TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 SPORTS Mayweather’s legacy still up for debate LAS VEGAS: Should Floyd Mayweather’s box- though, over Mayweather’s legacy as a fight- ing career now be over, as the undefeated er. “He is undefeated, which speaks for itself,” American insisted after easily beating Andre said the 52-year-old American, who was nick- Berto in their welterweight showdown on named ‘The Real Deal’ for his own exploits in Saturday, his place among the sport’s very the ring. “He can fight. He’s everything that a best is assured. lot of people may not give him credit for. “But He will certainly be remembered as one of he has done things his own way, which has the greatest defensive practitioners of all time been good but has been bad too.” because of his remarkable ability to stay away Outside the arena, ‘Money’ Mayweather’s from danger in the ring, right up there with pursuit of an equally accomplished life has fighters such as Pernell Whitaker and Willie often hit rocky ground. Over the last decade, Pep. As for his brash claim to be ‘TBE’ (The he has been accused of assaulting five differ- Best Ever), that will fall to historians to judge, ent women on at least seven different occa- though many pundits would be reluctant to sions, including a 2010 incident that resulted put him on a pedestal alongside true greats in a 90-day prison sentence. like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe “I’m a little different from everyone else,” Louis and Roberto Duran. said Mayweather who on Saturday tied Louis Part of the problem for Mayweather is with his 26th world title fight triumph. “I am public perception directly caused by the way only human, I make mistakes. I try to be a per- he promoted himself as a boxer, both inside fectionist but no one is perfect.” Overall, and outside the ring, with an extravagant though, Mayweather believes that he has lifestyle. His career-long pursuit of perfection, been misjudged by the media and the public. with his focus on iron-clad defence to stay “I’ve had a great career,” he said during a post- out of trouble, and his frequently arrogant fight news conference that lasted almost an showmanship helped him compile a stellar hour. “I’m very comfortable and I’ve made 49-0 record to match former heavyweight great investments. I’m A-okay. champion Rocky Marciano. “I’ve heard a lot of things about me: ‘All he All too often, though, he has been criti- does is hold. All he does is run. He’s cocky. cised for hand-picking his opponents, and Arrogant. No one likes him. He can’t write, there is also the question of his relatively low can’t read.’ And you all believe it. knockout rate, just 26 for a boxer who prides “It’s okay. If you all believe it, you’re dumb himself on his brilliant defensive skills and for believing it. I think everyone needs to go MANCHESTER: Australia’s captain Steven Smith (bottom centre) celebrates with teammates after winning the One Day International series agile movement. the Floyd Mayweather way.” Of course, there between England and Australia at Old Trafford cricket ground. — AP Former world heavyweight champion is still the chance that Mayweather’s career is Evander Holyfield felt that Mayweather’s lega- not yet over, with the doubters pointing to cy was all about the ‘numbers’ game with the his unexpected U-turn when he came back Australia end tour on American bowing out as boxing’s richest ever from a 21-month retirement to fight Mexican prize fighter after setting records in the sport Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009. when it comes to annual earnings, pay-per- Mayweather insists he is done. “My career view buys and gate receipts. is over. It’s official. I’m financially secure and “Mayweather has made more money than I’m in good health,” he said ringside after fin- a high, Morgan injured anybody else in the game of boxing,” ishing well ahead of Berto on all three judges’ Holyfield, who has been crowned world scorecards. MANCHESTER: Australia ended their tour of heavyweight champion a record five times “You’ve got to know when it’s time to England on a high with a 3-2 victory in the one- SCOREBOARD and watched Saturday’s fight at the MGM hang it up, so I think it’s about time for me to day international series as home captain Eoin Grand, told Reuters. hang it up.” However his trainer and father, Morgan suffered concussion after being hit on “He’s brought the game up in a way that Floyd Mayweather Sr., is less sure and has the head by a bouncer. The tourists, who lost the MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Completed scoreboard in the fifth one-day international no other fighter ever has. He took boxing and cautioned his son-if he does return-to do so Ashes Test series by the same scoreline, wrapped between England and Australia at Old Trafford yesterday: turned it to a whole other level, whether peo- no more than six months after Saturday’s up an emphatic eight-wicket win in the fifth and England (50 overs) Bowling: Starc 9-1-44-1 (1w); Hastings 10-2-21- ple believe it or not. “I don’t think we ever fight because of his advancing age as a boxer. deciding ODI at Old Trafford with 25.4 overs to J. Roy lbw by Starc 4 3; Cummins 6-0-33-0 (3w); Marsh 6-0-27-4 thought a welterweight or a middleweight “Fighting is never easy to do,” Mayweather Sr. spare thanks to Aaron Finch’s unbeaten 70. A. Hales c Maxwell b Hastings 4 (1w); Agar 2-0-12-1 would make more money than a heavy- told reporters shortly before his son’s post- Mitchell Marsh had earlier picked up four for J. Taylor c Wade b Hastings 12 Australia weight but that is what this man has done.” fight news conference. “If you don’t want to 27 as England were dismissed for just 138 in 33 E. Morgan retired hurt J. Burns c Bairstow b Willey 0 Mayweather, 38, topped the Forbes list of fight, you better quit right then. overs with Ben Stokes (42) and Adil Rashid (35 J. Bairstow lbw b Marsh 10 A. Finch not out 70 the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities in “When your mind is telling you, ‘I don’t not out) the only players to really trouble the M. Ali c wade b Marsh 5 S. Smith c Bairstow b Wood 12 June with an estimated $300 million in earn- want to do this no more,’ you better not do it Australia attack. England played the majority of D. Willey lbw Marsh 0 G. Bailey not 41 ings over the previous 12 months. no more. Because if you continue to do it, the match without skipper Morgan, though, A. Rashid not out 35 Total (2 wkts, 24.2 overs) 140 Holyfield expressed mixed feelings, you’re going to get hurt.” — Reuters after he was struck on the helmet by a short ball M. Wood c Agar b Hastings 13 Did not bat: G. Maxwell, M. Wade, M. Marsh, A. - clocked at 90mph - from Mitchell Starc in the R. Topley lbw b Agar 6 Agar, J. Hastings, M. Starc, P. Cummins seventh over the game. Morgan, who scored Total (all out, 33 overs) 138 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Burns), 2-32 (Smith) one run and faced six balls prior to the blow, was Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Roy), 2-13 (Hales), 3-22 Bowling: Willey 6-3-13-1 (1w), Topley 5.2-1-33- hit just below his right ear as he turned his head (Taylor), 3-22* (Morgan, retired not out), 4-56 0 (1nb), Wood 5-1-25-1, Rashid 4-0-34-0, Ali 4- away. With the death of Australia opener Philip (Bairstow), 5-72 (Ali), 6-72 (Willey), 7-85 0-25-0 Hughes to a short ball in a first-class match in (Stokes), 8-106 (Wood), 9-138 (Topley) Result: Australia won by eight wickets. Sydney last November still fresh in the mind concerned Australian players quickly surround- ed the Dublin-born left-hander. Following treat- second wicket went down with the score on 31. with man-of-the match Marsh the pick as they ment by the England medical staff on the pitch However, Finch’s assault on the England took wickets at crucial times to bowl England the 29-year-old climbed to his feet and groggily bowlers proved to be the difference as he out in 33 overs. England lost Jason Roy (4) lbw made his way back to the dressing room, but showed some clean hitting to reach his half-cen- to Starc early on, although replays showed the was deemed unable to continue with James tury off 47 balls, taking a particular fancy to ball had been missing the stumps but the open- Taylor charged with skippering the hosts for the Rashid’s leg-spin. er took too long to decide whether to review remainder of the contest. Finch shared an unbroken stand of 109 with the decision. Alex Hales (4) and Taylor (4) were It proved an impossible task for Taylor with so George Bailey, who hit the winning runs to finish both removed by John Hastings, who claimed few runs on the board as Australia made light unbeaten on 41.