Floyd Mayweather defends Andre Berto selection over Amir Khan by saying both former world champions have lost three times

• Floyd Mayweather preparing for his 49th professional fight on Saturday against Andre Berto
• The American chose Berto as his opponent for his latest contest over Britain's Amir Khan
• Selection of Berto as opponent for this bout in Las Vegas has been widely criticised
• Mayweather said that both former two-time world champions have lost three fights
• Final pre-fight press conference took place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Wednesday 

By Jeff Powell For Mailonline

Published: 16:46 EST, 9 September 2015 | Updated: 03:04 EST, 10 September 2015

Floyd Mayweather explained how he chose Andre Berto instead of our own Amir Khan for his 49th and last fight.

The selection of Berto was met with scorn in some quarters. The ticket-buying and television pay-per-view public have still not fully bought into Saturday night’s event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Khan had been close to securing his dream fight with the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world three times and was distraught at being passed over yet again.

He appeared to have stronger credentials, especially with his speed, but Mayweather justified his decision at the final pre-fight press conference by saying: ‘Whoever I chose after beating Manny Pacquiao, the media were going to have something to say.

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Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto came face to face in the final pre-fight press conference on Wednesday

Mayweather addressed the media for the final time before his 49th professional fight against Berto

‘Amir Khan? They talk about Berto losing three of his last six fights. But Khan has lost three times and Andre, like him, is a former two-time world champion.’

Mayweather fitted that rationale into what became, unusually for him, a somewhat emotional prelude to what he insists will be his farewell appearance in the ring.

He said: ‘My dream was always to be the best ever. No matter what happens Saturday night, when it comes down to boxing I will still be the best there is.

‘That’s partly because I’ve never overlooked any opponent. I have certainly not done that with Berto. Have I given everything in training for this fight? Absolutely. I expect a tough fight.’

Mayweather and Berto will meet on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas

Mayweather insists that this will be his final fight before retiring from professional boxing

There have been rumours of a rift between these two old bros from the ‘hood of late but Mayweather says : ‘It's never personal for me. It's always business.

‘I’m always focused on the boxing. Some fighters get distracted by things that don’t matter. But the boxing has always come first for me.

‘I have my family and my legacy but I’ve known that we guys have to fight for the prize.’

Virgil Hunter, trainer of Khan and Andre Ward as well as Berto, said: ‘We can’t take on Floyd’s intellect but there are other elements and this will be a fight from that place in the USA where many Americans are afraid to go – the ‘hood.’

Mayweather responded: ‘I know that talking doesn’t win fights. Trainers don’t win fights. It is the two competitors who decide who wins fights.

Mayweather explained his decision to choose Berto as his opponent over Britain's Amir Khan

Mayweather said that both Berto (right) and Khan have three losses each on their record

‘I know there are fighters who are maybe faster than me, who hit harder than me. There are some very athletic boxers.

‘But there is no fighter who can make adjustments like me. No fighter can cope with me mentally.

‘That’s why I have set all these records. I always have a plan B and a plan C if plan A isn’t working. Manny Pacquiao has set traps for everyone else he has fought but he couldn’t set a trap for me.

‘I am the only critic I need. I don’t watch too many fights but I look back at my own and I tell myself I could have done better in one department or another.

‘I do thank all you media for covering my career, all 19 years. Whether it has been a good story or a bad story you have kept me relevant and that’s what has enabled me to break all those pay-per-view records.’

Berto was dressed all in black and wore sunglasses for the press conference at the MGM Grand

Mayweather pictured on his grand arrival at the MGM Grand on Tuesday ahead of his fight

Khan (left), pictured fighting Chris Algieri in May, was overlooked by Mayweather in favour of Berto 

Mayweather then revealed that when he signed his about-to-end six-fight deal with the Showtime cable network he was invited to write his own price on the cheque.

He said: ‘Stephen Espinoza (Showtime’s chief sports executive) told me to say what I wanted. We put down $300m. Hell, we did more than that in the one fight with Pacquiao.’

Mayweather alone is believed to have banked $220m from that and his net worth is believed to be at or near a billion.

He said: ‘I have to thank Showtime and the MGM Grand for everything they have done for me. I wanted that $1.2m Bugatti and they didn’t hesitate. I asked for all those gifts and trips around the world and they didn’t hesitate.’

The long goodbye – and there are still many who doubt whether it really is – goes on this hot Saturday night on that famous Strip.

Mayweather-Berto and Jack-Groves will be live on BoxNation late Saturday night  

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