Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

1977–

Boxer

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be the best boxer in the world, winning four world championships in different weight divisions. Trained by his uncle, former boxing champion Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr's boxing pedigree extends also to his father, contender Floyd Mayweather Sr., and another uncle, Jeff Mayweather, who was also a contender in the lightweight division. Mayweather Jr. emerged as one of the most promising fighters of the 1990s, holding the U.S. amateur championship crown five times and winning the Olympic bronze medal in 1996 in Atlanta, at a weight of 125 pounds. He became World Boxing Council (WBC) super lightweight world champion in 2005, and relinquished his title in 2006 to compete for and win the International Boxing Council (IBC) welterweight championship that year. He was also a WBC super featherweight champion in 1998 and lightweight champion in 2002. Known as "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather in boxing circles because of his rare ability to leave a fight without damage to his face, in 2005 The Ring magazine rated him the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 24, 1977. His father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was a contender for the welterweight title in the late 1970s and 1980s. May-weather Jr. became known for his defensive ability, a skill he often attributed to his father, who was his first trainer. After a dispute with his father, May-weather Jr. began training with his uncle, Roger May-weather, a former super featherweight (130lb) and super lightweight world champion known for his aggression and offensive strengths.

Mayweather Jr. began boxing at the age of seven and won his first national Golden Gloves championship in 1993 at a weight of 106 pounds. He won the Golden Gloves again in 1994 (at 112 pounds) and in 1996 (at 125 pounds). He was U.S. national champion in 1995 and took a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, beating Lorenzo Aragon of Cuba 16-3. He lost his fight for the silver medal place to Serafim Todorov of Bulgaria, but the split decision of 10-9 against May-weather was highly controversial. Many commentators and spectators thought Mayweather had won the fight and the decision was contested unsuccessfully by the U.S. team. In all Mayweather fought in 90 amateur bouts, winning all but 6 of them.

Mayweather turned professional in October 1996 at the age of 19 and won 17 professional fights before taking the WBC super featherweight world title from Genaro Hernandez in 1998. Hernandez, who at the time had an admirable record of 38 fights, one draw and one defeat, was worn down by the newcomer's pace and strength. After being knocked down Hernandez withdrew in the eighth round. Mayweather's first of eight defenses of the title came in December 1998, when he stopped Angel Manfredy in a technical knockout (TKO) in the second round. Between then and March 2000 he defended the title a further four times, using his orthodox defensive posture and sharp jab to wear down opponents. By then still unbeaten May-weather had been noted as one of the most promising fighters of his generation.

Mayweather fought the eighth and final defense of his title on November 10, 2001 against Jesus Chavez, an experienced fighter then ranked number one in the world. Chavez proved to be a tough opponent, but the fight was stopped by his corner in the ninth round; Mayweather had led the points in all of them. Not long after the fight Mayweather moved up from the super featherweight division and contested the WBC Lightweight (135 pounds) title in April 2002 against defending champion Jose Luis Castillo. Beating Castillo was not easy—Mayweather had an injured shoulder—but he took the title on points over 12 rounds and defended it three times. The third time, against Philip N'dou in November 2003 ranks as one of his most brilliant performances. Commenting on the fight for East Side Boxing Frank Lotierzo wrote: "he led off with a lead right uppercut to start one exchange and ended the fight in the seventh round with a flurry of three straight right hand leads. Please make sure you contact me first, the next time you see a fight ended with that sequence of punches. Not only was it beautiful and unique, it was devastating!" The victory set the scene for another change of division to super lightweight in 2004. He took the WBC super lightweight title from Arturo Gatti on June 25, 2005, in a contest that was also his first lucrative pay-per-view experience. Franz Lidz of Sports Illustrated said of the fight: "Pretty Boy Floyd … made easy work of boxing's foremost crowd-pleaser—out-punching the puncher by more than four to one—to win his third world title in as many weight classes."

Mayweather's success as an athlete has at times been overshadowed by his desire to live "the life": the home in Vegas, the rapper friends, the large entourage. His feud with his father has also cast a shadow. May-weather Sr. was in jail for drug trafficking while his son was competing in the Atlanta Olympics and May-weather Jr. faced a jail term of his own in 2005 when former girlfriend Josie Harris accused him of battery. He was acquitted after Harris herself testified for the defense. Mayweather has a reputation for a quick temper and rapidly changing moods; as a result he is not a popular boxer, but despite his family feuds and public bust-ups he is a stunning fighter. Richard Hoffer, writing in Sports Illustrated, said of Mayweather: "He drives us crazy with his various feuds and civil disturbances. Yet he remains stubbornly dedicated to his sport, the one guy taking on all comers, winning always."

With a strong claim to be the best boxer in the world pound-for-pound in the first decade of the twenty-first century, Mayweather fought and beat Sharmba Mitchell on November 19, 2005 to make his welterweight debut at 147 pounds. In his second welterweight match, Mayweather snagged his fourth championship, taking the IBF welterweight title from Zab Judah after a 12-round bout in April 2006.

At a Glance …

Born Floyd Mayweather Jr. on February 24, 1977, in Grand Rapids, MI; children: four.

Career: Professional boxer, 1996–.

Awards: Michigan State Golden Gloves champion, 106 pounds, 1993; National Golden Gloves champion, 106 pounds, 1993; Michigan State Golden Gloves champion, 112 pounds, 1994; National Golden Gloves champion, 112 pounds, 1994; Outstanding Boxer Award, 1994; National PAL champion, 125 pounds, 1995; Outstanding Boxer Award, 1995; U.S. National champion, 125 pounds, 1995; Michigan State Golden Gloves champion, 125 pounds, 1996; National Golden Gloves champion, 125 pounds, 1996; Olympic bronze medalist, 125 pounds, 1996; WBC super featherweight champion, 1998–2002; WBC lightweight champion, 2002–04; WBC super lightweight champion, 2005; IBC welterweight champion, 2006; WBC Boxer of the Year, 2006.

Mayweather remained unbeaten in 36 professional contests in 2006. His formidable power, speed, defensive skill, and self-described "chin of granite" combine to make him one of the most complete boxers of his era. Two matches in which he fought and won with injured hands hint at the possibility of a physical weakness, but also highlight his courage, determination, and the extent of his talent. As he said after winning the WBC Lightweight title in 2002 "Other champions, when they get hurt, they don't even show up to the fight. I get hurt, I keep fighting." "I'm not in this game to lose," Mayweather told the Washington Post, "I'm in it to win. I'm not in it for the money, but to be a living legend. I am a living legend." With his drive and skill, it seems likely that when he retires Mayweather will rank among the all-time boxing greats.