Floyd Mayweather is one of the greatest boxers to have ever laced up the gloves, but had his fair share of vulnerable moments and brushes with defeat.
From Marcos Maidana wearing Mayweather’s tooth on a necklace to his close run-in with Jorge Luis Castillo, or even Mayweather’s tough test against Emmanuel Augustus, his career has not been easy, and defeat has knocked on his door many times.
One of the first of these occasions though was in 2001, but, as with all 50 of his fights, when defeat came knocking, Mayweather didn’t answer the door.
Floyd Mayweather was dropped by Carlos Hernandez after fighting with two injured hands
In 2001, Mayweather faced 33-2-1 Carlos Hernandez, who challenged for his super featherweight title.
Mayweather, 25-0, was dropped in the sixth round after touching down following an injury he sustained on his hand after landing on Hernandez.
According to BoxRec, Mayweather said both his hands were “messed up” going into the fight, and that he had Novocaine shots in both hands before the contest.
After winning a clear decision and defying defeat once more, Mayweather, who told a foe to stop crying once, said the fight was “one of the toughest nights of my career.”
Floyd Mayweather wasn’t always a fan favorite
In 2000, just one year before facing Hernandez, Mayweather faced Gregorio Vargas in Las Vegas.
Mayweather, who beat Canelo, won, but at a cost. His performance involved a lot of running and movement, which fans were not too pleased with.
“I went into the fight with both my [right] hand and wrist hurting,” Mayweather said, “I moved around more than usual because I didn’t want to get hit. I was fighting with one hand.”
Vargas condemned Mayweather and said, “He has a lack of courage.”