Retiring unbeaten, no man could ever say that they were able to best Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather inside the boxing ring.
Mayweather has beaten the best of his generation, including the likes of Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Rounding off his career with a huge money fight against Conor McGregor, Mayweather retired with a perfect 50-0.
Although stoppages were not necessarily trademark for the former champion, Mayweather did earn a stoppage in his debut.
Almost 20 years after making his debut, Mayweather scored another stoppage. This time, the fighter was able to put away a much tougher opponent.
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Floyd Mayweather dethroned Arturo Gatti with overwhelming volume in 2005
After making three defenses of his WBC World Lightweight titles, Mayweather notched up another two wins over DeMarcus Corley and Henry Bruseles to improve his record to 33-0.
Following the wins, Mayweather set his ambition on getting a world title in a third weight class, having also been super featherweight champion. Due to this, he was set up to fight Arturo Gatti, who was two years removed from his famous trilogy with Micky Ward.
Gatti was the WBC World Super Lightweight champion having claimed the vacant title in January 2004, before making two title defenses.
Despite being in good form following his fight series with Ward, Gatti would be dethroned by the 28-year-old Mayweather.
The pair fought in Atlantic City on June 25th, 2005, as Gatti’s record fell to 39-7. Mayweather would join the likes of De La Hoya in the list of fighters to stop Gatti.
CompuBox had Mayweather out-landing at over a four-to-one ratio, as the challenger landed 168 punches to Gatti’s 41.
Gatti would hit the canvas in the opening round in controversial fashion before losing via retirement after the sixth round. While the champion was speaking to the referee, Mayweather landed the blow to put Gatti down, but the moment was still ruled a knockdown.
The win made Mayweather a three-division world champion, as Gatti could not claim another title before retirement.
Floyd Mayweather would retire as a five-division champion
Picking up a world title in a third weight class against Gatti, Mayweather would also go on to claim welterweight and super welterweight championships.
Mayweather would not defend the super lightweight title he won from Gatti. After a win over Sharmba Mitchell, ‘Money’ would defeat Zab Judah for the vacant IBF World Welterweight title.
The unbeaten fighter would then unify the division in his next and 37th professional fight, beating Carlos Baldomir for the WBC title.
Mayweather would move up again in May 2007, when he faced De La Hoya. Winning the bout via split decision, Mayweather became a five-division champion.