For more than a decade, Floyd Mayweather has been recognized as one of the world’s greatest undefeated boxers, successfully conquering five different weight classes.
Who is Floyd Mayweather?
Floyd Mayweather was born on February 24, 1977 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Boxing runs through his veins: his father, Floyd Sr., was a welterweight, and his uncles, Jeff and Roger Mayweather, are both former boxing champions.
Brief biography of Floyd Mayweather
Name: Floyd Mayweather
Date of birth: February 24, 1977
Place of birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Famous for: Being one of the best boxers in history, winning championships in 5 weight classes.
The life and career of Floyd Mayweather
From an early age, Mayweather was taken to the gym by his father. At the age of 6, he decided to become a boxer and began training with his first pair of gloves when he was 7 years old.
However, his family life was full of difficulties. His father was shot in the leg while carrying him in 1978 and was later sentenced to prison for cocaine trafficking in 1993. His mother, Deborah, also had problems with substance abuse.
Amateur boxing career
During his time as an amateur boxer, Mayweather earned the nickname ‘Pretty Boy’ thanks to his flawless face and excellent defense. He finished his amateur career with a record of 84-6 and won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Professional boxing career
Mayweather turned professional in 1996 and quickly won many matches. In 1998, he defeated Genaro Hernandez to win his first world title, the WBC super featherweight championship.
Since 2000, Mayweather’s career has exploded. He continuously moved up the rankings and won the WBC lightweight titles in 2002, WBC super lightweight titles in 2005, IBF, IBO, WBC and IBA welterweight titles in 2006, and WBC super welterweight titles in 2007 after defeating Oscar De La Hoya.
Retirement and return
Mayweather first announced his retirement after defeating Ricky Hatton in late 2007. However, he returned in September 2009 and won against Juan Manuel Marquez. In May 2013, Mayweather continued to increase his record to 44-0 after defeating Robert Guerrero.
Confronting Conor McGregor
In 2017, Mayweather faced UFC champion Conor McGregor. The match took place on August 26, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather knocked out McGregor in the 10th round and increased his professional record to 50-0.
Exhibition match and final retirement?
Mayweather’s fighting spirit is still strong, and he returned to face Japanese boxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition match. This match ended quickly when the ‘Japanese Prodigy’ was defeated by K.O after less than one round.
In 2019, Mayweather announced on Instagram that he would retire in 2020. In 2024 he is about to return.
Income and legacy
Mayweather’s successful career has brought huge income. In 2010, he was the third highest paid American athlete with earnings of more than $60 million. Mayweather has also dabbled in television, notably with the HBO documentary 24/7 and appearing on Dancing with the Stars.
