Floyd Mayweather Jr.: The 7 Quintessential Fights of Mayweather's Career so Far

On September 17, one of boxing's most notable figures, Floyd "Money" Mayweather, returns to the spotlight.  After a 16-month break from the sport, Mayweather will challenge "Vicious" Victor Ortiz for his WBC Welterweight title.

Many believe that Mayweather specifically chose Ortiz to prepare for a fight with the great Manny Pacquiao.  Like Pacquiao, Ortiz is a southpaw with devastating power.  He has knocked down every opponent he has ever faced.  And he comes to the ring off of a stunning upset victory over the previously undefeated Andre Berto.

Though Mayweather is heavily favored to win, some would argue that Ortiz is just the type of fighter to hand Mayweather his first defeat. Mayweather has traditionally had more trouble with southpaws than conventional fighters.  Furthermore, Ortiz, 10 years younger than Floyd, has made it clear that he intends to beat Floyd and defend his title for years to come. 

Is Mayweather biting off more than he can chew with "Vicious" Victor Ortiz? 

Let's take a look at the highlights of Floyd Mayweather's career.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Diego Corrales

Mayweather fought Diego Corrales on January 20th, 2001 to defend his WBC Super Featherweight title.  Both men were undefeated, and many ringsiders gave Corrales the edge.

The fight was far from being close.  Mayweather fought a technical masterpiece, beating Corrales to the punch and avoiding punishment all night.  In many ways, this fight was reminiscent of Roy Jones Jr. vs. James Toney, in which underdog Jones devastated James Toney with his technical prowess.  Indeed, Jones's stylistic influence on Mayweather is undeniable in this fight.

This was Mayweather's breakthrough fight, and arguably his most impressive.

Mayweather by TKO 10.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. José Luis Castillo

On April 20, 2002, Mayweather moved up from the 130-pound division to the 135-pound division to face champion José Luis Castillo.  Though Mayweather won by unanimous decision, many saw Castillo as the deserving winner.

After having lost the first four rounds of the fight decisively, Castillo began crowding Floyd against the ropes and indiscriminately swinging away at him.  For several rounds, he was consistently landing hard shots on Mayweather, who often had no response.  Due to the controversial nature of Mayweather's decision win, the two had a rematch, which Mayweather won more obviously.

Despite losing unanimously on the scorecards, José Luis Castillo is still considered by many to have come closest to beating Mayweather, and his blueprint of roughhousing the "Pretty Boy" has been cited as the most effective.

Mayweather by UD 12 (both fights).

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. DeMarcus Corley

Mayweather paired up with southpaw journeyman DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley on May 22, 2004.

One of Mayweather's only wars, the fight was easily his most exciting and dramatic fight. Mayweather took the hardest shots he had ever taken and gave the hardest shots he had ever given.

This fight exemplifies the tremendous chin and power of Mayweather, while also showing that Mayweather is more vulnerable against southpaws than against orthodox fighters.

Mayweather by UD 12.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Zab Judah

Mayweather took on Zab "Super" Judah in April of 2006.  Judah had had a rocky career—losing to Kostya Tszyu, Cory Spinks, and Carlos Baldomir in his biggest fights—but was still a game fighter and a dangerous opponent for Mayweather.  Especially considering that he was southpaw.

For the first five or so rounds, the fight belonged to Judah.  He consistently hit Mayweather with his best shots and avoided Mayweather's; essentially, he did to Mayweather what Mayweather did to everybody else.  

By Round 5, though, Judah's stamina was noticeably dwindling, and by Round 7, the fight was clearly in Mayweather's hands.  As Judah got frustrated with Mayweather's effectiveness, he landed a fierce low blow-rabbit punch combination in Round 10, and a riot ensued.  

When the fight finally resumed, Mayweather cruised to a unanimous decision victory, despite the foul and his troubles early on.

Like the Corley fight, the Judah fight shows Mayweather's disadvantage against southpaws.

Mayweather by UD 12.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Mayweather moved up to 154 pounds in this 2007 superfight against the legendary Oscar De La Hoya.  The fight generated $120 million in revenue, becoming the most lucrative fight ever at the time.

The fight was competitive throughout, though notoriously unexciting.  De La Hoya used the Castillo tactic of cutting off the ring and cornering Mayweather.  His jab and one-two combinations proved fairly effective early on in the fight.  

Midway through the fight, though, De La Hoya dispensed with the jab for reasons unknown and proceeded to get outboxed for the remaining rounds.

Incidentally, this was officially the closest Mayweather came to defeat, as it was his first and only split decision.

Mayweather by SD 12.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton

Ricky "Hitman" Hatton was the fighting pride of England.  He was 43-0, while Mayweather was 38-0.  The two met up in the welterweight division on December 8, 2007 in a fight appropriately dubbed "Undefeated."

The fight was competitive in the beginning rounds, with each fighter landing big shots against the other.  Hatton effectively backed Mayweather against the ropes as so many of his predecessors had tried and landed hard punches—jabs and straight right hands—before Mayweather could throw his own.  

Mayweather made necessary adjustments in his defense, and with hard lead right hands, began hurting Hatton and wearing him down.  

Mayweather knocked Hatton down with a left hook in the 10th round, and not long after, referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight.

Mayweather by TKO 10.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Márquez

After Mayweather beat Ricky Hatton in 2007, he announced his retirement from boxing.  A year and a half later, on the day of Manny Pacquiao's fight against Hatton, Mayweather announced his return to boxing—a fight against Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Márquez.  

The Mayweather-Pacquiao rivalry began brewing.

Márquez was a counter-puncher, like Mayweather himself, and one of the smartest boxers ever to grace the sport.  Though he had many highlights in his long career, Márquez was best known for giving Manny Pacquiao two of his hardest fights.  

As Pacquiao outperformed Mayweather against their two shared opponents, Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya, the boxing public was curious to see how Mayweather would fare against someone who consistently gave "Pacman" a hard time.

Mayweather made comically easy work of Márquez, proving bigger and faster than the Mexican legend.  Though Márquez ascended two weight divisions for the fight, few believed the fight would be as one-sided as it was.

Mayweather by UD 12.