Full Name: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Nickname: Money
Weight Class: Welterweight
Birthdate: February 24, 1977
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Record: 41-0, 25 KOs
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5'8"
Reach: 72"
Trainer: Roger Mayweather

Accomplishments

• 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 125 Lbs
• 1996 National Golden Gloves Champion, 125 Lbs
• 1996 Michigan State Golden Gloves Champion, 125 Lbs
• 1995 U.S. National Champion, 125 Lbs
• 1995 National PAL Champion, 125 Lbs; Outstanding Boxer award
• 1994 National Golden Gloves Champion,; Outstanding Boxer Award
• 1994 Michigan State Golden Gloves champion, 112 Lbs
• 1993 National Golden Gloves Champion, 106 Lbs
• 1993 Michigan State Golden Gloves Champion, 106 Lbs
• 1996 Olympics, 125 pounds in his first fight in July 1996, he stopped Bakhtiyar Tileganov of Kazakhstan at 0:57 of the 2nd round. In his 2nd fight in July 1996, he won a 16-3 decision against Artur Gevorgyan of Armenia. In the quarter finals in July 1996, Mayweather won a 16-3 decision against Lorenzo Aragon of Cuba, becoming the first U.S. boxer to defeat a Cuban in 20 years. In the semi finals in August 1996, he lost a very controversial 10-9 decision, which the U.S. team protested against Serafim Todorov of Bulgaria.
• 1998 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
• 2007 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
• 2002 World Boxing Hall of Fame Fighter of the Year
• Former WBC Superfeatherweight Champion
• Former WBC Lightweight Champion
• Former WBC Light Welterweight Champion
• Former IBF Welterweight Champion
• Former WBC Welterweight Champion
• Former WBC Light Middleweight Champion

Biography

Floyd Mayweather is perhaps the best defensive boxer of this era. Floyd "Money" Mayweather has shown an unprecedented mix of speed and natural instincts every time he steps into the ring — a combination that has already translated to 40 wins without a loss, 25 knockouts, and world championships in five weight classes.

Following his historic victory over "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya, and his dramatic 10th round knockout win over Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton, Mayweather stunned the entire sports world in June of 2008 when he announced that he was retiring from boxing after competing in the sport for nearly 20 years. Now the former number one pound-for-pound champion is set to return to the sport he loves after 16 months, making his return to the ring for the first time since December 2007.

"My goal has always been to be one of the best fighters who ever lived," Mayweather said. "My career and legacy are very important to me. I feel that I am already ranked amongst the greatest and I am back to prove that I belong at the top by fighting and defeating Juan Manuel Marquez."

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mayweather was born into a boxing family. His father, Floyd Sr. was a former welterweight contender who fought Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard, and his uncles, Roger and Jeff, were also pro fighters, with Roger – Floyd’s current trainer – winning two world championships in his prime.

Fitted with boxing gloves while he was still a toddler, Floyd started boxing at the age of seven, and his acumen for the hardest game was obvious from the start. He would go on to compile an 84-6 amateur record while earning three Michigan Golden Gloves titles, three National Golden Gloves titles, PAL and National Championships, and an Olympic Bronze medal in the 1996 Games.

Turning pro in the super featherweight division on October 11, 1996, Mayweather blitzed Roberto Apodaca in just two rounds, and his journey to greatness was underway. After one more win in 1996, Mayweather went 10-0 with 9 knockouts in 1997, and added five more wins to his ledger in the first half of 1998. Fight fans were chomping at the bit to see the ultra-talented Mayweather in with the elite at 130 pounds, and on October 3, 1998, they got their chance when the 21-year old faced off against Genaro Hernandez for ‘Chicanito’s WBC world championship.

It was no contest as Mayweather battered the veteran with blinding combinations, pitching a near shutout before the fight was stopped after the eighth round. Floyd Mayweather was a world champion.

But any great champion will tell you that winning a title is one thing – defending it is another, and Mayweather, despite his physical gifts, showed his desire for greatness by outworking his opponents in the gym and gaining a reputation as one of the hardest workers in the sport.

This work paid off as Mayweather defended his super featherweight title eight times from 1998 to 2001, defeating Angel Manfredy (TKO2), Carlos Rios (W12), Justin Juuko (KO9), Carlos Gerena (TKO7), Gregorio Vargas (W12), Diego Corrales (TKO10), Carlos Hernandez (W12), and Jesus Chavez (TKO9). Corrales, Hernandez, and Chvez would all go on to win world titles after their one-sided losses to Mayweather.

With 130 pounds cleaned out, Mayweather sought new challenges at 135 pounds, and he got it in his WBC lightweight championship match against Mexico’s tough Jose Luis Castillo on April 20, 2002. But after 12 hard-fought rounds, Mayweather had won his second world crown.

Fight fans clamored for a rematch though, and “Pretty Boy” Floyd answered their call in his very next fight less than eight months later, repeated his 12 round decision win over Castillo. He went on to defend the lightweight title twice more, over Victoriano Sosa (W12) and Phillip N’dou (TKO7), before testing the waters at 140 pounds.

In the junior welterweight division, Mayweather immediately made his presence known with a dominating 12 round decision win over former world champion DeMarcus Corley on May 22, 2004, and after an eighth round stoppage of Henry Bruseles to kick off 2005, Mayweather made his debut as a pay-per-view headliner on June 25, 2005, and he walked through rugged Arturo Gatti in just six rounds to win the WBC 140-pound championship.

Mayweather didn't spend much time at junior welterweight though, as he immediately jumped up to the welterweight division. Floyd kicked off his 147-pound campaign with a sixth round TKO of former world champion Sharmba Mitchell on November 19, 2005, and on April 8, 2006, he would face former friend Zab Judah in a highly-anticipated grudge match where he cruised to a 12 round decision win to earn the IBF welterweight title. Not satisfied with just one belt, Mayweather finished off a stellar 2006 campaign with a 12 round near-shutout over Carlos Baldomir to add the WBC welterweight crown to his resume.

On May 5, 2007, Mayweather, then recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, took on Oscar De La Hoya in an incredible light middleweight bout destined for history books. He reached the pinnacle of his career with a split decision victory, a battle which broke all-time pay-per-view and gate records. Then later in the year, in front of a roaring MGM Grand crowd, Mayweather returned to the welterweight division and knocked out the previously undefeated light welterweight Ricky Hatton in the 10th round.

After the win aganst Hatton, Mayweather retired but announced a comeback after nearly two years. He challenged Juan Manuel Marquez, who had to climb two divisions to fight Floyd. Both agreed to a catchweight of 144 pounds but Mayweather came in two pounds heavier at 146, and paid Marquez $600,000. Mayweather won the fight via a 12 round unanimous decision.

There had been talks about Floyd fighting the current P4P king Manny Pacquiao but the negotiations fell apart after the Mayweather camp accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and demanded random blood testing before the fight. The Pacquiao camp refused to accept the demands because according to them, only the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) can implement such ruling. Until now, Floyd still seems to be avoiding a fight with Pacquiao and included a rematch clause in the contract with Shane Mosley, which he will be fighting on May 1, 2010.