By Paul “Paparazzi“ Jones Photo © (clockwise) Paul “Paparazzi” Jones /ESB, Premier Boxing Champions, Suzan Classen, Matthias Kern, and Daniel Kucin, Jr. | Illustration – “Paparazzi” Jones
Just in case you missed the memo, it’s official. Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0-0, 26 KOs), 38, will return to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 12 to take on Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs), 31, in a welterweight title bout (Showtime, Pay-Per-View).
By toppling Berto, Mayweather aims to tie Rocky Marciano’s (49-0-0, 43 KOs) coveted perfect record of 49 wins without a loss. Although Marciano’s benchmark has stood for nearly 60 years, a win over former welterweight titleholder Berto would put Mayweather alongside “The Brockton Blockbuster” in the boxing annals.
The opening Mayweather–Berto presser is slated for Thursday, August 6 in Los Angeles, California. Media reports indicate that the event will not be open to the public.
Here is a confirmed undercard bout and other news courtesy of good sources:
- Undefeated featherweight, Gervonta “Tank” Davis (11-0, 10 KOs), 20, of Baltimore, MD, will be making his Mayweather Promotions debut in an 8-rounder against a To Be Announced (TBA) opponent on the untelevised portion of the Mayweather–Berto undercard. In July, Davis visited Mayweather’s training camp in Las Vegas where he also met with Money May and powerful manager, Al Haymon, to discuss his future in boxing.
- In late September 2015, “Fast” Eddie Chambers (41-4, 22 KOs), of Philadelphia, PA, looks to get back into heavyweight title contention after reeling off five consecutive wins in 2014—albeit against limited opposition. With an August 2013 loss in his rear-view mirror — when he dropped a unanimous decision to slick southpaw, Thabiso Mchunu (16-2, 10 KOs) during a brief stint at cruiserweight — Chambers has been on a mission to reboot his career. The recent Philadelphian’s efforts have largely gone under the radar, however, occurring mostly in the United Kingdom where he has spent considerable time refining his craft and developing a rapport with Tyson Fury (24-0, 18 KOs) and Fury’s uncle, trainer Peter Fury. Now aligned with Haymon, it is only a matter of time before Chambers, 33, enters the Premier Boxing Champions mix at heavyweight presuming that he continues his winning ways.
- Twenty-two-year-old junior welterweight prospect, Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed (15-0, 8 KOs), will be back in action on September 11 on a Top Rank card at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas (NV) headlined by unbeaten super featherweight, Oscar Valdez (16-0, 14 KOs). Reed, who has sparred with the likes of Adrien “The Problem” Broner (30-2, 22 KOs) and Lamont “Havoc” Peterson (33-3-1, 17 KOs), will be facing a TBA opponent in a likely 8- or 10-rounder.
Author Contact:
Contact “Paparazzi” Jones: pjonesfreelance@hotmail.com │Twitter@boxingepicenter
More from “Paparazzi” Jones:
The People’s Court (of Public Opinion): Mayweather v. Pacquiao
OPEN MIC: A Candid Conversation with Lamont “Havoc” Peterson — García, Mayweather, Pacquiao, More!
OPEN ‘MIKE’: Rising Prospect Mike “Yes Indeed” Reed Vows to Bring Top Rank to DC
The Year in Review: Six Notable Fights in 2014 – Part I — Pacquiao, Hopkins, Froch, More!
Kovalev Grounds “The Alien”
