Pacquiao and McGregorįollowing three more successful bouts, Mayweather set the boxing world abuzz by agreeing to fight eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2, 2015. The fight bumped Mayweather's record to an undefeated 44-0 (with 26 KOs). In May 2013, Mayweather made headlines when he won a 12-round bout against Robert Guerrero in a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, taking the WBC welterweight title. Eight months later, he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Shane Mosley in Las Vegas to up his professional record to 41-0. He returned in September 2009 and won a bout against Juan Manuel Marquez by unanimous decision, for a purse of nearly $60 million. Mayweather stunned the sports world when he announced his retirement after defeating Ricky Hatton in late 2007. Later that year he appeared as a contestant on ABC Television's Dancing with the Stars. In the buildup to his much-anticipated 2007 match with De La Hoya, Mayweather took center stage in the four-part HBO documentary 24/7, which led to new pay-per-view and live-gate records. As his international profile grew, Mayweather brought his star power to television. "My career and legacy are very important to me." "My goal has always been to be one of the best fighters who ever lived," Mayweather has said. In a sport built on bravado, he proved to be one of boxing's most polarizing figures. The victories and paychecks only fueled Mayweather’s already sturdy ego. In 2010 he was the third highest-paid American athlete, with income of more than $60 million for the year. In 2007 he defeated Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC super welterweight crown. His career greatly accelerated even more beginning in 2000, when Mayweather embarked on a seven-year stretch that had many fight fans talking about him as one of the sport's all-time greats.ĭuring this period, he moved up in weight class four times, taking home the WBC lightweight title in 2002, the WBC super lightweight title in 2005 and the IBF, IBO, WBC and IBA welterweight titles in 2006. In 1998, he defeated Genaro Hernandez to capture his first world title, the WBC super featherweight championship. With his father serving as both manager and trainer after his release from prison, the talented boxer won several easy bouts. As a pro, Mayweather continued to win at an astonishing rate. Mayweather turned professional on October 11, 1996. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, he lost a controversial decision to Bulgaria's Serafim Todorov and was forced to settle for a bronze medal. While he finished 84-6 as an amateur, Mayweather's pre-professional career ended on a bitter note. Known as "Pretty Boy" early in his career for his unmarked face, Mayweather, with his fast, precise style, won the national Golden Gloves in 1993, 19. Amateur SuccessĪway from the circus of his family, Mayweather found peace and control in the ring. Mayweather's mother, Deborah, also dealt with substance abuse issues. He was shot in the leg while holding his baby son in 1978, and in 1993 he was sentenced to prison on cocaine trafficking charges. The elder Mayweather had a violent temper, and drifted in and out of danger as a drug dealer. He soon took the last name of his father, indicating a desire to follow in his footsteps to boxing success. Little Floyd, as he was known, became a staple at his neighborhood gym, which was conveniently located just five doors down from his family's home. At the age of 7 he was fitted for his first pair of boxing gloves. Soon, Mayweather was throwing punches at anything that came in his view. introduced Mayweather to the gym not long after he started walking, holding his young boy in front of speed bags whenever they visited. ![]() Another uncle, Roger Mayweather, is a former WBA super featherweight and WBC super lightweight champion.įloyd Sr. Boxing is in his blood: His father, Floyd Sr., was a welterweight contender, and his uncle Jeff Mayweather is a former IBO super featherweight champion. was born Floyd Joy Sinclair on February 24, 1977, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Widely considered the greatest boxer of his era, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather claimed his first championship as a super featherweight in 1998, later accumulating titles in four other weight classes while retaining an undefeated record. He won three national Golden Gloves and an Olympic bronze medal before turning professional in 1996. American boxer Floyd Mayweather was born on February 24, 1977, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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