Father Time is undefeated. Well, so is Floyd Mayweather, Jr. And if he has it his way, he’s going to remain that way. The world’s greatest boxer is 37-years-old today, and while not as ridiculous as Bernard Hopkins still beating world class opposition at 49, that’s pretty freaking amazing.
Floyd has spent the last nine years fighting nothing but world champions (although one certain Filipino is missing from his resume) and has rarely lost a round in that stretch. Money May’s already beaten all of the top-name opponents from his era, or simply outlasted them and watched them fall to the wayside. Now, he is nearly finished with a slew of contenders from this generation – an era his age suggests he doesn’t belong in despite the results saying otherwise.
To celebrate the birthday of the man formally know as “Pretty Boy,” let’s look back at his five best knockout victories.
Previously: A Brief Tutorial On Floyd Mayweather’s Dominance
5. Roberto Apodaca, October 11, 1996
I know, I know. Who?
Way back in October of 1996, Lil Floyd made his pro debut against a Mexican fighter by the name of Roberto Apodaca on ESPN. Coming off of a Bronze Medal win in the Olympic Summer Games in Atlanta (long story) hype was sky high for what many saw as a can’t-miss prospect. With Uncle Roger in his corner while Big Floyd finished up a jail sentence, Floyd scored his first win with a series of crippling liver shots.
Apodaca would only fight three more times, all losses.
4. Victor Ortiz, September 17, 2011
Protect yourself at all times, one of the most traditional rules of boxing. And one taught the second you step into the gym.
Somehow, Victor Ortiz forgot this and paid dearly for it. After a series of awkward handshakes and apologizes, Floyd decided enough was enough and ended the fight early. The late Manny Steward’s reaction “Ohhhhhh” says it all. Sure, it wasn’t the most sportsmanlike thing ever (neither was Ortiz head butt that set everything off), but it was entertaining.
3. Diego Corrales, January 20, 2001
Hard to believe, but there was once a time when people felt that Floyd could be easily be beat. Diego “Chico” Corrales (R.I.P) came into this fight in 2001 as close an underdog to Floyd as there has been since (-120 to +120 in gambling speak) and didn’t look like it for one second of the fight.
Floyd dominated, knocking Chico down five times, finally causing Chico’s father to wave the towel to Corrales’ dismay.
2. Angel Manfredy, December 19, 1998
Otherwise known as perhaps the most replayed Floyd knockout.
Rarely do we get to see Floyd simply tee off on an opponent so wildly, but 21-year-old Floyd threw caution to the wind and let his hands fly free. After over a dozen unanswered shots the referee finally jumped in and waved the fight off. Nowadays, Money May is simply too calculating and shrewd to so carelessly chase a KO so enjoy this one.
1. Ricky Hatton, December 8, 2007
Ah, the good ol “check hook.” Ricky Hatton came into his fight with the pound-for-pound king an undefeated 140-pound champion and talking just as big as Floyd. His legions of fans – traveling from the UK all the way to Vegas – made the environment for the fight like that of a big soccer game, chanting and singing endlessly for their British hero.
Ricky put up a valiant effort, constantly cornering and crowding Floyd and trying to slow him down with body shots. As the fight went on, however, Floyd continued to counter and land accurately, until the 10th round when one big “check” left hook ran Hatton into the turnbuckle, WWE style. Ricky got up, but the rest was just a formality, and Floyd finished off his greatest KO of his career.