Floyd's Brutal Honesty: Only 5 Fights Actually Made Him Sweat

By Lewis Barnett 10 June, 2025 5 mins read 40 Views

Listen, I've been following boxing for years, and when Floyd Mayweather says something this blunt, it hits different.

The man who walked away at 50-0 in 2017 just dropped some truth that's gonna make a lot of people uncomfortable. Money basically admitted that out of his entire legendary career - five weight classes, 15 champions beaten in a row, over £1 billion earned - only about five fights actually challenged him. Five!

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The Drunken Master Who Broke Floyd's Brain

Here's where it gets wild. Emanuel Augustus - this guy who literally fought like he was drunk - gave Mayweather more trouble than Canelo Alvarez or Conor McGregor ever did. Augustus would prance around the ring acting hammered, throwing punches from impossible angles. And it worked against Floyd back in 2000.

"Emmanuel Augustus was tough," Floyd told FightHype, and you could hear the respect in his voice. This is the same fighter who ended his career 38-38-6, losing his last six fights before retiring in 2011. But for one night, he had the future TBE looking confused.

God, imagine being so unorthodox that you mess with Floyd Mayweather's head.

Miguel Cotto: The Only Man to Make Floyd Bleed

Then there's Miguel Cotto. Four-division world champion who did something almost nobody else managed - he bloodied Floyd's nose in 2012. Cotto came to fight that night, using roughhouse tactics that actually worked. Floyd had to step up from welterweight for that WBA light-middleweight title, and Cotto made him earn every second of those 12 rounds.

"Miguel Cotto was very, very physically strong," Floyd admitted on The Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. Coming from a guy who faced everyone, that's saying something.

Manny Pacquiao Gets His Due (Finally)

Now here's what surprised me. Floyd called Pacquiao "the best fighter I ever fought" because of his movement. This was the fight that took five years to make and generated around half a billion dollars. Floyd outfoxed Manny over the distance, but he gave credit where it was due.

"He's a helluva fighter and I can see why he won so many fights," Floyd said. "It's just certain moves that he made."

Respect.

The Snubs That Sting

But here's what's really telling - who didn't make the list. Canelo Alvarez? Nope. Conor McGregor? Not even close. Floyd basically said his 2017 retirement fight against the UFC star was just another payday.

Poor Conor thought he was giving Floyd trouble in those early rounds. Turns out, Floyd was just letting him tire himself out.

And Canelo, who Floyd schooled in 2013 when the Mexican was just 23? Apparently that wasn't even worth mentioning as a tough night.

What This Actually Means

Look, Floyd's still doing exhibition fights - his last one was against John Gotti III in August 2024 (yes, that Gotti family). But these admissions show something we always suspected: Floyd was operating on a different level than almost everyone he faced.

Five tough fights out of 50 professional bouts. That's a 10% challenge rate for arguably the greatest defensive fighter who ever lived.

Makes you wonder what boxing would've looked like if more fighters had Emanuel Augustus's creativity or Miguel Cotto's physicality. Maybe Floyd would've had to work harder for that perfect record.

But then again, maybe that's exactly why he's Money Mayweather and the rest of us are just watching from the sidelines, trying to figure out how he made it look so easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is it recommended that a boxing beginner train?

Beginners are advised to aim for 2 to 3 boxing sessions per weeks, with adequate time between each session for recovery and rest. As your fitness improves and you become more accustomed to the sport, it is possible to gradually increase both the frequency and intensity.

What is amateur and professional Boxing?

Amateur-boxing is usually more concerned with the sport, focusing on points, technique and skill rather than knockouts. Often, the rounds are shorter and require protective headgear. Professional boxing is a full time career that involves longer rounds and no headgear. It also places a higher emphasis on power, knockouts, and more powerful punches.

What is the proper stance when boxing?

Classic boxing stance is standing with the feet shoulder-widths apart, leading foot forward and rear foot at 45-degree angles. You should balance your weight on the balls your feet, and keep your knees slightly bent. Keep your hands up to protect your face, with elbows tucked in to guard your torso.

Statistics

It is estimated that 60% of beginner boxers do not use the correct size gloves, which can increase the risk of injury.
Studies show that proper hand wrapping can reduce the chance of hand and wrist injuries by as much as 40%.
Despite the stereotype that boxing is a young person's sport, approximately 20% of all beginners are over the age of 40.
Studies suggest that about 30% of beginner boxers tend to neglect the importance of footwork in their initial training phase.
Research indicates that nearly 70% of punches thrown by boxers during a match are jabs.
Nearly 95% of boxing trainers agree that mental conditioning is just as important as physical training for beginners in the sport.
Boxing has one of the lowest rates of injury compared to other contact sports, with approximately 1.1 injuries per 1,000 minutes of athletics.
About 25% of people who take up boxing transition to competitive amateur boxing within their first two years of training.
Cardiovascular fitness improvements can be seen after just 12 weeks of consistent boxing training.
An analysis of boxing workouts demonstrates that participants can maintain a heart rate at 75-85% of their maximum, which is the optimal range for cardiovascular training.

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How To

How to Improve footwork in Boxing

The key to boxing proficiency is good footwork. Focus on agility drills, such as ladder exercises and shadowboxing with an emphasis on moving in and out and side to side. Be light on your toes and practice changing direction quickly. Consistent training will improve balance, coordination, and the ability to maintain an effective stance while on the move.

Did you miss our previous article...
https://sportingexcitement.com/boxing/holy-hell-that-wardley-knockout-hit-different-and-now-franks-got-ideas-about-usyk