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 Though the scheduled 12-round bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena has
failed to capture the public's imagination with heavy underdog Berto
having lost three of his last six contests, Mayweather said
entertainment would be a priority on the night.
"I'm in top condition, we had a great training camp," Mayweather
told a cheering crowd of around 6,000 during an on-stage interview
after he and Berto had both been on the scales.
"The main thing tomorrow is going out there, being at my best. Since
(Manny) Pacquiao didn't give the fans a good fight, tomorrow is
going to be a great fight."
Mayweather will be back in the ring for the first time since he beat
Filipino southpaw Pacquiao on a unanimous decision in a much hyped
"Fight of the Century" on May 2 that failed to live up to its
billing.
Against twice former welterweight world champion Berto, Mayweather
is widely expected to win what he claims will be the final bout of
his career as he bids to match the 49-0 record of former heavyweight
great Rocky Marciano.
"He (Berto) is another tough guy, he has a high knockout ratio, he's
a rugged competitor but I've faced everybody in the sport of
boxing," Mayweather said after tipping the scales at 146 pounds to
deafening roars from the fans.
"I've faced Pacquiao, I have faced (Miguel) Cotto, I've faced Canelo
(Alvarez). I've already faced the best fighters."
Asked whether he was at all concerned that another sporting upset
could be on the cards after Serena Williams' shocking tennis defeat
earlier on Friday at the U.S. Open, Mayweather smiled: "I don't
overlook any opponent but I've been here before.
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"I know what it takes to win a fight of this magnitude. Just stay
focused, stay on a parallel path and go out there and do what I do
best, and that's win. I just can't wait to get out there and give
the fans excitement tomorrow."
Berto, 30-3 (23 knockouts), tried to inject a bit of needle into
proceedings when the two welterweights moved to the front of the
stage for the traditional stare-down, crossing his arms in sullen
defiance.
"We are here for a reason," Berto, 32, said when asked to explain
his tactics. "I don't get caught up in all the rest of it. I already
been through a lot and ... on Saturday night we're going to go in
and do what we do."As for being a 30-1 underdog against Mayweather,
48-0 (26 KOs), Berto was totally unphased.
"It don't matter. Where I come from, we never had a chance to come
out of that," said Berto, who was regarded as a 'problem child' by
his parents before being taken to the gym as a 10-year-old by his
father to learn discipline.
"Just the fact that I'm here tells you something."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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