Floyd Mayweather Jr

  • Full name Floyd Mayweather Jr
  • Birth date February 24, 1977
  • Birth place Michigan
  • Current age 47 years 24 days
  • Height 5 ft 8 in
Floyd Mayweather Jr celebrates his unanimous-decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez
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Floyd Mayweather Jr is widely feted as the best boxer on the planet, a prodigiously-gifted master of defence who makes the most of his lightning reflexes.

In 1998 he won the first of his world championships, the WBC junior lightweight belt, and went on to defend the title eight times before moving up to the lightweight division in 2002.

Mayweather fought just four bouts at that weight, all of which were title fights, and maintained his unbeaten record. Another move up the divisions followed in 2004, although the year contained only one fight - a unanimous points victory over junior welterweight DeMarcus Corley.

One straightforward win over Henry Bruseles later, Mayweather found himself the mandatory challenger for Arturo Gatti's WBC super lightweight belt. Mayweather made incendiary comments before the bout, calling his opponent a "club fighter", before supporting his strong words with decisive actions to win via a sixth round stoppage.

After Mayweather had again progressed to another division successfully, this time in 2006 when he defeated Zab Judah for the IBF and IBO welterweight titles, he faced the fearsome Oscar De La Hoya. Despite moving from 147 to 154 pounds to make the fight, Mayweather won the WBC super welterweight belt.

Soon after, Mayweather decided to relinquish the title he won from De La Hoya, opting instead to focus on another hotly-anticipated bout; this time against Ricky Hatton, who was also protecting an undefeated record. The American was in ruthless form, knocking The Hitman out in the tenth round.

In June 2008 Mayweather announced his retirement from boxing, a decision he rescinded 15 months later in order to fight, and defeat, veteran Juan Manuel Marquez. Shane Mosley was brushed aside in May 2010 and then, after 16 months out of the ring, he stole the WBC welterweight title from Victor Ortiz.

Mayweather extended his unbeaten record to 43 fights with a points win over Miguel Cotto in May 2012, a fight that brought the American a basic £20m plus his pay-per-view cut.

A month later, he reported to the Clark County jail in Las Vegas after being found guilty of domestic abuse. After serving two months, he was released from prison on August 3.

Career high: Making a triumphant return to defeat Marquez, 21 months after his previous fight.

Career low: When his then-trainer Roger Mayweather was suspended for a year after entering the ring during fight against Zab Judah

Quote: Prior to his fight against the Mancunian: "Ricky Hatton ain't nothing but a fat man. I'm going to punch him in his beer belly when I see him. "

Trivia: Mayweather has made cameo appearances in the WWE, including a match against The Big Show at the federation's flagship Wrestlemania pay-per-view.

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Aug 28, 2013

Floyd Mayweather Jr works on the punch bag ahead of his bout with Saul Alvarez

Aug 28, 2013

Floyd Mayweather Jr trains ahead of his bout with Saul Alvarez

Aug 28, 2013

Floyd Mayweather Jr. jumps rope as he works out ahead of his September 14 clash with Canelo Alvarez

Jun 25, 2013

Floyd Mayweather and Saul Alvarez square off

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