Since the announcement of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s next bout, fans and media have been critical about his upcoming PPV match up with Andre Berto. While Berto is a former champion, many feel that Mayweather should be taking on a better caliber of opponent, as Berto is 3-3 in his last 6 fights. The fight also comes with a $65 PPV price tag, another reason fans are displeased with the fight. Currently most odds makers have Berto listed a 80-1 underdog.
In part 2 of my Interview with BJ Flores, I get his thoughts on what Berto brings to the fight and if he really believes Mayweather will retire fighting this type of opposition. BJ also talks about the future of Manny Pacquiao and what type of match up he expects when Pacquiao returns next year. Additionally, Flores breaks down the upcoming Canelo vs. Cotto fight and talks about who he is leaning towards winning it. Here is what BJ Flores had to say.
Robert Brown: What do you think Andre Berto brings to the table in the Floyd Mayweather match up?
BJ Flores: Berto is a very charismatic and entertaining fighter. He’s got fast hands, he’s athletic. He’s not going to face a lot of the problems that he has in some of his other fights, as far as guys who are huge punchers who maybe caught him or hurt him and knocked him off his game plan in the very beginning of the fight.
Berto’s gonna be in there with a fast guy with great timing and Andre is very fast himself, he’s very athletic and he probably punches harder than Floyd. It makes it interesting, but Floyd is definitely the favorite and definitely should win the fight, but it’s a great opportunity for Andre to really up his stock by facing the best fighter in the world. I think it will be interesting early in the fight too, I really do. Andre is working with Virgil Hunter, he’s getting a little of his old swagger and his old confidence back.
Floyd’s not the biggest puncher in the welterweight division but he’s still very sharp and very crisp and physically strong. It’s gonna be interesting early I think, but Floyd is obviously gonna be my pick but I think Andre is a very interesting match up, especially when we watch the build up of the fight and how the training camp is going. It’s going to be good TV.
Robert Brown: How do you feel about Mayweather possibly retiring on a fight like Andre Berto? Do you think he will retire?
BJ Flores: Yeah I think he will, and I think he can retire any time he wants because he’s fought everybody for almost twenty years. If he wants to end on Berto or if he wants to end on Pee-wee Herman, it doesn’t matter, it really doesn’t. He can fight whoever he wants and retire because he’s fought everybody already.
People have to realize how difficult it is to do what he’s done. As a fighter myself, I really respect and appreciate how difficult it is to fight all those world champions that he’s fought and always come out on top. It’s amazing, he still found a way to win on his bad nights, everybody has them but he still finds a way to win every time. It’s just amazing what he’s been able to do for so long and the longevity and the level of opposition and how he’s dominated. It’s absolutely amazing.
Robert Brown: Who do you think Manny Pacquiao should fight when he comes back to the ring?
BJ Flores: I’d love to see him fight Amir Khan, why not? Amir wanted a big fight and I think him and Manny would make for a great fight. They were in the same camp before and now Freddie would have plenty to say about Amir and I think it would be a nice build up.
Manny did very well in his last fight and he can fight whoever he wants too next, whoever he feels like fighting, that’s how it’s gonna be. Manny has earned it and Floyd has earned it, so there’s really nothing to say, you can either watch it or not. They’re gonna do whatever they think is best for their career and their promoters will do the same.
Robert Brown: If Manny fights Amir Khan, what is your prediction for that fight?
BJ Flores: I like Manny. If Manny shows up how he did against Floyd, I like Manny. I say that because everybody says he didn’t fight good against Floyd, but Floyd makes people fight that way. Floyd takes away your strong point and takes away whatever you do best and it looks like you’re not trying but you’re really trying.
Floyd’s just a master of taking away your best offensive weapon and that’s what Floyd does in every fight. I think Manny was ready, I think he might have had a little injury with his shoulder — he definitely didn’t have a torn rotator cuff though, that’s ridiculous. He had some sort of injury, no question about it.
We all have injuries when we get to fights, we all have them. Everybody has injuries, I had all kinds of stuff, I was getting cortisone shots in my thumb and in my foot. Everybody has injuries when they go into fights, trust me. If it’s too bad to where you can’t fight, then you just don’t fight.
Robert Brown: The fight with Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez is finally set, what are you thoughts on this fight?
BJ Flores: I think it’s gonna be interesting. You have to look at the levels of opposition, if Cotto was fighting James Kirkland and fighting guys like what Canelo’s been fighting lately, he’d be knocking them all out too.
Golden Boy has done a wonderful job with Canelo, and he’s a great fighter, I absolutely love how he commits so nicely to the body. He’s just so smooth and fluid, he’s everything you’d want to see in a great Mexican fighter. Miguel Cotto is the exact same way, he’s very sharp, very smooth, he’s a great body puncher.
It’s a great fight, I love both of those guys, I love to watch them both. Neither one of them ever make excuses, they just go out and fight, they’re both great fighters. It’s going to be an amazing fight and I’ll be there regardless of where it’s at because I’m a big fan of both of those guys.
Robert Brown: Who would you tip in that one?
BJ Flores: I can’t really pick. I think Cotto can win on a certain night and I think Canelo can win on another night. I think with the new Cotto we’re seeing now and especially since he’s been at 160lbs already, I think it’s going to be a bit of a surprise for Canelo of how difficult Cotto is in the beginning.
I think Cotto is gonna get underestimated in this fight and I think he’s got a real nice chance of possibly being able to outbox him and use his boxing abilities, but he’s gotta be careful not to stand in there with Canelo because he’s a very good puncher and he’s got good head movement.
He actually did well against protected floyd.,:with all floyd advantages no prowess he throws still people thought he ddn,’nt beaaat pacquiao. Harsh reality for pacquiao he is suppose to be the man there is in this era and floyd is just secondary.
BJ Flores is hallucinating. I’m a Pacquiao fan but I don’t dispute the fact that Fraud SkunkWeather Jr. very easily outsmarted Manny in the ring…. with the help of his bed mate ref. Kenny BrainLess.
Roach was worthless in that fight.
A blind ancient biased Pacquiao fan ur.
So, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that you two (Adam and GirlGago) are NOT Mayweather fans.
Using my keen sense of observation I also surmise you both have yet to get over Pacman‘s loss. Am I right?
You probably even think Pac lost in part because of his “injury” (and his bed partner, of course, GirlGago) and not because he was out boxed.
Lastly, I’m curious what your perspective is on Pacman’s curing himself by not seeing a doctor but instead swimming in salt water?
Sure thing Manny won that fight. Everybody outside of Mayweathers’ payroll says so. Youtube videos on slow-mo where PacMan’s lightning quick punches show PacMan won.
Even if Kenny Bayles didn’t deduct/warn Mayweather of excessive thus, illegal use of “clinching”. Too much of that is illegal ! That is supposed to be used only to get a breather, not a weapon.
AND a lot of boxers/aficionados/media people either American or on Mayweather’s payroll, are kissing Mayweather’s behind. Technology my friends allow us public to know the real truth. No matter how much propaganda there is, it no longer works.
So, everyone outside of Mayweather’s payroll believes he lost vice everyone else (on the payroll) who believes we won? It seems you have some rarified information. Please inform: Where I can go to get my cut?
Stupid fight nobody’s want to see
I’m watching it again tonight…but at normal speed.
…And I’m not alone. A great number of Pac fans find a high quotient of replay value in the fight, as well. Apparently, it’s so good they like to watch it in slow motion.
Pacman couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag with razor blades in his hands. I’d tell his momma he’s a loser. And he sucks at that even though he’s lost a half a dozen times already. I’m not too happy about Mayweather fighting another bum back to back either. Pacman was his bum this year. Mayweather should fight someone who cares enough about their career not to lose 6 fights. As for the shouldergate scandal? Pacman is a lying liar. He will probably make a great politician. Rob the poor folks of his country of their hopes and dreams just like every other politician does. Throw in his delusional attachment to to straw man Jesus and you have a fool who doesn’t have a proficient perception of reality.
Why do people comment on things they know nothing about? If Pac-Man injury was fake why were they going to give him a shot before the fight Nevada commission changed their mind at the last minute probably got paid by Mayweather team who knew about his injury week before watch the fight he pulls on that arm every time he holds which is what he does best.he is 1 of the best ever if he believed that maybe he wouldn’t cheat he is greedy and dosnt care about any of you dumb 1’s always sticking up for him mannys a good person who cares about what his fans want to see .I have paid to see every fight on ppv I will not pay for another Mayweather fight I know how it ends so does everyone else save your money for a real fight
A most intriguing question up to this point. “Why DO people comment on things they know nothing about”?
Boxing is political, pac should’ve been fought khan, canelo, pee wee (before he retired), ect. Flody has fought everyone without losing, he can take a break and come back for 50 on his terms. GGG and flody why not pac and ggg. Pac suppose to be so tuff. Well when box politically expect a political outcome. The top 10 welterweights forgot they can fight each other Instead of ggg oh I forgot it’s political so that want happen too quick.