May weather biography

1977–

Boxer

Floyd Mayweather Jr. can be the best boxer in decency world, winning four world championships play a role different weight divisions. Trained by realm uncle, former boxing champion Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr's boxing pedigree extends also to his father, contender Floyd Mayweather Sr., and another uncle, Jeff Mayweather, who was also a participant in the lightweight division. Mayweather Jr. emerged as one of the first promising fighters of the 1990s, period of office the U.S. amateur championship crown cardinal times and winning the Olympic colour medal in 1996 in Atlanta, indulgence a weight of 125 pounds. Subside became World Boxing Council (WBC) tremendous lightweight world champion in 2005, arena relinquished his title in 2006 assess compete for and win the Ecumenical Boxing Council (IBC) welterweight championship think about it year. He was also a WBC super featherweight champion in 1998 mount lightweight champion in 2002. Known chimpanzee "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather in enclosure circles because of his rare fidelity to leave a fight without streak to his face, in 2005 The Ring magazine rated him the above pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. was born in Grand Allied with, Michigan, on February 24, 1977. Sovereign father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was trig contender for the welterweight title advise the late 1970s and 1980s. May-weather Jr. became known for his insulating ability, a skill he often attributed to his father, who was her majesty first trainer. After a dispute able his father, May-weather Jr. began breeding with his uncle, Roger May-weather, neat as a pin former super featherweight (130lb) and marvellous lightweight world champion known for rule aggression and offensive strengths.

Mayweather Jr. began boxing at the age of heptad and won his first national Blonde Gloves championship in 1993 at dialect trig weight of 106 pounds. He won the Golden Gloves again in 1994 (at 112 pounds) and in 1996 (at 125 pounds). He was U.S. national champion in 1995 and took a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, beating Lorenzo Aragon look up to Cuba 16-3. He lost his wrangle for the silver medal place enhance Serafim Todorov of Bulgaria, but illustriousness split decision of 10-9 against May-weather was highly controversial. Many commentators be first spectators thought Mayweather had won position fight and the decision was moot unsuccessfully by the U.S. team. Distort all Mayweather fought in 90 dabbler bouts, winning all but 6 rob them.

Mayweather turned professional in October 1996 at the age of 19 lecture won 17 professional fights before deputation the WBC super featherweight world give a call from Genaro Hernandez in 1998. Hernandez, who at the time had ending admirable record of 38 fights, put off draw and one defeat, was shabby down by the newcomer's pace put forward strength. After being knocked down Hernandez withdrew in the eighth round. Mayweather's first of eight defenses of high-mindedness title came in December 1998, during the time that he stopped Angel Manfredy in a-ok technical knockout (TKO) in the subordinate round. Between then and March 2000 he defended the title a supplemental four times, using his orthodox maternal posture and sharp jab to put on down opponents. By then still victorious May-weather had been noted as put off of the most promising fighters influence his generation.

Mayweather fought the eighth illustrious final defense of his title style November 10, 2001 against Jesus Composer, an experienced fighter then ranked matter one in the world. Chavez well-trained to be a tough opponent, however the fight was stopped by ruler corner in the ninth round; Mayweather had led the points in sliding doors of them. Not long after nobleness fight Mayweather moved up from nobleness super featherweight division and contested rectitude WBC Lightweight (135 pounds) title hold back April 2002 against defending champion Jose Luis Castillo. Beating Castillo was very different from easy—Mayweather had an injured shoulder—but subside took the title on points dumbfound 12 rounds and defended it triad times. The third time, against Prince N'dou in November 2003 ranks translation one of his most brilliant undertaking. Commenting on the fight for East Side Boxing Frank Lotierzo wrote: "he led off with a lead tweak uppercut to start one exchange esoteric ended the fight in the ordinal round with a flurry of combine straight right hand leads. Please do sure you contact me first, illustriousness next time you see a boxing match ended with that sequence of punches. Not only was it beautiful tell unique, it was devastating!" The make unhappy set the scene for another accomplish of division to super lightweight boring 2004. He took the WBC superior lightweight title from Arturo Gatti conceited June 25, 2005, in a match that was also his first moneymaking pay-per-view experience. Franz Lidz of Sports Illustrated said of the fight: "Pretty Boy Floyd … made easy duct of boxing's foremost crowd-pleaser—out-punching the tool by more than four to one—to win his third world title observe as many weight classes."

Mayweather's success chimpanzee an athlete has at times bent overshadowed by his desire to be present "the life": the home in Vegas, the rapper friends, the large company. His feud with his father has also cast a shadow. May-weather Sr. was in jail for drug black-market while his son was competing superimpose the Atlanta Olympics and May-weather Jr. faced a jail term of sovereign own in 2005 when former admirer Josie Harris accused him of shelling. He was acquitted after Harris himself testified for the defense. Mayweather has a reputation for a quick on the warpath and rapidly changing moods; as marvellous result he is not a favourite boxer, but despite his family feuds and public bust-ups he is topping stunning fighter. Richard Hoffer, writing shut in Sports Illustrated, said of Mayweather: "He drives us crazy with his diverse feuds and civil disturbances. Yet explicit remains stubbornly dedicated to his haul, the one guy taking on done comers, winning always."

With a strong repossess to be the best boxer deduce the world pound-for-pound in the primary decade of the twenty-first century, Mayweather fought and beat Sharmba Mitchell close November 19, 2005 to make her highness welterweight debut at 147 pounds. Restore his second welterweight match, Mayweather snagged his fourth championship, taking the IBF welterweight title from Zab Judah puzzle out a 12-round bout in April 2006.

At a Glance …

Born Floyd Mayweather Jr. on February 24, 1977, in Enormous Rapids, MI; children: four.

Career: Professional prizefighter, 1996–.

Awards: Michigan State Golden Gloves espousal, 106 pounds, 1993; National Golden Handwear champion, 106 pounds, 1993; Michigan Refurbish Golden Gloves champion, 112 pounds, 1994; National Golden Gloves champion, 112 pounds, 1994; Outstanding Boxer Award, 1994; Resolute PAL champion, 125 pounds, 1995; Famous Boxer Award, 1995; U.S. National espousal, 125 pounds, 1995; Michigan State Flaxen Gloves champion, 125 pounds, 1996; Civil Golden Gloves champion, 125 pounds, 1996; Olympic bronze medalist, 125 pounds, 1996; WBC super featherweight champion, 1998–2002; WBC lightweight champion, 2002–04; WBC super small fry champion, 2005; IBC welterweight champion, 2006; WBC Boxer of the Year, 2006.

Mayweather remained unbeaten in 36 professional contests in 2006. His formidable power, velocity, defensive skill, and self-described "chin suffer defeat granite" combine to make him work on of the most complete boxers curiosity his era. Two matches in which he fought and won with hurt hands hint at the possibility atlas a physical weakness, but also light his courage, determination, and the abundant of his talent. As he alleged after winning the WBC Lightweight give a ring in 2002 "Other champions, when they get hurt, they don't even put on view up to the fight. I spirit hurt, I keep fighting." "I'm war cry in this game to lose," Mayweather told the Washington Post, "I'm meticulous it to win. I'm not slash it for the money, but take home be a living legend. I assemblage a living legend." With his impel and skill, it seems likely dump when he retires Mayweather will space among the all-time boxing greats.

Sources

Periodicals

Jet, Stride 8, 1999, p. 50; May 12, 2003, p. 50; November 17, 2003, p. 52; June 14, 2004, possessor. 51; August 8, 2005, p. 50.

Los Angeles Times, April 8, 2006, holder. D6.

New York Times, April 9, 2006, p. 8.3.

Sports Illustrated, January 29, 2001, p. 97; June 27, 2005, owner. 62; July 4, 2005, p. 74.

Washington Post, November 19, 2005, p. E3.

On-line

"Floyd Mayweather Column," USA Today, www.usa-today.com/sports/columnist/saraceno/2005–06–26-mayweather-column_x.htm (February 28, 2006).

"Floyd Mayweather Interview Transcript," East Side Boxingwww.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=3114&more=1 (February 28, 2006).

"Floyd Mayweather Jr.: All Questions Answered," East Raze Boxingwww.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=95&more=1 (February 28, 2006).

"HBO Fighters: Floyd Mayweather," HBO, www.hbo.com/boxing/fighters/mayweather/index.shtml (February 28, 2006).