Hate the Fight? Berto bout is just more money in Mayweather’s business plan

By Norm Frauenheim-

Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose real legacy is money, hears the anger from media and fans unhappy at his decision to fight .

“I’ve been getting backlash,’’ Mayweather said Thursday at a news conference announcing the pay-per-view bout on Sept. 12 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “He’s been getting backlash.

“No one is forced to buy the fight. I appreciate it, but no one is forced to buy the fight.’’

True enough.

The real test of Mayweather’s legacy figures to be in his ability to sell a fight that has been panned from public pillar to public post since it was first rumored a few weeks ago.

Showtime’s PPV price — $64.95 for the regular telecast and $74.95 for high-def – is cheaper than the sticker-shock shelling felt by wallets turned-inside-out from the $89.95/$99.95 cost of watching Mayweather-. But it’s still a long way from the free-TV that was considered by CBS executives. Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza confirmed that possibility Thursday.

It didn’t happen, Espinoza said on a shosports live stream before the formal news conference, because there just wasn’t enough time to sell the advertising.

“Wasn’t practical,’’ Espinoza said.

That begs a practical question about whether there are enough PPV customers to cover even a fraction of Mayweather’s guarantee, which figures to be at least $30 million.

Early indications are that Berto, a 40-to-1 underdog in initial odds posted at the MGM Grand, has a better chance at winning.

That said, don’t ever underestimate Mayweather’s salesmanship. Berto gives him a chance to sell in the style that has made him the world’s highest-earning athlete in a sport so often deemed bankrupt.

His haters have made him rich and they figure to be there at least one more time for a chance, no matter how slim, to see him finally lose. As a business plan, perhaps it’s perverse. But it works.

“This is an intriguing match-up,’’ said Mayweather, his own promoter, matchmaker, baker and candlestick-maker. “I don’t want anyone to say, ‘Damn, I missed that fight.’ ‘’

Part of the sales pitch is history, including a chance to equal Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. That much was evident Thursday. Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said that Sept. 12 would be the last chance to see a fighter who has claimed to be The Best Ever. His records will never be broken, Ellerbe said.

Safe to say, his record for earning more than $200 million in a single fight – the dull decision over Pacquiao – will be very hard to break.

Mayweather has been able to generate revenue like nobody in history. Maybe, it will continue beyond Berto and into a quest for 50-0 at a new Las Vegas arena scheduled to open next spring. Maybe.

“Number 49, this is it,’’ Mayweather said after the formal news conference when asked about whether he might change his mind. “I’ve had a remarkable career. I can go out at 48-0 and be happy.’’ Rich and unpopular, too.