Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Floyd Mayweather Jr..

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an undefeated (50-0) American professional boxer and promoter who won 15 major world championships across five weight classes, from super featherweight to light middleweight, including three Ring magazine titles. As an amateur, he earned a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics. Retiring from professional boxing in 2017, Mayweather transitioned to exhibition boxing.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1993: Golden Gloves championship

In 1993, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won a national Golden Gloves championship at 106 lb.

1994: Golden Gloves championship

In 1994, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won a national Golden Gloves championship at 114 lb.

1996: Won bronze medal at the 1996 Olympics

At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Mayweather won a bronze medal by reaching the semi-finals of the featherweight (57-kg) division.

1996: First U.S. Olympian to Win a World Title

In 1996, Floyd Mayweather Jr. became the first 1996 U.S. Olympian to win a world title, solidifying his status as a top boxer.

1996: Golden Gloves championship

In 1996, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won a national Golden Gloves championship at 125 lb.

1996: 1996 Olympics

In 1996, Mayweather won a bronze medal in the featherweight division at the Olympics, won a U.S. national championship at featherweight and also won U.S. Golden Gloves championships at light flyweight, flyweight, and featherweight.

1998: Ranked Among Best Boxers

By the end of 1998, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was ranked by The Ring as the #8-ranked pound-for-pound best boxer in the world and won The Ring's Fighter of the Year award at 21.

1998: The Ring magazine's Fighter of the Year award

In 1998, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won The Ring magazine's Fighter of the Year award.

1998: First World Title Win

In 1998, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won his first world title, the WBC super featherweight championship, by defeating Genaro Hernández with an eighth-round TKO.

1999: Super Featherweight Title Defenses

In 1999, Floyd Mayweather Jr. defended his WBC super featherweight title three times, including a unanimous decision win against Carlos Rios.

1999: Continued Title Defenses and Rising Recognition

In 1999, Mayweather continued his WBC super featherweight title defenses, including wins against Justin Juuko and Carlos Gerena. By the end of the year, he was ranked The Ring's #2 pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.

May 26, 2001: Retained WBC Super-Featherweight Title

On May 26, 2001, in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Mayweather retained his WBC super-featherweight title by defeating Carlos Hernández in a 12-round unanimous decision. He suffered a knockdown and overcame injuries in both hands.

2001: Ranked Among Top Boxers

By the end of 2001, Mayweather was ranked The Ring #1 super featherweight and #5 best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He expressed interest in fighting Kostya Tszyu, which did not happen, but he later fought Ricky Hatton, who defeated Tszyu.

April 19, 2003: Defended WBC Lightweight Title

On April 19, 2003, Mayweather defended his WBC lightweight title in a unanimous decision over Victoriano Sosa.

2003: Continued Success in Boxing

By the end of 2003, Mayweather was The Ring's lightweight champion and the #5-ranked best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

January 22, 2005: Victory over Henry Bruseles

On January 22, 2005, Mayweather fought Henry Bruseles in a WBC elimination bout, winning by TKO in the eighth round. This victory made him the mandatory challenger for Gatti's WBC light welterweight championship.

June 25, 2005: Mayweather vs. Arturo Gatti

On June 25, 2005, Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Arturo Gatti in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mayweather dominated the fight, ultimately winning after Gatti's corner stopped the fight after the sixth round, awarding Mayweather his third world title.

November 19, 2005: Mayweather vs. Sharmba Mitchell

On November 19, 2005, Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Sharmba Mitchell in a non-title welterweight bout. Mayweather knocked Mitchell down in the third and sixth rounds, ending the fight in the sixth and winning by TKO.

April 8, 2006: Mayweather Defeats Zab Judah for IBF Welterweight Title

On April 8, 2006, Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Zab Judah by unanimous decision to win the IBF welterweight title. The fight was marred by a late-round brawl after Judah hit Mayweather with an illegal low blow and rabbit punch, leading to Roger Mayweather's ejection. The judges scored the fight 116–112, 117–111, and 119–109.

May 5, 2007: Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya

On May 5, 2007, Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Oscar De La Hoya for De La Hoya's WBC light-middleweight title. The Mayweather-De La Hoya bout set a record for most PPV buys for a boxing match with 2.4 million households, generating approximately $120 million in revenue.

2007: Fighter of the Year Awards

In 2007, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won The Ring magazine's Fighter of the Year award and the BWAA Fighter of the Year award.

2010: Best Fighter ESPY Award

In 2010, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won the Best Fighter ESPY Award.

2012: Highest-Paid Athlete of 2012

In 2012, Floyd Mayweather Jr. topped the Forbes and Sports Illustrated lists of the 50 highest-paid athletes.

2012: Best Fighter ESPY Award

In 2012, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won the Best Fighter ESPY Award.

September 14, 2013: Mayweather Defeats Canelo Alvarez

On September 14, 2013, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez by majority decision in a twelve-round championship bout. Mayweather received $41.5 million, while Alvarez earned a base purse of $5 million. One judge scored the fight a draw, which was controversial and led to the judge's retirement.

2013: Highest-Paid Athlete of 2013

In 2013, Floyd Mayweather Jr. topped the Forbes and Sports Illustrated lists of the 50 highest-paid athletes.

2013: BWAA Fighter of the Year award

In 2013, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won the BWAA Fighter of the Year award.

2014: Highest-Paid Athlete of 2014

In 2014, Floyd Mayweather Jr. topped the Forbes list as the highest-paid athlete in the world.

2014: Best Fighter ESPY Award

In 2014, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won the Best Fighter ESPY Award.

May 2, 2015: Mayweather Defeats Pacquiao

On May 2, 2015, Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather controlled the pace and range, and countered Pacquiao effectively throughout the fight. Pacquiao later revealed he had a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

2015: Highest-Paid Athlete of 2015

In 2015, Floyd Mayweather Jr. topped the Forbes list as the highest-paid athlete in the world.

2015: BWAA Fighter of the Year award

In 2015, Floyd Mayweather Jr. won the BWAA Fighter of the Year award.

2016: Ranked Greatest Boxer by ESPN

In 2016, ESPN ranked Floyd Mayweather Jr. the greatest boxer, pound for pound, of the last 25 years.

2018: Highest-Paid Athlete of 2018

In 2018, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the highest-paid athlete in the world, with total earnings, including endorsements, of $285 million, according to Forbes.

2021: Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame

In 2021, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

2021: Ranked No. 6 in All-Time Athlete Earnings

In November 2021, Sportico released an all-time athlete earnings list, in which Floyd Mayweather Jr. ranked no. 6 all time, totaling an inflation-adjusted $1.2 billion in his career.