Floyd Mayweather’s Most Dominant Moments
Floyd Mayweather’s Most Dominant Moments — The Fights That Built 50-0
When news broke that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson were set to step into the ring together, the boxing world reacted exactly how you’d expect — loud, confused, intrigued, and a bit skeptical. At first, most people treated it like another classic Floyd spectacle. A dream matchup for nostalgia. A viral moment. Another Money Team masterclass in securing the bag.
But then Floyd did what Floyd does best: he shifted the narrative. What started as talk of an exhibition turned into something bigger when he officially announced that he would be coming out of retirement after the Tyson event. Not rumors. Not whispers. Not social media speculation. An actual declaration. Which seems to be leading towards a rematch with Manny Pacquiao.
This isn’t just some retired legend teasing a comeback. This is 50-0. This is one of the most carefully protected records in modern sports. Floyd didn’t stumble into that number. He built it over two decades against world champions, future Hall of Famers, and undefeated killers. His coming back to sanctioned competition means something different. It means the undefeated legacy is officially in play.
To understand why that’s such a massive deal, you have to go back to the beginning. Floyd was born into boxing royalty in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was a professional fighter. His uncle, the late Roger Mayweather, was a two-division world champion. Gloves weren’t optional in his household — they were mandatory. By the time Floyd won bronze at the 1996 Olympics and turned pro that same year, he was already ahead of the curve technically.
Early on, he was “Pretty Boy Floyd” — offensive, sharp, and ruthless. As his hands began to wear and the business side of boxing opened up, he evolved into “Money Mayweather.” The style got tighter. The defense got cleaner. The IQ got even higher. He captured world titles in five weight classes (130, 135, 140, 147, 154) and mastered the art of making elite fighters look ordinary. More importantly, he mastered leverage. Every major fight became a Mayweather event.
Now, with an official unretirement on the table, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A single loss changes how people frame 50-0 forever. But there’s also opportunity — legacy-defining rematches, cross-era dream bouts, and the kind of paydays only Floyd can generate. He’s always bet on himself. The difference now is that the risk feels real again. No matter what happens in this next chapter, 50-0 is still one of the most incredible feats in boxing history. It’s a record built on preparation, precision, discipline, and dominance. It’s the foundation of why so many fans — and fighters — consider him one of, if not the greatest of all time.
Here’s how he got there.
THE FIGHTS THAT MADE 50-0
1. Genaro Hernández (1998) — First World Title
At just 21 years old, Floyd dismantled veteran champion Genaro Hernández to win the WBC super featherweight title. The speed gap was obvious from the opening bell. Hernández eventually retired on his stool, overwhelmed by the precision. This was the night Floyd officially arrived as a world champion — and it was clear he wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
2. Diego Corrales (2001) – Undefeated vs. Undefeated
Two unbeaten fighters. One complete masterclass. Floyd dropped Diego Corrales five times before the fight was stopped in the 10th round. He neutralized power with speed and defense, then punished him with combinations. Many still call this the most dominant performance of his career.
3. José Luis Castillo II (2002) — The Adjustment
The first fight was debated. The rematch wasn’t. Floyd came in stronger, smarter, and more assertive, winning a clear decision. This was an early glimpse into what separated him — the ability to make high-level adjustments under pressure.
4. Arturo Gatti (2005) — Star Power
In Atlantic City, against a crowd heavily favoring Gatti, Floyd put on a clinic. He won every round before the corner stopped it after six. The performance was so one-sided it felt unfair. That night elevated his mainstream star power dramatically.
5. Oscar De La Hoya (2007) — The Business Shift
Facing Oscar De La Hoya was about more than belts — it was about positioning. Floyd won a competitive split decision in a fight that shattered pay-per-view records at the time. He became boxing’s A-side that night. From that point forward, everything ran through him.
6. Ricky Hatton (2007) — Silencing The Noise
Hatton was undefeated and backed by a massive UK fanbase. Floyd stayed calm, broke him down round by round, and finished him with a devastating check left hook in the 10th. Another undefeated champion erased.
7. Juan Manuel Márquez (2009) — Return Statement
After a brief retirement, Floyd came back two weight classes heavier and still dominated Márquez. He scored a knockdown and controlled nearly every round. It sent a message: inactivity had’t changed anything.
8. Shane Mosley (2010) — Surviving The Storm
Mosley rocked Floyd badly in Round 2. For a moment, the streak felt vulnerable. Floyd recovered quickly, adjusted, and dominated the rest of the fight. It was one of the clearest examples of championship composure under fire.
9. Miguel Cotto (2012) — Proving His Toughness
Miguel Cotto pushed Floyd Mayweather more physically than most opponents. Floyd had to trade at times and dig deep to secure a unanimous decision. The win added grit to his legacy.
10. Canelo Álvarez (2013) — A Masterclass Against Youth
A young, undefeated Canelo Álvarez entered as a serious threat. Floyd controlled distance, timing, and pace masterfully. Though one judge scored it a draw, most saw a clear Mayweather clinic. The win aged beautifully as Canelo became a global superstar.
11. Manny Pacquiao (2015) — The Era’s Biggest Fight
Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather had been years in the making. Floyd neutralized Pacquiao’s explosiveness with footwork and defense, winning a unanimous decision. The fight shattered financial records and redefined an era.
12. Conor McGregor (2017) — The 50th Win
Against Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather chases history. Critics questioned the matchup, but the moment was undeniable. He stopped McGregor in the 10th round to secure his 50th professional victory, surpassing the 49-0 mark long associated with Marciano. The number became permanent.
Now that he’s officially unretiring, that permanence feels less untouchable. Boxing history is filled with legends who came back for one more run. Some added to their greatness. Others complicated it. But no matter what happens next, 50-0 wasn’t luck. It wasn’t matchmaking magic. It was built — fight by fight — on dominance, discipline and a level of ring intelligence that very few have ever matched.
RELATED: 23 Moments That Prove Why Michael Jordan Is Still The Greatest Of All Time
Floyd Mayweather’s Most Dominant Moments — The Fights That Built 50-0 was originally published on cassiuslife.com
