Floyd Mayweather has faced a host of boxing legends in his time, including one who has since become widely known as the face of boxing.
Floyd Mayweather has a pristine record of 50-0 as a professional, but has been in more than one close shave.
From Mayweather losing a tooth to Marcos Maidana or being arguably beaten by Jose Castillo, Mayweather has dealt with it all, but on one occasion, Mayweather almost had his record tarnished by a controversial decision as he proved his skills against a man who would become the face of boxing.
A man called Canelo Alvarez.
Judge quits boxing after controversial scorecard for Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez
In 2013, with a record of 42-0-1, a 23-year-old Canelo sought to defend his WBC super-welterweight title against the legendary Mayweather.
The fight was the first of Canelo’s career to not go his way, though, as Mayweather’s experience proved to be the deciding factor in the fight, with the more seasoned fighter winning convincingly.
According to BoxRec, unofficial scorecards from ESPN had the fight 120-108 Mayweather, however, when it came to the judges, this score couldn’t have been further from reality.
Two judges scored the fight 116-112 and 117-111 respectively, whilst one judge, C.J. Ross, scored the fight a 114-114 draw, meaning Mayweather, who predicted Ryan Garcia’s loss six years ago, won by majority decision.
The scorecard was highly controversial, and Ross, who had an equally controversial scorecard just months earlier, declared her withdrawal from the sport of boxing soon after.
She said in an email to the Nevada State Athletic Commission: “I will be taking some time off from boxing but will keep in touch.”
The same judge cost Manny Pacquiao his world title in another controversial decision
Just over one year before calling Canelo vs Mayweather a draw, C.J. Ross put forward an equally criticized scorecard in Manny Pacquiao‘s world title defense against Tim Bradley in 2012.
Ross scored the fight 115-113 Bradley, and her score, combined with that of one other judge, allowed Bradley, who criticized Ryan Garcia recently, to walk away with one of boxing’s most controversial victories.
Commentator Jim Lampley is quoted by BoxRec as saying: “That is a terrible, bogus decision….Tim Bradley has scored and upset split decision victory over Manny Pacquiao. God only knows how.”
A commission reviewed the decision after the fight and declared Pacquiao was the rightful winner, though did not overturn the decision or reinstate Pacquiao, who has had one KO in 16 years, as the champion.