Sports Then and Now

Floyd Mayweather enters the Conor McGregor fight with a 49-0 professional career record.

It is either the match of the millennium or one of the biggest money-spinners in history, but the fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor is confirmed. The formerly-retired, unsurpassed boxer Floyd Mayweather will be taking on the biggest star of the UFC, Conor McGregor, in Las Vegas.

There has been years of speculation about whether or not this would ever take place, and both athletes have been exchanging insults for ages now, but they have also confirmed that it will be happening. A boxer with a record of 49 for 0 will meet a man who has never taken part in any kind of pro boxing match in the ring in August of this year.

A Closer Look at Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather is an American boxer born in Michigan’s Grand Rapids on the 24^th of February 1977. He won a bronze medal in the Olympics and 3 national Golden Gloves before turning pro in 1996. Mayweather took his first championship title in 1988 as a super featherweight, and went on to gain titles in 4 different weight classes while keeping an undefeated record.

 A Complicated Family Life

Mayweather’s domestic life was a complex one: the senior Mayweather had a fierce temper, and drifted in and out of serious danger whilst working as a drug dealer. He got shot in the leg in 1978, whilst his son was in his arms, and in 1993 the law finally caught up with him and he got sent to jail for trafficking cocaine. Deborah, Mayweather’s mother, also battled with issues around substance abuse.

The Boxing Ring Gave Mayweather Control

Away from the mayhem of his home-life, Mayweather managed to find control inside the boxing ring. He earned the nickname Pretty Boy early on, because he managed to keep his face unmarked, and his quick, accurate boxing style saw him on the receiving end of the national Golden Gloves in 1993, 1994, and 1996. Now,  Australian sports betting enthusiasts are no doubt hoping that this history will help Mayweather reign supreme in the upcoming match between this legendary boxer and McGregor.

Mayweather’s Amateur Career Ends on a Bitter Note

Mayweather finished with 84 for 6 as an amateur, but this part of his career ended on a sour note. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games he lost a contentious decision to Serafim Todorov from Bulgaria and was required to settle for a bronze medal.

A Boxing Career Spanning Several Weight Classes

Mayweather moved up in weight class 4 times. He took home the WBC lightweight title in 2002, got the WBC super-lightweight title in 2005, and obtained the IBF, IBO, WBC, and IBA welterweight titles in 2006. 2007 saw him defeat Oscar de la Hoya and receive the WBC super-welterweight crown.

His success has definitely seen him gain increased earnings, as well, and Mayweather saw millions of dollars stream in over the course of his extraordinary career. The fight everyone is waiting for is set to take place in the T-Mobile arena in Nevada’s Las Vegas strip, and will put an end to years of speculation as to the athlete with the finer mettle.