Floyd Mayweather vs. Andre Berto: Undercard Schedule, Online Odds and Picks
The boxing world will be focused on a familiar sight on September 12, when Floyd Mayweather Jr. takes to the ring for the final time at his favorite MGM Grand venue against Andre Berto.
Most casual fans may not pay a ton of attention to the undercard, but there are some notable bouts that will take place in Las Vegas that are worthy of appreciation. The perception is Mayweather may have a bit of a cakewalk on his hands, so the quality of fights may actually be better earlier in the proceedings.
A rematch between Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido will see the latter try to wrest back the WBO super featherweight title Martinez took from him by unanimous decision in April.
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Another title fight is on the undercard, pitting current WBC super middleweight champion Badou Jack against challenger George Groves. So, there is more at stake on Saturday than some may realize.
Check out the whole undercard below and odds from Odds Shark, followed by previews of the aforementioned bouts.
| Super Featherweight | Roman Martinez vs. Orlando Salido | Martinez -225, Salido +175 | Martinez via unanimous decision |
| Super Middleweight | Badou Jack vs. George Groves | Jack +145, Groves -175 | Jack via unanimous decision |
| Light Middleweight | Ishe Smith vs. Vanes Martirosyan | Martirosyan -450, Smith +325 | Martirosyan via unanimous decision |
| Featherweight | Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Jonathan Oquendo | Gonzalez -1200, Oquendo +700 | Gonzalez via TKO |
Martinez vs. Salido Preview and Prediction
The first time these two men met it was simply epic. Martinez prevailed in a unanimous decision, but it was not the lopsided outcome the result suggests.
Both fighters inflicted significant damage amid a slugfest that may well be regarded as the fight of the year for pure entertainment. It will be hard to expect such a showcase this time around, but boxing fans are being treated to the possibility again.
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden weighed in after Martinez's triumph several months ago:
"Man, I promise you nobody who bought Salido vs. Martinez regrets a single penny of that money spent. #boxing
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) April 12, 2015"
Martinez sent Salido to the canvas in the third and fifth rounds of their last fight to secure the win, but he withstood considerable damage himself. Based on how tight the last encounter was, Salido may have an edge of sorts in his bid to exact vengeance.
Per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Salido certainly doesn't lack confidence and feels the previous fight in Martinez's native Puerto Rico was a significant disadvantage:
"I'm excited for the rematch with Rocky Martinez. The first fight in Puerto Rico did not go my way. I got off to a slow start and had to fight two fights -- one against the referee and one against Rocky Martinez. On Sept. 12, I am going to take matters into my own hands and look to knock out Rocky to get my world title belt back.
"
Although Salido gives up two inches in height at 5'6", he has an identical 67-inch reach and showed he has a strong chin to not only get up after two knockdowns, but to also last the entire 12 rounds of his loss to Martinez.
This truly is a clash of dynamic featherweights who provide plenty of thrills despite their slighter frames. Look for Salido's default mentality of bouncing back to make the difference and lead to victory.
Prediction: Salido wins via unanimous decision.
Jack vs. Groves Preview and Prediction
As a member of "The Money Team," there is some pressure on Jack to perform well and honor the backing Mayweather has given him during his career and in positioning him for this fight.
Jack will enter as the favorite as the current WBC super middleweight title holder. "The Ripper" picked up the championship with a multiple-decision triumph over Anthony Dirrell on April 24.
Among the wins in Groves' 21-2 record, 16 of them have been by knockout. He's not as tall as Jack and has a reach of 72 inches—one inch shorter than his opponent. It just goes to show how well Groves can box in close quarters and how dangerous he can be if Jack gets too close or lets his guard down.
Mayweather Promotions revealed some of what the boxers had to say leading up to Saturday's showcase—including how Groves believes his counterpart is "limited" to a degree:
With a world title on the line, Groves figures to be gunning for a big statement—namely sending Jack to his back and stopping the fight. It's important for Jack to conserve his energy, play good defense and counterpunch effectively to wear Groves down.
Lacking the punching power Groves possesses, Jack could well take a page out of his mentor Mayweather's playbook and tire out his explosive adversary. Such a strategy will result in a tight outcome, but expect Jack to be on the proper side with a win.
Prediction: Jack wins via unanimous decision.
Note: Statistics courtesy of BoxRec.com unless otherwise indicated.
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