Top Five Wins of Floyd Mayweather’s Career
Top Five Wins of Floyd Mayweather’s Career
Floyd Mayweather Jr. put together one of the greatest boxing careers of all time. Following an era of heavyweight dominance with names like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, Floyd Mayweather Jr. took the focus away from the bigger, more punishing fighters and turned heads toward his more technical style.
After all was said and done, Floyd Mayweather racked up a perfect 50-0-0 career record that spanned 21 years.
Throughout Floyd Mayweather’s career, there are plenty of moments that stick out. His victory over Manny Pacquiao, his controversial KO of Victor Ortiz, his technical dismantling of Marcos Maidana all stick out, but there are five victories that come to mind when it comes to the top five wins of Floyd Mayweather’s career.
So, let’s take a look back at his top five wins.
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5. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton – December 8, 2007
Result: Mayweather wins via 10th round TKO
This fight actually makes this list for just how uncompetitive it was. Leading up to the fight, many thought that Hatton had what it took to knock the crown of Mayweather’s head. But, from the opening bell, it was clear that Hatton wasn’t even in the same stratosphere as Mayweather.
The most vivid memory I have of this fight is the huge number of British boxing fans that made their way to Las Vegas, filling the stands and cheering on Hatton only to watch and Mayweather completely outclass Hatton.
Hatton couldn’t defend against the speed and accuracy of Mayweather and he couldn’t do anything to hurt him. Eventually, Mayweather ended it in the 10th.
4. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Alvarez – September 14, 2013
Result: Mayweather wins via MD
This fight almost served as a passing of the guard as an aging Mayweather took on a 22-year old Canelo Alvarez. It is, to this day, Canelo’s only loss of his career. The youngster hung with Mayweather early on, but he just couldn’t keep it up throughout the entire fight.
Eventually, Mayweather wore him down, as he does all his opponents, and took it to him in the later rounds.
I can still remember everyone saying that Mayweather would struggle with the much bigger Alvarez, only for him to prove them all wrong by not only standing there and throwing with Canelo but punishing him for his mistakes.
3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto – May 5, 2012
Result: Mayweather wins via UD
Unfortunately, this fight was a few years later than it probably should have (as did Mayweather’s Pacquiao fight), but it certainly did not disappoint.
This is the first and potentially only fight I can remember where Mayweather was actually bloodied after Cotto landed a flush shot on his nose.
Most expected the brawler Cotto to swing wildly and look for the KO against the more technical Mayweather, and he did, but he also put together a great showing from a boxing standpoint.
In the end, Mayweather did what he always does, wearing down his opponent and only getting stronger as the fight goes on.
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Diego Corrales – Jan 20, 2001
Result: Floyd Mayweather wins via 10th round TKO
The one thing consistent with all the fights on this list is that Floyd Mayweather was the favorite to win. He was never much of an underdog as his pure talent and boxing skill were immediately recognized. But, in his 2001 fight against fellow undefeated Diego Corrales, most expected Mayweather to lose.
He responded by completely dominating the much longer Corrales, eventually finishing him off in the 10th round with a left that led to Corrales’ corner throwing in the towel.
This was Mayweather’s moment of arrival in the world of elite professional boxing. The fight proved he was more than just a talented fighter, and instead a boxer headed to be one of the greatest of all time.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Oscar De La Hoya – May 5, 2007
Result: Mayweather wins via SD
The best win of Floyd Mayweather’s career came in 2007 when he defeated Oscar De La Hoya via split decision. Mayweather came in as just a slight favorite at -190, but he got to work on the much older, more experienced De La Hoya almost immediately.
This was the fight that took Mayweather from a well-known name to a worldwide superstar. De La Hoya was known around the world for his illustrious career in the ring, and Mayweather stood there with him for 12 rounds and looked like the better, faster, more talented fighter for the entire thing.
Like many of his fights, Mayweather was the smaller of the two. Experts called for De La Hoya’s size to trouble Mayweather. In the end, it was just another David vs. Goliath win for Floyd.