Floyd Mayweather: “When you’re speaking boxing, you’re speaking Mayweather.”

Floyd Mayweather: “When you’re speaking boxing, you’re speaking Mayweather.”

By Will Lott

Floyd Mayweather is the self-proclaimed TBE (The Best Ever). The fighter with the longest unblemished record in the history of boxing at 50-0 and without a doubt the greatest boxer of his generation. However, his life and his career didn’t come without its troubles.

The Mayweather name was well known in the boxing world. His uncle and later his trainer Roger had been a world champion, and his dad Floyd Mayweather Sr. had also challenged for major titles. As you’d expect, Floyd Jr. would follow in their footsteps. His dad had drug issues along the way and spent time in prison. On his release, he began training his son.

Even before Mayweather Jr. had turned professional, his career had dealt with controversy. In the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, he was harshly robbed of a gold medal fight and had to settle for bronze. In his post-fight interview, he announced his intentions to go pro following what he and many others deemed a robbery.

What would follow is one of the most talked about and exceptional careers boxing has seen. He would go on to become a five-weight world champion with wins in 27 world title fights against multiple Hall of Fame fighters.

The likes of Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, and current pound-for-pound king Canelo Alvarez couldn’t find the blueprint to defeat Floyd. At the start of his career at super-featherweight and lightweight, he was a killer in the ring securing spectacular knockouts. As he moved up in weight, he showed an ability to adapt his game to a level rarely seen. He became a defensive specialist, rarely even allowing a glove to be laid on him as he’d secure comfortable points victories over spectacular fighters like the aforementioned. He dominated the welterweight scene for years.

Within it again, controversy followed with Floyd often at times accused of taking fighters on when they were past their prime, as many would say about his fight with rival Manny Pacquaio. A stint in prison for domestic abuse also left a black mark against Floyd’s name in many fans’ eyes as he would go on to play the villain throughout the latter stages of his career. People paid the box office prices in the hope of seeing him lose just to be left disappointed each time as he continued to rack up wins, titles, and big-money paydays. Sadly, he now spends his days fighting around the world in exhibitions for the big money that hopefully, he doesn’t need.

Regardless of how you feel about Floyd Mayweather as a person, no one can question the legacy he has left behind. As Floyd would say, “When you’re speaking boxing, you’re speaking Mayweather.”