Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (born Floyd Joy Sinclair; February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world titles in five weight classes and the lineal championship in four weight classes (twice at welterweight), as well as the RING lightweight title. He also wrestled at the 1996 Summer Olympics, representing the U.S.
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Floyd Mayweather’s Early Life
Widespread acclaim of being one of the best of his time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was born Floyd Joy Sinclair on February 24, 1977, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Boxing is in his blood, being a part of him Floyd Sr. was a welterweight contender, and his nephew Jeff Mayweather Jr. was once IBO super featherweight champion. Roger Mayweather is another uncle of mine who, for a time, was the WBA Super Featherweight and WBC Super Lightweight Champion.
Floyd Sr. brought his young son to the gym as early as a few months after he was born, holding him in front of a speed bag every time they came. So he began to take boxing lessons, and, by the time he was 7 years old, he’d begun training. Named Little Floyd after his dad, who was a famous boxer, Little Floyd became a fixture at the gym which was conveniently only five doors down from his family’s home.
Then he changed his last name to follow in his father’s footsteps to boxing stardom.
His family life was a complicated one. Mayweather senior had a volatile temperament and drifted in and out of criminality as a drug dealer. In 1978 he was shot while holding his son. In 1993, he was sentenced to prison on cocaine charges.
Mayweather’s Boxing Career
During his professional career, Mayweather continued to win spectacularly. In 1998, he won his first world title by defeating Genaro Hernandez to capture the WBC super featherweight title with his father as manager and trainer.
Mayweather’s career accelerated even further in 2000, when he embarked on a seven-year stretch that earned him a place among boxing’s top fighters.
It was during this period that he won the WBC lightweight title in 2002, the WBC super lightweight title in 2005, and the IBF, IBO, WBC and IBA welterweight titles in 2006. In 2007, he defeated Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC super welterweight title.
His success led to increased earnings. He was ranked third among American athletes in 2010, with an income of over $60 million.
Fights with Pacquiao and McGregor
Three months after Manny Pacquiao reclaimed the title of best fighter in the world and to wild celebrations, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao agreed to a May 2nd, 2015 bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Throughout the Fight of the Century, Mayweather (showcasing his typical tenacious defense) held off his opponent to win the victory on points.
In 2017, Floyd Mayweather, who usually box with 10-ounce gloves, agreed to use 8-ounce gloves against brash UFC champion Conor McGregor, who boxed as an amateur before turning to mixed martial arts. The change is due to 10-ounce gloves being standard for standard junior middleweight bouts and 4-ounce mitts being used in the UFC.
Given all the publicity, the match took place on August 26, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, after months of anticipation. It involved the sport’s most well-known star and an ambitious newcomer who would’ve faced insurmountable odds if the boxer in question hadn’t been past his athletic prime at age 40.
It may not have been Mayweather’s most dynamic win, but nevertheless, he easily outclassed the young and less experienced challenger, dropping him with a furious 10th-round barrage before the referee intervened and stopped the fight. His undefeated streak at 50-0, Mayweather announced he was quitting again.
Competing had his competitive juices still running so he battled Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition at the end of 2018.
Mayweather’s Personal Life
Floyd Mayweather is the father of four children who lives in Las Vegas.
In 2000, Floyd fired his father from the position of manager due to his relationship with his family, including at times his strict father. Soon after,
In place of his father, Mayweather had replaced him with his uncle Roger Mayweather as his trainer.
Mayweather has had his own problems outside the boxing ring. In December 2011, a Las Vegas judge sentenced him to 90 days in jail after he pleaded no contest to two harassment charges and a domestic violence charge. Since 2002, Mayweather has been arrested several times. He has cases pending in Las Vegas and in Grand Rapids, where he grew up.
