AS Floyd Mayweather approaches what he claims will be the final fight of his Hall of Fame career, his September 12 clash with Andre Berto, it seems fit to reflect on some of his best performances in the ring.
He has claimed an incredible number of notable scalps on the way to his current 48-0 record and while some begrudge his fighting style for not being exciting enough, none can deny his technical brilliance.
Click below to see our list of his top 10 performances.
10. W UD 12 Shane Mosley (2010)
In the second round, Mosley came closer than anyone ever has to beating Floyd Mayweather. A crunching right hand had Floyd holding on wobbly legs, and a second had him holding on for dear life. But the unbeaten star survived and went on to run out a clear winner.
9. W UD 12 Miguel Cotto (2012)
After 12 exciting rounds, Mayweather conceded that he had just been in his toughest fight. The brave Puerto Rican constantly tried to bludgeon Floyd and at times proved successful, wailing away as Floyd shifted his body at different angles while on the ropes. Bloodied and bruised, Mayweather’s face was visibly marked up. However, he was also a clear winner. While he didn’t outclass Cotto, Floyd overcame serious adversity and, for once, was involved in a fun fight.
8. W RTD 9 Jesus Chavez (2001)
In his last fight at super-featherweight, Mayweather outclassed the WBC number one contender over nine one-sided rounds. Chavez’s rare success in the early rounds became a distant memory once Floyd got down to business, spearing his right hand into the Texan-based Mexican’s face whenever he pleased. Chavez continued to wade in and force Mayweather onto the ropes, but Floyd’s replies to Jesus’ spirited efforts were always sharper and began to wear him down. As the end neared, Mayweather looked for the stoppage as he upped his workrate and punished Chavez with uppercuts. The Mexican’s corner pulled him out after a huge ninth round for Floyd.
7. W UD 12 Juan Manuel Marquez (2009)
Although size played a significant role in Mayweather’s shutout win over Marquez, it was not the sole reason for his success. Floyd had paid the Mexican a reported $600,000 for coming in over the weight he promised he would make (10st 4lbs) even though the bout was contracted at the welterweight limit (10st 7lbs). Marquez weighed 10st 2lbs, Floyd at 10st 6lbs. After a 21-and-a-half month hiatus, Floyd displayed no signs of ring-rust, dropping Marquez in the second and winning at a canter. Although he could have arguably pressed the action more, he still dominated a man who had previously given Manny Pacquiao fits (and would later go on to knock him out).
6. W RSF 10 Ricky Hatton (2007)
Floyd tarnished yet another unbeaten record when Hatton travelled to Las Vegas with a legion of fans in tow. Mayweather even beat the Mancunian at his own game, ripping Hatton with vicious body shots – something Ricky was a master at. When it got close, Mayweather was still on top although referee Joe Cortez was too quick to separate them at times. A perfectly timed left hook sent Hatton head first into the corner padding as he rushed in. He rose on wobbly legs and Floyd moved into range and landed a thudding combination to send Ricky into the ropes, forcing Cortez’s intervention. Hatton jested that it was a “fluke” after the fight, but there was no denying Floyd’s excellence that night.
5. W MD 12 Saul Alvarez (2013)
Younger, stronger and unbeaten, ‘Canelo’ was billed as Mayweather’s toughest test to date. Although fought at a 152lb catchweight, which favoured Floyd, the American completely outclassed the 23-year-old Mexican star. Never even remotely in trouble, Mayweather peppered the flame-haired Alvarez and even backed him up at times. Of course, the result was marred by CJ Ross’ infamous 114-114 scorecard.
4. W UD 12 Manny Pacquiao (2015)
The Fight of the Century turned out to be a dud for most, but not for any lack of brilliance on Mayweather’s part. Pacquiao later claimed a shoulder injury hampered his performance, but it seems unlikely the Filipino would have fared much better had he been at full health. Even at 38, Floyd had the reflexes, speed and intelligence to nullify Pacquiao’s attacks and punish him at every opportunity. It may not have been entertaining, but it sure was impressive.
3. W RTD 6 Arturo Gatti (2005)
Oozing confidence, Mayweather seemed to have the fight in the bag after just a minute. With a laser-quick jab and his famed check left hook, ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ (as he was then known) never looked prettier. Resisting his urge to brawl, Gatti was ineffective in his attempts to box. Mayweather bullied him and caused serious swelling around both of ‘Thunder’s’ eyes. After almost being dropped in the sixth, Gatti’s trainer James ‘Buddy’ McGirt called it off.
2. W RTD 8 Genaro Hernandez (1998)
In bludgeoning a 32-year-old Hernandez over eight rounds, Mayweather picked up the first of many world titles. At 21, he was an underdog to unseat the dominant Hernandez, who had been at the top of the super-featherweight division for years, although a late flood of money put Mayweather as an 8-5 favourite by the time of the fight. Still learning, Mayweather made plenty of mistakes but his natural gifts meant Genaro had no chance.
1. W RSF 10 Diego Corrales (2001)
If Mayweather’s win over Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 confirmed his status as a pay-per-view king, his dismantling of then-unbeaten Corrales six years earlier introduced the world to a fistic genius. The taller and heavier Corrales was a true warrior with serious power in either hand, and not many thought Mayweather would be able to hold him off. He ended up routing Corrales. At the time of the stoppage in the 10th, Diego had only won one round on all three judges’ scorecards. He had been down five times – three times in the seventh – and never came close to hurting the defending WBC super-featherweight champion. Although he only fired one punch at a time, Mayweather landed with venom and has never looked better.
