Widely known in sports circles around the world, American Floyd Sinclair, nicknamed Handsome, was born in 1977. His homeland is Michigan. He absorbed his love and talent for boxing with his mother’s milk. Almost all the men of his kind were famous boxers: his uncle Roger was twice awarded the championship title in the middle weight category, Uncle Jeff also loved boxing and was known in narrow circles, while Floyd's father took part in a lengthy fight against Sugar Ray Leonard.
How did Floyd Mayweather become a star?
The status of world boxing star Floyd Handsome, or Floyd Mayweather (Jr.), received in October 1998 after his eighteenth professional fight, in which he defeated world champion lightweight champion Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez (according to WBC).
After the fight, the former champion was bewildered and discouraged, according to him, he could never have thought of such a defeat. Too fast and unexpectedly technical was his rival Floyd Mayweather (Jr.).
In total, the great boxer won 84 enchanting victories in his career and suffered only 6 defeats. For three years (1993, 1994, 1995), he undividedly held the title of champion of the Golden Gloves tournament (1993, 1994, 1996). 1995, in turn, was marked for Floyd with victories in the US Championship and the National Police Championship.
It was then that for the absence of injuries during the battles that mutilated his face, he received the nickname Handsome from his comrades.
1996 Olympics: a controversial issue
In 1996, Floyd Mayweather (Jr.) first approached the title of Olympic gold medalist. But the success of his attempt, even taking into account the victory in the qualifying round, was necessary for Oji Sanchez, was not destined. According to the controversial decision of the judges, as a result of the third round, gold was given to the Bulgarian boxer Serafim Todorov (score 11-12). But this circumstance did not stop Handsome, but only became an additional incentive for him to develop.
Professional boxing debut
On October 11, 1996, Floyd made his debut in a fight with Roberto Apodac, nicknamed the Galvanized Sheet. In the second round, Roberto was knocked out by Floyd.
Years of triumph
In 1997 and 1998, the best fights of Floyd Mayweather (Jr.) took place. These were the years of ongoing triumph. In 1997, he won ten battles in a row, and in 9 of them - by knockout. The most memorable were the battles with Angelo Nunez, Tony Duran and Luis Leih. 1998 continued to delight Floyd and his fans around the world. It began with a victory over Hector Arroyo and continued with a number of others (among the vanquished - Sem Gerard, Miguel Melo, Gustavo Kello, Tony Pep). On October 3, the best of the fights previously held by Handsome took place - a fight with the champion of that time in the light weight category Genaro Hernandez. And Floyd Mayweather (Jr.) again did not hit the dirt in the face, knocking out the opponent in round 8. In December, the invincible Beauty knocked out Angelo Manfredi and, in 1998, was named the Knockout and Ring sports magazines by the boxer of the year.
Floyd Mayweather's biggest success
The boxer himself recognizes his greatest and most significant success in his entire career to win the title of world boxing champion at the age of 21. The victory over the 2001 world champion Diego Corrales, an experienced, cunning, strong fighter, was very important for him. She not only made him the world champion, but, moreover, the triumph achieved by Floyd in the ensuing battle with Jesus Chavez allowed him to move to the next weight category.
In the new, heavier weight category, Floyd Mayweather was waiting for many more unremarkable victories. And in almost all subsequent battles, he also became the winner.
Continuation of the triumphal procession (2002, 2003)
2002 also did not become unlucky for Floyd Mayweather. He spent two fights with Jose Luis Castillo. Victory in the first (according to many) judges “gave” him. But the victory (revenge) in the second became exclusively his merit. In 2003, Handsome continued to pleasantly surprise all his fans and just people who are interested in boxing. Floyd Mayweather defeated all his opponents of the year without exception and announced his transition to the welterweight.
Throughout all subsequent years, until this year, Floyd the Handsome does not cease to amaze the world community with his talent and invincibility. Many even consider him a national hero. The admiration of the fans does not interfere even with the athlete’s not entirely “white” past (for three months in 2012, handsome Floyd was serving a prison sentence), rather, it even causes additional interest in his extraordinary person.
The highest grossing fight in boxing history
In 2013, the legendary boxer took part in the fight, which became the highest grossing in the entire history of world boxing. It was a Floyd Mayweather fight against Saul Alvarez. The enchanting victory of Mayweather brought the organizers of the battle more than two hundred million dollars.
Of these, more than twenty million were received for the sale of tickets, more than two million two hundred thousand - for paid displays of the match, the rest - for various schemes, gathering sports cafes, bars, restaurants in the United States, selling broadcasts to foreign television channels, merchandising and so on . In addition, the fight that Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (the photo of the Handsome Man you could see in our article) had a record for Alvarez. More than 22 million Mexican fans, including housewives, watched their compatriot try to defeat the legendary American. This number was a record in the history of boxing in Mexico.