Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Andre Berto: Sights and sounds from MGM Grand Garden Arena

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Steve Marcus

Andre Berto is hit by Floyd Mayweather Jr. during their title fight Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Published Sat, Sep 12, 2015 (6:18 p.m.)

Updated Sat, Sep 12, 2015 (7:44 p.m.)

The decision for Floyd Mayweather Jr. reflects his dominance: 117-111, 118-110, 120-108. He says it is really over, too.

"My career is over. It's official," he told Jim Gray in the ring. "You've got to know when to hang it up. I'm knocking at the door of 40 years old. There's not much more for me to do in the sport of boxing ... I still have all my faculties, I'm still sharp, still smart." He added, referring to his 49-0 record: "Records are made to be broken. Maybe someday we'll find the next Floyd Mayweather to break my record.

And what of all that money? The Money Man made reference to the $700 million he made in his career and said, "Money doesn't make me. I make money."

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Mayweather is introduced by Jimmy Lennon as someone "who needs no introduction" and who is "bidding farewell to a championship career." Fight is not a sellout at first bell, but 13,000-plus should be in the house.

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Some serious leather thrown by Orlando "Siri" Salido in the final prelim: 1,037 punches (connecting on 285). The fight for the WBO Junior Lightweight Championship between Salido and Roman "Rocky" Martinez ended in a draw.

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The undercard fights have been very entertaining, even as the crowd has been somewhat late to arrive. Seeing a lot of green in here right now, and that's not from Money Mayweather's attache case.

Thus far: Badou Jack of Stockholm has outpointed George Groves of Hammersmith, England for the WBC super middleweight championship and Jonathan Oquendo won a decision over Jhonny Gonzalez in a superfeatherweight bout.

In one earlier back-and-forth, I contacted Kiki Tyson to see if her husband would be here tonight, as she is married to Mike Tyson. He was plannign to be here, but dozed off and she is not waking him. The fight should be a snoozer anyway, she reasons, but did ask, "Text me of Berto accidentally wins."

Note to self: Text Kiki in an upset ...

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We are enjoying the undercard at the Floyd Mayweather-Andre Berto bout at the MGM Grand, but let's first talk of my trip to the hotel on the Monorail. I met a couple recently from the state of Washington who were in town on something of a mini-honeymoon. At least, that's what I called it. They said was an "escape" from their families. They drank from tall cans of Budweiser with limes on the side, which I guess is some sort of recreational beverage. The gentleman asked if I was from Las Vegas and I said I was, and he asked why I was carrying a computer bag on the Monorail.

"I am at the bouts tonight," I said, and explained that this was to be Mayweather's final fight.

"Why?" he asked, and I told him that Mayweather wanted to retire at 49-0. Or, on the off chance of a loss tonight, 48-1. Then this person — who lives in another state — asked about the new arena on the Strip.

"That's about finished, right?" he said. I said it was scheduled to open next spring. "Then why doesn't Mayweather fight again to open that place ad make it 50-0?"

"Well ..." I started, then thought for a moment. "That would make too much sense."

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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