8. Floyd Mayweather Jr. 48-0, 26 KOs
Photo by Esther Lin
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Professional Career: 1996-Present
In 1977 the American national average cost for a house was $13,650, a new BMW 320i was $7990, gas was .65 per gallon and the only active fighter to appear on this list, Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. was born.
That Floyd Mayweather has fought only 13 times in the welterweight division and still rate so highly is a testament to the dominance and amazing defensive prowess that he has displayed.
Despite widespread criticism to the contrary, one doesn’t win enough significant fights to become recognized as the best fighter of his generation without an effective offense as well. Effective doesn’t necessarily mean exciting and the very word exciting is subjective to the individual.
Mayweather’s maiden voyage into the welterweight division came via sixth-round stoppage victory over former IBF super lightweight champion Sharmba Mitchell in November of 2005.
Each of the 12 subsequent fights in which Mayweather participated from that time forward came against either a former or current world champions.
Mayweather won the IBF welterweight championship in his next bout against the crafty Brooklyn, NY southpaw Zab Judah by a wide 12-round unanimous in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He continued on his quest to unify the welterweight titles in his next fight by challenging rugged Argentine Carlos Baldomir for the WBC championship in what was a career high payday for both at that time. Mayweather took complete control and the fight was not competitive from the opening bell, which elicited boos from the crowd with many leaving the arena before the decision was announced.
It was Mayweather’s next fight against Oscar De La Hoya that he emerged into mainstream America’s full vision in what was the highest grossing non-heavyweight fight to that point.
In contrast to most of Mayweather’s fights, this one provided its share of two-way action. While his amazing defense and patented shoulder roll were on full display, De La Hoya used his jab effectively enough for the first half of the fight to keep things interesting.
One of Mayweather’s trademark weapons came into play as his general boxing IQ allowed him to make the proper adjustments and outpoint the challenger over 12 hard-fought rounds.
He defended his title five times and picked up the WBA super welterweight championship from Miguel Cotto before buzz built for a fight against the young, undefeated Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Supporters of the immensely popular Alvarez expected him to give Mayweather all he could handle and wrestle not only the title but the “0” from his record as well.
They went home disappointed as Mayweather virtually shut out Alvarez over 12 one-sided rounds, cruising to what somehow was a majority decision victory in a fight not nearly as close as the cards suggested.
Mayweather put his titles on the line next against hard punching Marcos “Chino” Maidana in what was thought to be a relatively safe defense.
Maidana came to fight, however, attacking Mayweather aggressively and using all tools at his disposal within the rules and beyond.
In what was Mayweather’s most competitive fight in years he emerged with a 12-round majority decision victory which he improved upon in the rematch, capturing a unanimous decision in an ugly affair.
For six years a potential mega fight against Filipino national hero and boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao bubbled and brewed like an unstable volcano with no one knowing when or even if it would explode.
After countless roadblocks were finally overcome, Mayweather took on Pacquiao in what became the richest fight in boxing history, generating revenue reputed to be close to half a billion dollars. Needless to say both fighters walked away with a career-high payday.
It would be impossible for any fight to live up to the buildup that was Mayweather v Pacquiao, but to say this one fell short would be a vast understatement.
Mayweather won a unanimous decision as the usually aggressive Pacquiao was uncharacteristically unable to cut off the ring or put himself in position to throw the blazing fast combinations from unpredictable angles which he later blamed on a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder.
Mayweather has made a career out of making excellent fighters look ordinary and that is why he is one of the best American welterweights in history.
