Floyd Mayweather’s resume is littered with boxing greats and fearsome knockout artists, and now he has named which of his opponents hit him the hardest.
Mayweather claimed world titles in five different weight divisions during his career, winning belts as low as super-featherweight and as high as super-welterweight, where he defeated the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez.
Despite those three 154lb opponents having over 100 collective knockouts to their names, Mayweather was drawn to his earlier bouts when considering the man he deemed to be the biggest puncher.
Speaking on the PBD Podcast, Mayweather highlighted Dominican lightweight Victoriano Sosa – who he outpointed in 2003 to defend his WBC 135lb title – as the hardest hitting opponent that he was ever tasked with.
“Victoriano Sosa, a Dominican guy. He is not [a top fighter] but he can hit!
“Marcos Maidana hit hard, but not like Sosa, Sosa can hit! He hit like the baseball player, out of the park!”
Sosa failed in his other career world title challenge three years prior, losing a decision to Paul Spadafora when competing for the IBF lightweight crown. ‘El Santico’ retired with a record of 42-4-2, with 31 stoppages to his name, with his final career defeat coming at the hands of Cotto.
Mayweather’s opinion may change in the coming months, amid talk of a professional comeback in 2027, where he is being linked to rematches with Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor, as well as an audacious bid for Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight world title.
