulder injury two years ago but returned to knock out Josesito Lopez in March.
"He s hungry. He comes to wage a war. There is never a dull moment when he fights, so I expect a hell of a fight out of him," Mayweather said of Berto, who brings a record of 30-3 with 23 knockouts to the fight. "We ll see how it all plays out."
Mayweather said the reaction to his superfight with Manny Pacquiao in May showed he d be criticized no matter who he fought.
"My last fight, all you guys put Pacquiao on a pedestal and look what happened," he said. "I went in there and did what I needed to do, which is win.
"This fight, no matter who the opponent, somebody would have something critical or negative to say. Some people are never satisfied.
"But I m satisfied."
