Mayweather, Floyd, Jr. (1977-…), ranks among the greatest fighters in boxing history. In 2017, Mayweather won his 50th victory without a loss or tie, breaking the record of 49 consecutive victories held by the American heavyweight boxer Rocky Marciano . Mayweather won 27 of his fights by knockouts. He won world titles in 5 weight classes, or divisions, from 130 pounds (59 kilograms) to 154 pounds (70 kilograms). After his 50th victory, Mayweather announced his retirement from boxing. For a discussion of boxing weight classes, see Boxing (Boxing regulations) .
Mayweather won his first world championship in 1998, the World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight. He later added the WBC lightweight title; the WBC super lightweight title; the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organization (WBO), and WBC welterweight titles; and the WBA and WBC super welterweight titles.
Mayweather’s personal life has made him a controversial figure. He has been arrested several times, most frequently on charges of domestic violence . In 2011, he was sentenced to 90 days in jail for assaulting the mother of three of his children. He served two months of the sentence.
Mayweather was born on Feb. 24, 1977, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His father and two uncles were all professional boxers. Mayweather lived in poverty throughout his childhood. He began boxing as an amateur while a teenager and won national Golden Gloves championships in 1993, 1994, and 1996. He won the bronze medal in the featherweight division in the 1996 Olympic Games , losing in the semifinals in a controversial decision. He turned professional later that year.
