Top 5 fights of Floyd Mayweather's career
Floyd Mayweather has crafted an astounding 47-0 record over his illustrious career, capturing world championships in five different divisions.
Despite that impossibly gaudy record, few pound-for-pound greats finish their careers with a spotless record, as reflexes eventually slow and chins invariably weaken.
"Money" is set to test his undefeated legacy against Manny Pacquiao in "The Fight of the Century" on May 2, a long-gestating bout that is more than a half-decade in the making.
With that in mind, here are the top five fights of Mayweather's career:
April 20, 2002: Mayweathering the storm against Castillo
In what was likely the toughest test of Mayweather's career, Jose Luis Castillo outpointed the emerging great for long periods of the bout, and actually out-landed Mayweather 203-157 over the 12-round affair.
Castillo's volume striking wasn't enough to overcome Mayweather's harder, cleaner punches, though, and "TBE" swept the judges' scorecards 115-111, 115-111 and 116-111.
Mayweather, who came into the bout nursing an injured shoulder, looked like a mere mortal for the first time in his career, though he did dominate Castillo in the rematch seven months later.
May 5, 2012: Mayweather tops Cotto
An elite welterweight, Cotto baited Mayweather into a bit of a firefight, bloodying the pound-for-pound great's nose and lumping up his face with a stiff, piston-like jab.
As great fighters do, Mayweather readjusted his style midway through the fight and used his technical wizardry, and unparalleled stamina, to completely take over the bout as Cotto faded down the stretch.
May 3, 2014: Mayweather squeaks by Maidana
45-0 (at the time) could have become 45-1 if not for a poor gas tank.
Mayweather's undefeated record was seriously tested against Marcos Maidana, as "El Chino" blitzed the heavily favored Mayweather with the aggression of a madman, stealing a few rounds with pure pressure.
The Argentine's perpetual stalking strategy would leave him completely gassed in the later rounds and Mayweather was able to right the ship and take home a majority decision.
The two met again less than four months later, with Mayweather earning a comfortable unanimous decision.
May 5, 2007: The new breed unseats boxing royalty
Mayweather's ascension to the pound-for-pound throne included a violent pit stop against fellow great Oscar De La Hoya.
The bout was a changing of the guard of sorts, because, although Mayweather didn't completely bulldoze De La Hoya, his victory over "The Golden Boy" solidified his status as the sport's biggest star.
De La Hoya, who outworked "Pretty Boy" Floyd early, completely faded down the stretch as Mayweather's lead right and clean counters controlled the latter stages of the bout.
Jan. 20, 2001: Mayweather crushes Corrales
Diego Corrales was undefeated when he squared off with Mayweather in January 2001 and Floyd made him look like like a complete amateur.
The seventh round was particularly dominant, as Mayweather, who knocked "Chico" down three times in the frame, landed 39 punches, while Corrales landed ... well, Corrales landed three. Three punches.
By the 10th round, Mayweather was in cruise control and sent Corrales careening to the canvas twice before trainer Ray Woods threw in the towel to stop the onslaught.