Boxing
Andre Berto talks about Floyd Mayweather’s return, rematch with Pacquiao and financial rumors
Published
4 weeks agoon
Andre Berto reacted to speculations about Floyd Mayweather’s possible return to the ring, the debate surrounding the rematch with Manny Pacquiao and rumors about the undefeated champion’s finances.
Berto knows Mayweather better than most, and their relationship goes back decades. The former two-time welterweight champion also faced Mayweather in the last professional fight of the superstar’s career in 2015.
More than a decade later, Mayweather is back in the headlines ahead of his confirmed September rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
The return of Floyd Mayweather
Speaking exclusively to WBN, Berto believes Mayweather’s skills and in-ring IQ will still allow him to compete under the right circumstances.
“Given Mayweather’s situation, it looks like he’s still trying to stay in shape,” Berto told World Boxing News about Mayweather’s performance at the Greek exhibition before his fight with Manny Pacquiao in September.
“A lot of people are trying to understand the reasons for his return. There’s a lot of speculation. But he’s got the name, he’s got the credibility, and I believe that as long as he stays in his circle to fight the older Pacquiao or fight someone else who isn’t trying to push or pressure that older gas tank, I think he should be fine because he still has an amazing boxing IQ and can get away with a lot.”
Discussions about Mayweather’s return have resurfaced following the confirmation of a long-discussed rematch with Pacquiao this year.
Pacquiao has already insisted that the event will be a true professional competition and not an exhibition, telling the media that it is a “real fight or nothing” as contradictions around the event persist.
The Filipino icon later released a statement clarifying that the contract he signed was intended to be a fully sanctioned professional fight and not an exhibition event, addressing what he described as misinformation about the fight.
Pacquiao rematch at stake
For Berto, the most crucial factor in selling the fight to fans may be whether Mayweather is willing to risk his celebrated undefeated record.
“Yes, I think that’s something that will really sell this fight,” Berto said.
“If he’s going to put this record out. Fans don’t really care that much about exhibitions, I mean they’ll still watch, but they want to know there’s something bigger at stake.”
“It’s something that Mayweather holds on to strongly, it’s what sets him apart from the rest and if he says it, it’s something that everyone will want to watch.”
Whether Mayweather will risk a 50-0 record will be confirmed this week after pressure from Pacquiao.
Money gossip
Berto was also asked about reports suggesting that Mayweather may have spent a significant portion of his earnings on outstanding tax returns and claims of unpaid bills.
The former champion gave a measured answer, drawing on his long-standing relationship with Mayweather.
“It’s a façade for Money Mayweather,” Berto said.
“For as long as I’ve known him, since he was fifteen, he’s always been a brilliant guy, and as you get bigger and make more money, your expenses will get higher and higher.”
“He takes pride in being the boss and paying for everything. But when you stop fighting and the income stops coming in, you start to feel it.”
So I hope that doesn’t happen because it would be a depressed story.”
Berto remains closely associated with Mayweather and is ranked 49th in the undefeated champion’s original professional career.
Mayweather defeated Berto by unanimous decision, equaling Rocky Marciano’s record, before announcing his retirement from the sport. He later came back to defeat Conor McGregor and reach the magical 50.
It remains to be seen whether Pacquiao will get a chance to beat Mayweather to 50-1.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
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Boxing
O’Shaquie Foster says Richardson Hitchins is ‘scary as hell’
Published
32 minutes agoon
May 13, 2026
O’Shaquie Foster took his feud with Richardson Hitchins to another level this week, accusing the former IBF junior welterweight champion of being afraid of sparring and questioning his durability during a lengthy interview ahead of Foster’s May 30 title defense against Raymond Ford.
Foster slammed Hitchins, claiming that people in boxing have been questioning Hitchins’ mentality for years.
“Hitchins is scary as hell. I knew it. That’s what they say in boxing,” Foster said on Sean Zittel’s YouTube page. “They must have pumped him up with some sparring sessions. He knew what I was talking about. They had to put a wrench in his back so he could go to sparring and so on.”
Foster then mentioned that Hitchins was withdrawing from his scheduled fight against Oscar Duarte on the day of the competition in February.
“He has heart problems. It’s not a physical heart problem. He just doesn’t have a heart. See what he did to Duarte? Why am I worried about Hitchins? He’s so terrible,” Foster said.
Hitchins later responded to Foster’s X with a miniature response of his own.
“I’ve got a lot more heart than that alien pussy in my ass, nigga.”
The latest exchange comes just hours after Foster mocked Hitchins over his Olympic path and his past ties to Subriel Matias.
Foster blamed Hitchins for not making the U.S. Olympic team before he later represented Haiti at the 2016 Olympics. Hitchins previously lost out on U.S. selection to Gary Antuanne Russell before qualifying for international play in Haiti via Olympic qualifying.
This exchange added unexpected warmth to an otherwise serene week in boxing, especially since both fighters weren’t even fighting in the same division. Foster is the 130-pound world champion, and Hitchins recently won the 140-pound belt.
Still, both fighters come from the Recent York boxing scene, know each other’s amateur history, and now seem fully committed to turning their social media spats into something much more personal.

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most crucial fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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Last update: 2026/05/13 at 22:39
Boxing
Naoya Inoue offered an immediate title fight in a fresh weight class: “I’m already ready”
Published
3 hours agoon
May 13, 2026
Naoya Inoue recently cemented his status as one of, if not the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world with a win over compatriot Junto Nakatani. The question is, can anyone defeat him before he hangs up his gloves?
The Japanese phenom defended his four super bantamweight belts for the seventh time in a fight against Nakatani at the sold-out Tokyo Domemaintaining his undefeated record in what many considered to be the toughest test of his career to date.
With retirement not too far away, the undisputed two-division champion is looking to tackle one more weight class before it’s time for a Hall of Fame campaign. Ready and willing to fight at 126 pounds is Bruce Carrington from Brooklyn.
I’m talking to ES Newsthe WBC featherweight champion said that watching Nakatani fight only confirmed his belief that he was capable of defeating “The Monster”.
“Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of things that I can’t say here. I’m ready. Inoue is still a spectacular fighter, but I know I have what it takes to beat him. Nakatani is no slouch. I expected a good fight… he did everything he had to do to win.”
“Shu Shu,” who won the vacant title against Carlos Castro in January and will return to the ring to defend it against Rene Palacios in July, then said he would take the fight to Inoue as soon as it was offered to him.
“100%. I’m ready now, I’m ready today, I’m ready tomorrow, I’m ready whenever. Come to the Shu Shu show, baby. I can’t wait to share the ring with you. It’s going to be fireworks.”
Inoue made his plans clear – to fight once again at super bantamweight, most likely against Jesse Rodriguez, and then move up to featherweight, which he said would be the final challenge of his career. Although he did not mention Carrington’s name, the 33-year-old says he wants to take the belt straight away.
As a long-reigning champion and heavyweight star who is gaining more and more importance, sanctioning authorities would likely have no problem approving such a possibility.
However, many fans will believe that “Bam” Rodriguez can thwart these plans. The 26-year-old is expected to move up to bantamweight to fight for Antonio Vargas’ WBA title, with the fight against Inoue taking place in early 2027.
“I think this is the biggest fight in the world, especially in this weight class,” Benavidez said at the post-fight press conference.
“It’s definitely a fight I want. Like I said, I’m not afraid of anyone. This is Monstro’s world and if he wants to get the fight, we’ll get it.”
Opetaia recently lost her IBF cruiserweight title after joining Zuffa Boxing and fighting an unsanctioned fight against Brandon Glanton. Benavidez suggested this move, which immediately complicated negotiations for a future fight.
“I don’t know why he went to Zuffa,” Benavidez said. “We could have had this fight right after this one.”
“I’m not going to go out there and fight for the Zuffa title.”
Benavidez also questioned whether fighters associated with Zuffa would have access to the biggest opportunities in boxing, pointing to Dana White’s history with rival promotional companies.
“I think they’re definitely losing their power,” Benavidez said. “There’s just a lot of politics involved.”
“I think Dana White has shown that he doesn’t want to fight PBC, DAZN.”
The undefeated champion later made it clear that he believed he was in a stronger commercial position compared to Opetaia and suggested that there was no reason for him to choose another promotional organization.
“I’m the one filling these stadiums,” Benavidez said. “I’m the one fighting pay-per-view.”
“Jai Opetaia has never fought on pay-per-view. He has never filled an arena like this.”
Benavidez added that he would still be open to fighting if the two sides manage to reach an agreement outside Zuffa’s structures.
“If they want to come to the table here, we can do that,” Benavidez said. “Let’s get it.”

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most critical fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
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