Credit: Photo credit should read JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Floyd Mayweather decided on his final opponent just hours after blockbuster win over Manny Pacquiao

Originally posted on Bloody Knockout | By Harvey Burton | Last updated Aug 28, 2025 3:16 PM ET

Floyd Mayweather retired with a record of 50-0 after his comeback fight against Conor McGregor, but his original final foe was decided just hours after the biggest win of his career.

Floyd Mayweather retired with a perfect undefeated record against an out-of-his-depth McGregor, but just two fights before saw ‘Money’ Mayweather finally face Manny Pacquiao after fans pleaded for the mega-fight for years.

Perhaps some years too late, Mayweather vs Pacquiao didn’t quite deliver what it potentially could have, though Mayweather did pick up a career-defining win against the Filipino legend.

Though the win was a great day for ‘Money’, it is a testament to his mindset that he had already decided who would be next just a couple hours after the fight.

Photo credit should read JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Andre Berto revealed Floyd Mayweather knew he would be next hours after Pacquiao win

In an interview with Andre Ward, Andre Berto, Mayweather’s original final foe, revealed that the fight had been all but made just a couple of hours after Mayweather’s win over Pacquiao.

Berto said, “Not even three hours after the fight, not even two to three hours after the fight, Ronnie run up on me – ‘Hey Bert, man, you better get ready.’ I said ‘Get ready for what?’ ‘Man, Floyd said he gone fight you next.'”

He continued, stating that Ronnie, a friend of Mayweather’s, had said, “I just left the champ’s house, Bert he fighting you next.”

Berto was puzzled by Mayweather’s mindset in that moment, “This man just got finished making a hundred million, in his hand, guaranteed, fighting a big fight of his life, and he say he gone fight me next?”

The pair eventually did fight, and Mayweather defeated Berto by unanimous decision.

He claimed after the fight, “My career is over. It’s official.”

Floyd Mayweather’s toughest test was a journeyman in 2000

In 2000, Mayweather was already 23-0 as a pro, and entered the ring against 22-16-4 Emanuel Augustus.

Augustus’ record was a deceptive one, as he fought in an extremely unconventional manner, which eventually landed him the nickname ‘The Drunken Puppet-master.’

Years on from their fight, Mayweather would make the bold claim that Augustus was his toughest opponent.

Emanuel Augustus’ career never amounted to much aside from his close shave with success against Micky Ward, but Augustus did once save his opponent’s life, and left behind a legacy of an unconventional style on an unconventional man.

This article first appeared on Bloody Knockout and was syndicated with permission.

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