Floyd Mayweather Jr: A Story about Money (part 4)

Through the professional ranks Money is born.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a five-division world champion who happens to be undefeated. He’s been rated as the best pound-for-pound boxer by Ring, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and Fox Sports. With an amateur record of 84-6, Mayweather entered the professional ranks after a much disputed judging of his bronze medal Olympic performance. Mayweather quickly rose to prominence.

• Mayweather created his own promotion company marketing his own brand.
• Mayweather has been in the three highest grossing non-heavyweight bouts.
• Mayweather served 87 days in jail for domestic abuse of his wife.

Whether people waged bets in Vegas, Atlantic City or through online sportsbooks in the US, nobody was ready for a fighter who possessed the ringside presence Mayweather had. Remaining undefeated, Mayweather has been able to create his own promotion company marketing his own brand. Few other goals remain for him besides his upcoming “Fight of the Century” bout.

Mayweather returns to the welterweight division

After thinking about retirement, Mayweather decided to let go of his WBC light middleweight title and remain a welterweight. Mayweather took on Ricky Hatton under a joint promotion between De La Hoya’s “Golden Boy” and Mayweather’s “Mayweather Promotions.” The fight was called “undefeated” since the two had undefeated records. Although Mayweather won the back and forth fight, he re-announced another retirement.

Mayweather came out of retirement once again to negotiate a bout against Sugar Shane Mosley. After Andre Berto cancelled his bout with Mayweather, Mosley was next. The bout between the two was a solid performance with Mayweather dominating in points. After the computer scoring revealed the number of punches made, Mayweather became the second fighter to last an entire round without being hit by a power punch.

The Mayweather Mosley bout turned out to be the second-bestselling non-heavyweight fight in boxing history generating $78 million in revenue. The stage was set to discuss negotiations for a Mayweather Pacquiao bout. Although ESPN reported eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao signed a contract to fight Mayweather on March 13, 2010, Pacquiao denied the act and said more details needed to be worked out.

Well known in US gambling news, was the eight-page fight agreement for the Mayweather Pacquiao bout had so many details mostly at the behest of Mayweather. Once the Mayweather camp requested Olympic style drug testing, complications aroused. As a consequence, the Mayweather camp accused Pacquiao of possible illegal drug use which spurred a reaction in the form in of a law suit.

Mayweather continues on despite failed negotiations with Pacquiao

It seemed that the Mayweather put the blame for failed negotiations on Bob Arum. Mayweather said “We all know the Pacquiao fight, at this particular time, will never happen, and the reason why the fight won’t happen is because I will never do business with Bob Arum again in life, and Pacquiao is Bob Arum’s fighter” Mayweather continued with a bout against Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Mayweather dominated most of the bout until the 4th round when Ortiz gained some points and head butted Mayweather. After Ortiz apologized, the next round was about to begin. After they touched gloves, Ortiz looked the other way and Mayweather delivered a left hook. Ortiz couldn’t beat the count and Mayweather won. Mayweather has been in the three highest grossing non-heavyweight bouts of all time.

Upon more failed negotiations with Pacquiao, Mayweather agreed to fight WBA Super Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto. Some punters thought they could earn a bit within the confines of US gambling laws, but the fight ended in a unanimous decision in the 12th round. Mayweather was charged with domestic abuse of his wife and went served 87 days in jail which started on June 1, 2012. Upon release Mayweather, now newly signed with Showtime, prepared for a bout with WBC contender Robert Guerrero.

After a clear victory against Guerrero, Mayweather took on WBC and WBA Super Welterweight Champion Saul Alvarez for the championship. Mayweather won that bout and fought Marcos Maidana in a unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. With four titles on the line, Mayweather won unanimously and won the rematch which occurred four months later. Months later, negotiation with Pacquiao reconvened. Upon success the two officially were to square off in the Fight of the Century on May 2, 2015.