Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto boxing betting preview

A quiet week for betting on MMA so we get to fill our time with Mayweather vs. Berto. It’s not the fight everyone wanted but it’s the one we’re going to get, when unblemished Floyd Mayweather Jr. steps into the right for perhaps the final time against Andre Berto at the MGM Grand Arena, in Las Vegas Saturday.

Berto was selected over challenger Amir Kahn for Mayweather’s possible farewell bout and oddsmakers have had no choice but to make the 32-year-old Berto a lofty +1,250 underdog to dethrone the reining pound-for-pound king Mayweather, who at 48-0 is a -2,750 favorite Saturday. Feel like throwing down close to three dimes to win $100? Didn’t think so.

Perhaps the best way to handicap this bout, besides maybe taking a flyer on Berto to win by KO – a spicy +2,800 for a fighter who has won via TKO in four of his last five victories – is to trim the price tag on Mayweather with some round props.

The Over 11.5 rounds is priced at -240 and with Floyd looking to extend but also protect his legacy, it doesn’t seem like he’d risk going for a knockout and opening himself up to counters. It should all go according to Mayweather’s plan, which is pick your spots, keep moving and never, ever get hit.

Another smart play – much smarter than laying the chalk on Mayweather’s outright odds – is taking Mayweather via decision at -250. The man known as “Money” has knocked out just one opponent since KOing Ricky Hatton back in 2007 and that was his infamous “sucker punch” against Victor Ortiz back in 2011. Mayweather hasn’t really displayed the power needed to flatten an opponent in a while and, as mentioned, he’s not going to stick his chin out there just to go out on a high note.

OK conspiracy theorists, this one’s for you. Let’s for a second believe Mayweather is really calling it quits. That’s the equivalent of LeBron James retiring from the NBA. Mayweather is boxing’s bank, whether it likes it or not. No one has the name power to carry the sport in these dark times, which leads us to the Draw at +4,000. Boxing isn’t ready to watch its golden goose just fly away, and what would keep Mayweather from hanging them up – at least for one more fight? Everyone together: a draw! This one is way out in left field, but we are talking about boxing and stranger things have happened.