Mayweather farewell fizzles at box office

Andre Berto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. AFP and AP PHOTOS

LAS VEGAS, United States—Hundreds of tickets were still available Friday less than 24 hours before Floyd Mayweather’s welterweight world title defense, an embarrassing blow to the champion for what he says will be his last fight.

READ: More than 2,000 tickets still available for Mayweather-Berto bout

It is in stark contrast to the feverish anticipation for May’s showdown with Manny Pacquiao, when all seats at the MGM Grand were snapped up in mere minutes.

Mayweather has attempted to drum up interest in Saturday’s bout at the same venue in Las Vegas by declaring challenger Andre Berto—rated by many pundits as a massive underdog—a genuine threat.

Berto’s respected trainer, Virgil Hunter, has talked up “personal issues” between the two fighters.

READ: Mayweather rivals doubt retirement talk

But it would appear that the paying public are not buying it.

The lukewarm interest from fight fans will be particularly galling for Mayweather, 38, because victory over Berto would put him equal with heavy legend Rocky Marciano with a perfect 49-0 record.

Ticketmaster was still offering several hundred tickets for between $150 and $1,500 late Friday and its website showed whole rows lying empty.