Mayweather vs Pacquiao: A profile of Floyd's unbeaten career
Read on for his greatest moments...
Thursday 23 April 2015 07:54, UK
Floyd Mayweather Jr’s career started quietly in Las Vegas and in the proceeding 19 years he has made Sin City his own, becoming last year’s highest earning sportsman and an all-time great of the sweet science.
His last defeat was as an amateur at the 1996 Olympics in Georgia, a disputed decision to Bulgarian Serafim Todorov, but since then he has passed unblemished over every hurdle heading into his May 2 showdown with Manny Pacquiao.
Three months after his bronze medal at the Games, Mayweather removed the headgear and stepped into the professional ranks, stopping Roberto Apodaca in two rounds on his debut at Vegas' Texas Station Casino on Johnny Tapia’s undercard.
In the next two years he won in a further eight American states (including his home Michigan), with only four of his first 17 victims escaping a knockout. But back in Vegas, as a 21-year-old, he dispatched Genaro Hernandez in eight rounds to capture the WBC super-featherweight title – the first of many world championships.
Accelerated
He defended that belt six times, mixing stoppage victories with the defensively-sound 12-round strategies which were to become his trademark, before underlining his star potential by flooring the 33-0 Diego Corrales five times before the towel saved him from further punishment.
After eight defences, Mayweather’s 28th victory came against Jose Luis Castillo in 2002 at the MGM. To date, it remains the closest he has come to losing after Castillo lured him into a toe-to-toe battle that Mayweather has studiously avoided since. Stats proved that the Mexican landed more punches but the judges controversially kept the American’s record intact, adding the WBC lightweight belt. Later that year, Mayweather signed off this chapter by conclusively winning his first rematch.
Six fights touring the States, including a bludgeoning of ageing legend Arturo Gatti in New Jersey for the WBC light-welterweight title, ended back in Vegas against Zab Judah in chaotic circumstances. A Judah low blow and illegal punch provoked Mayweather’s uncle and trainer Roger into the ring mid-fight. Yoel Judah, the fighter’s father, jumped in and aimed a punch at Roger forcing police and security to calm the melee. Mayweather coasted after the re-start to win the IBF and IBO welterweight titles on points.
Iconic
As his “Money” character began to flourish, Mayweather won a world title at a fifth weight by beating the iconic Oscar De La Hoya in the most lucrative boxing match ever at the time. Floyd Snr, Mayweather’s father and De La Hoya’s trainer, coached neither man and a split decision gave Mayweather the WBC light-middleweight belt.
He knocked out Ricky Hatton in 10 rounds next in a fight remembered for the travelling English fans and the larger-than-life pre-fight ritual of the American. After retiring into a two-year sabbatical, Mayweather returned to beat Juan Manuel Marquez by decision in 2009 for his 40th win.
He went on to dominate a grudge match against Shane Mosley, before winning the WBC welterweight title by bizarrely knocking out Victor Ortiz, who subsequently claimed he was not ready to resume boxing after referee Joe Cortez called a break. Beating Miguel Cotto made it five straight wins over mutual opponents of Pacquiao’s.
Mayweather most recently persevered through a pair of rugged contests with Marcos Maidana in which, for the first time, questions emerged about his age and durability. In 47 unbeaten fights he has answered everything but, against Pacquiao, comes the ultimate question of both boxers’ abilities.
12-Round timeline
1 - Turning pro
Oct 11, 1996: A little over three months since picking up a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics, he walked away from the amateur game with an 84-6 record. And on the undercard of Johnny Tapia, he blew away Roberto Apodaca in two.
2 - First title
Oct 3, 1998: Two years and 18 fights in, he fought for a world title - without the usual national, international or interim straps. The WBC super-featherweight title did belong to Mexican's Genaro Hernandez, but Mayweather retired him in eight and the first belt was there.
3 -Toughest test so far?
Jan, 20, 2001: Unbeaten Diego Corrales (33-0) - who shared the card on his debut - was his toughest test to date but was floored no fewer than five times before his corner threw in the towel in the 10th, then kept his WBC super-featherweight title for another two fights before moving up.
4 -Almost beaten
Apr 200, 2002: He made the move up to lightweight and took Jose Luis Castillo's WBC belt away but many consider it was - and still is - the closest he came to losing. The judges didn't see it that way though and he proved the point again in his first rematch, eight months on.
5 - National tour
May 22, 2004: Vegas didn't see him again for six fights and after boxing in his birthplace, Grand Rapids, he hit the boardwalk in Atlantic City against DeMarcus Corley and stepped up to light-welterweight but for first time in nine fights, there was no world title on the line.
6- Pay-per-view debut
June 25, 2005: After 33 fights he might not have given himself the name Money yet, but could well have done following his pay-per-view debut, taking on the now-late but then-great Arturo Gatti in Atlantic City. Mayweather dominated and the Thunder's corner called a halt after six one-sided rounds.
7 - Family affair
April 8, 2006: The fourth different weight brought him his only IBF world title by putting Zab Judah down in the first and third and winning on points after a mid-fight riot. Mayweather's uncle Roger and Judah's dad Yoel came storming into the ring upset at a refereeing decision, requiring police to intervene.
8 - Got an Oscar
May 5, 2007: The celebrations of Cinco de Cinco stopped for the World Awaits as Oscar de la Hoya called off his retirement and for six rounds had Mayweather in trouble but eventually tired down the stretch and we saw Mayweather win the world title at a fifth weight - light-middle.
9 - Brits abroad
Dec 8, 2007: Undefeated at 39-0 he took on Ricky Hatton (43-0) in a fight that saw him - and thousands of Brits - hit Vegas again, after a memorable visit to Manchester first. The United shirt was painful enough for Hatton but the checked hook in the 10th saw Mayweather remain undefeated.
10 - Speed thrills
Sept 17, 2011: Retirement was mentioned and a fight a year at least saw him tackle the five mutual fighters Pacquiao faced, but after Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz stepped up but was flattened in four - Mayweather's quickest finish in 13 years.
11 - Canelo caned
Sept 14, 2013: It took 45 fights to see him involved in a unification bout with unbeaten Saul Alvarez adding his WBA to the usual WBC title, but Mayweather's eighth straight MGM outing saw him boss the Mexican and win the light-middleweight title for a third time, albeit on a majority decision.
12 - Social success
May 3, 2014: The social star held a vote and although Amir Khan appeared to win it, it was Marcos Maidana up next and with one judge calling it a draw, another majority decision set up his second immediate rematch - which he won.
Book Mayweather v Pacquiao, Sky Sports Box Office, May 2, via your phone or online now. If you want to record the event, book via your Sky remote from April 25. skysports.com/maypac
