49-0: Mayweather cruises through Berto, and into retirement

Alas, it was vintage "Money."

Floyd Mayweather ran his illustrious and still unblemished record to 49-0 Saturday night, outclassing mismatched challenger Andre Berto in a farewell fight that played out as most expected: in underwhelming and highly predictable fashion.

Mayweather's peerless defensive boxing was on full display, as he was hit with just 17 percent of the punches Berto threw. And though he was never the aggressor in the bout, Floyd was able to pick apart Berto on the inside, and on the counter, connecting with 68 percent of his power punches.

He hurt Berto late, and for a moment, appeared as though he might finish the fight - his career - in spectacular, anti-"Money" fashion. But then he danced around the ring until the final bell.

Afterwards, Mayweather confirmed what he's been proclaiming - but few believed - in the lead-up to the bout, asserting in his post-fight interview that he will indeed retire, and not attempt to eclipse Rocky Marciano's legendary 49-0 mark.

"You've got to know when to hang it up," Mayweather said. "I think it's about time for me to hang it up. I'm knocking at the door now. I'm close to 40 years old. Been in this sport 19 years. I've broken all the records. There's nothing more to prove."

As for Berto, he drops the fourth decision over his last seven bouts, but takes home $4 million for his haphazard effort.

"Money," who earned at least $32 million for the win, said after the fight that he won't be lured back into the ring by another payout.

If that's the case, Mayweather leaves the sport as one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time, albeit but one that frustrated fans just as much as he frustrated opponents.

And that's what makes his win over Berto - a former world titlist who looked out of place in the same ring as Mayweather - the most appropriate final opponent for a fighter who plotted his perfect record almost as skillfully as he boxed.