FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR.

PROFILE AND BIO

Boxing's rising young superstar, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has consistently given one sensational performance after another in the ring. At age 28, Mayweather is a nine-year pro.

In his most recent bout, Mayweather won a split decision for the WBC Light Middleweight Title over Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007. Two of the judges scored in favour of Mayweather by 116-112 and with the third judge scoring 115-113 for De La Hoya.

In 2006, Mayweather scored 12-round unanimous decisions against Zab Judah and later Carlos Baldomir.

In November 2005, Mayweather fought as a welterweight for the first time and knocked out former WBA super lightweight world champion, Sharmba Mitchell in the sixth round.

Mayweather won the WBC super lightweight world title fight in June 2005 with a dominant sixth-round TKO against defending champion, Arturo Gatti. After the fight, HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant said, "We don't see many fighters with his kind of skills. He fights as natually as a fish swims, and sometimes the fish is a shark."

Tim Dahlberg of the Associated Press reported from ringside, "Putting on a dazzling display of speed and power ... it was a breakout performance by the unbeaten Mayweather ... "

Thomas Gerbasi of Maxboxing.com wrote, "Floyd Mayweather Jr. left no doubt that he is the best fighter of this era..."

Mayweather won the WBC 130-pound world title and The Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" award at the age of 21. He held that title from October 1998 through November 2001, and made eight successful defenses before he moved up in weight.

Mayweather won the WBC lightweight world title in April 2002 and made three successful title defenses before moving up to the 140-pound division.

Mayweather is experienced against top opposition, and has beaten current or former world champions Sharmba Mitchell, Arturo Gatti, Demarcus Corley, Jose Luis Castillo, Jesus Chavez, Carlos Hernandez, Diego Corrales, Goyo Vargas, and Genaro "Chicanito" Hernandez.

KEY FIGHTS

2005

NOVEMBER: WON BY KO AGAINST FORMER WBA SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION SHARMBA MITCHELL (56-4). Both fighters started fast and there were some good exchanges. Mayweather rocked Mitchell midway through the first round, and both were rocked late in the second, but Mayweather scored a knockdown with a right hand in the second round that put Mitchell on the seat of his pants, and rocked him with a straight left late in the fourth. Floyd had turned lefty moments before. Mayweather scored a knockdown with a right hand to body in the sixth round, and Mitchell was counted out on one knee at 2:05.

JANUARY: WON WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR BY TKO AGAINST HENRY BRUSELES, who gave a good effort, but Floyd dominated and consistently outworked Bruseles, landed the sharper punches, and wore him down. Mayweather scored two knockdowns in the 8th round, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:55.

2004

MAY: WON BY UNANIMOUS DECISION WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR AGAINST FORMER WBO JR. WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION, DEMARCUS CORLEY. Both fought aggressively in the early rounds, landed hard punches, and repeatedly brought the fans to their feet. Mayweather rocked Corley late in the 1st round, but Corley came back and rocked Floyd in the 3rd. Both fighters were staggered in the 4th, but Floyd staggered Corley again in the 5th round, then stepped up his pace and dominated the rest of the fight. Mayweather scored one knockdown in the 8th round and another in the 10th. Floyd finished strongly in the last two rounds, but Corley kept fighting back hard until the final bell.

2003

NOVEMBER: WON 3RD WBC LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY TKO AGAINST PHILLIP NDOU. Mayweather gave a brilliant performance. Ndou was very determined and aggressive, but completely outclassed and never landed a clean or damaging punch. Floyd blocked or slipped everything he threw and steadily wore himn down with sharp, accurate combinations. Floyd scored a knockdown with a series of three right hands in the 7th round. Ndou got up, but his corner threw in the towel and the referee stopped the fight.

APRIL WON 2ND WBC LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST VICTORIANO SOSA BY 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION. Sosa gave a determined effort, pressed forward and kept a busy pace, but Mayweather made him miss most of his punches, consistently scored with sharp counters, and dominated the fight.

2002

DECEMBER; WON 1ST WBC LIGHTWEIGHT WORL TITLE DEFENSE BY 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPION, JOSE LUIS CASTILLO. Castillo pressed forwad and kept a busier pace, but Mayweather boxed and moved effectively and was the more accurate puncher. Castillo's nose was bloodied in the 1st round, he was ut over the left eye by a clash of heads in the 2nd, and was penalized one point in the 8th round for punching after the break. Mayweather was penalized one point in the 10th round for using his elbows.

2001

NOVEMBER: WON 8TH WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY TKO AGAINST NO. 1 RANKED, JESUS CHAVEZ, who gave a determined effort. However, Mayweather consistently landed the harder punches and wore him down. He rocked Chavez with a series of punches in the 9th round, and Chavez's corner stopped the fighter after the round.

MAY: WON 7TH WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST CARLOS "FAMOUS" HERNANDEZ. Mayweather outworked Hernandez and was the sharper puncher, but hurt his left hand in the 6th round. He grimaced in pain after landing a punch, bent over and touched a glove to the canvas, and the referee mistakenly scored it as a knockdown. Hernandez was penalized one point in the 12th round for elbowing.

JANUARY: WON 6TH WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY TKO AGAINST FORMER IBF CFHAMPION, DIEGO CORRALES. Floyd gave a sensational performance and dominated the fight. He kept FCorrales off balance with movement, landed the harder punches, and wore him down with a busier pace. He scored three knockdowns in the 7th round and two in the 10th, and Corrales' corner stopped the fight in the 10th round Tim Dahl;berg of the Associated Press reported, "Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s speed was dazzling. His power was unexpected." Daniel Herbert of Boxing News wrote, "Mayweather was brilliant, and if Corrales never got into the fight, it was because Floyd never allowed him to." Steve Springer of the Los Angeles Times added, "But the sweetest moment came afterward when Mayweather was reunited with his father after an ugly split of nearly a year. The two embraced in a long, emotional clinch in the ring that nobody was going to break up. 'Ilove you, Daddy,' said the younger Mayweather. 'Ilove you, too,' said Floyd Sr."

2000

OCTOBER: WON BY TKO AGAINST EMANUEL BURTON. It was a non-title 10-rounder, and a hard-fought and bloody battle. Floyd dominatd the early rounds and cut Burton under the left eye in the second, but Floyd hurt his right hand in the fourth round and Burton rallied in the second half of the fight. Mayweather's nose and mouth were bloodied, but he kept wearing down Burton, and Burton's corner threw in the towel in the ninth round. Mayweather said after the fight, "He's a very strong individual and I really had to dig down. I knew2 he was going to be tough, but I never thought he could take that much punishment. I hurt my right hand in the fourth round. I don't know how I did it, but I kept working. I'm still young. I'm still learning."

1999

SEPTEMBER: WON 4TH WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE AGAINST CARLOS GERENA BY TKO. Mayweather scored two knockdowns in the first round, shut out Gerena on the scorecards, and the fight was stopped after the seventh round on the advice of the ringside doctor.

MAY: WON 3RD WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY KO AGAINST JUSTIN JUUKO. Mayweather dominated the fight and knocked down Juuko for the full count in the 9th round.

FEBRUARY: WON 2ND WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION AGAINST CARLOS RIOS. Rios gave a good effort, but Mayweather dominated the fight, rocking Rios several times.

1998

DECEMBER: WON 1ST WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE DEFENSE BY TKO AGAINST ANGEL MANFREDY. Mayweather staggered Manfredy late in the 2nd round, and followed with an unanswered series of punches. The referee stopped the fight at 2:47.

OCTOBER: WON WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BY TKO AGAINST DEFENDING CHAMPION, GENARO HERNANDEZ. Mayweather gave a dazzling performance as he dominated the fight and wore down Hernandez, who did not continue after the 8th round. After the fight, Hernandez said, "He's quick, smart and experienced. I did my best..."

Recent Results

• Gatti vs Mayweather