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Floyd Mayweather – Fighter of the Century?

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World Boxing News analyzes the career of Floyd Mayweather and asks – is the boxing legend Fighter of the Century?

Mayweather truly transcended the sport during this period and made boxing what it is today with the checks involved.

The ‘Money’ man, defeating eight world champions during the decade, elevated the sport’s profile to new heights.

Earning almost one billion dollars in the ring, Mayweather hit 50-0 and kept his case to be named the ‘Greatest Fighter of All Time.’

For WBN, Mayweather already banked the best defensive title long ago.

Floyd Mayweather’s boxing career

Mayweather built his name over ten years from his debut in 1997. He moved through the weight classes, winning titles at every stop. By 2007, he overtook Oscar De La Hoya as the Pay Per View darling of the sport.

After stopping Ricky Hatton and defeating Juan Manuel Marquez dominantly, Mayweather’s career went into overdrive in 2010.

The 46-year-old began the year with a victory over Shane Mosley before signing a ground-breaking six-fight deal with Showtime. The contract was the first of its kind anywhere in the sport.

Some expected Mayweather to merely fight six also-ran contenders due to being 32 at the time. These questions came from reports that Mayweather wanted to walk away with pockets full of dollars from the contract.

On the contrary, Mayweather went on a spree of defeating the best at that time.

Showtime contract

Beginning with his weakest bout of the six, Mayweather hurdled Victor Ortiz with some controversy attached. Headbutts and a blindsiding blow may have needed a closer look by the World Boxing Council when the incident unfolded.

But with Ortiz banking a healthy check and Floyd being Floyd, everything moved on quickly.

Up next was a super-fight of that time against Miguel Cotto. Many expected Mayweather to be severely tested by the Puerto Rican legend at the height of his powers. None of the predictions transpired, though, as Mayweather dominated yet again.

A similar performance against Robert Guerrero led Mayweather to a victory that has aged well ever since.

Canelo Alvarez, now one of the greatest of the modern era, was beaten by Mayweather in a better fashion than the majority decision scorecards suggested.

Never one to shirk a challenge, Mayweather fired straight into Argentinian hardman Marcos Maidana in 2014.

Maidana gave Mayweather his most brutal night in years and eventually earned a lucrative rematch. Losing both, Maidana would sail off into the sunset.

The Pacquiao fight

Knowing his career was winding down, Mayweather finally faced his nemesis Manny Pacquiao in 2015. Another superb victory improved with the years, too – especially when Pacquiao continued at the top level for six years after their collision.

Once again, Mayweather took control of the fight despite Pacquiao stating a shoulder injury hampered him. The fans may have been robbed of the best spectacle possible due to the ailment, but there was no arguing with the result.

Pacquiao remained at the top of his game, winning a world title four years later at 40. Pacquiao’s achievement is a testament to just how good Mayweather was.

The less said about the final triumph over Conor McGregor, the better. But Mayweather once again did what nobody else could do. He crossed two sports over to bank a nine-figure paycheck into the bargain.

He was the WBN Fighter of the Decade from 2010 to 2019. – Floyd could be the Fighter of the Century in years to come.

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