By Babatis Banda: Even for me, a staunch Floyd Mayweather Jr. supporter, the news came as a surprise that Mayweather Jr. will be fighting Andre Berto on September 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. I never dreamt Berto would be in Mayweather’s radar at any given time despite having been a world champion once, and carrying only three losses to his record.

Berto was disfigured, if not maimed by one of Floyd Mayweather’s victims, Robert Guerrero. He also lost to Victor Ortiz who was clearly out boxed and frustrated by Mayweather’s boxing smarts until he decided to foul Floyd for possibly an easier way out.

The rest of the story is history, but Ortiz got a perfect reaction from Mayweather who put him down with a perfect straight right to his chiseled chin and I feel, Ortiz decided not to beat the count.

Mayweather had said he wanted to pick someone who would stretch him and provide an exciting exit to the sport. I have a feeling Berto can’t stretch Mayweather but it could end up an exciting boxing match with Floyd trying to show-case his talent on a less talented fighter. I suspect Floyd would be a lot less cautious and might even get hit more by Berto. I suspect Floyd would be a lot aggressive and assertive than he has been in most of his fights. Very few are interested to see this fight I believe, but hey, the best boxer of our time is walking away and that alone is enough to make enthusiasts watch it.

Floyd has walked his talk, and maybe he deserves what everyone is calling an easy fight with Berto. There is nothing remaining for Floyd to prove, he has pretty much beaten everyone who matters in this game. There is not a single fighter out there that would have done it better than Manny Pacquiao but we saw how he was neutralized to a harmless little fighter. Don’t buy the injury stuff. Pacquiao would have drilled any other fighter apart from Mayweather into submission just like he has always done in that condition.

It is now for Berto to prove all of us wrong. It is for Berto to prove he can really stretch Mayweather or at least give an interesting account of himself. Berto should thank his gods that he has a big fat cheque and a chance to give an account of his career just like Marcos Maidana, the Argentinean rough man did. For Mayweather, until the demons of the sweet science lure him back, he can retire a proud man because his achievements are the envy of any correct thinking and well-meaning human being. For those that wished he got beaten up, maybe on his third return, just maybe. For those that call him boring, hard luck there will never be another Mayweather. For those that say he hugs for a win, well, the other fighters allow to be hugged and you can’t blame Floyd for being smart. Ali hooked behind the head…didn’t he?