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vs. Hernandez
In 1998, within two years of entering professional boxing, Mayweather decisively won his first world title (the WBC super featherweight (130 lb) championship) with an eighth-round technical knockout of The Ring world #1-ranked super featherweight Genaro Hernández after his opponent's cornerman stopped the fight. It was Hernández' first defeat in that weight class; he said after the fight, "He defeated me, he is quick, smart and I always knew he had the speed. I give him respect. He is a champ. -
vs. Corrales
In one of the more definitive and memorable fights of his career Mayweather fought the hard-hitting, former IBF super-featherweight champion Diego Corrales (33–0, with 27 KOs). Mayweather landed 220 of 414 punches.[58] Corrales was unable to land any clean shots, as he stalked Mayweather through the early rounds. -
vs. Castillo
In his first fight as a lightweight, Mayweather took on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion and The Ring #1-ranked lightweight José Luis Castillo. He defeated Castillo, winning the WBC and vacant Ring lightweight titles with a 12-round unanimous decision. -
vs. Gatti
The pay-per-view fight between Mayweather and The Ring #1-ranked contender Arturo Gatti. The next five rounds, the quicker Mayweather landed nearly every shot against Gatti, who had no offense with which to return fire. Gatti's corner stopped the fight after round six. -
vs. Judah
Mayweather defeated Zab Judah for the IBF welterweight title in a unanimous decision. He began to dominate Judah in round five, and the latter eventually bled. -
vs. Baldomir
Mayweather defeated him for both titles in a unanimous decision. Ringside punch statistics showed Mayweather landing 199 of 458 punches, while Baldomir landed 79 of 670. Mayweather earned $8 million for the fight; Baldomir was paid $1.6 million, career earnings highs for each fighter at the time. -
vs. De La Hoya
Mayweather won the fight by a split decision in 12 rounds, capturing the WBC title. However, many analysts and ringside observers felt Mayweather should have received a unanimous decision. Mayweather earned about $25 million for the fight. -
vs. Marquez
it was confirmed that Mayweather was coming out of a 21-month retirement to fight The Ring lightweight champion and #2 pound-for-pound Juan Manuel Márquez, at a catch weight of 144 lb. Mayweather won a unanimous decision after 12 rounds in a lopsided fight; scorecards read 120–107, 119–108 and 118–109. -
vs. Mosley
Mayweather eventually won a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 119–109, 119–109 and 118–110. In round four Compubox found Mosley throwing seven power punches without taking any, making Mayweather the second boxer (after Roy Jones, Jr.) to go an entire round without being hit by a power punch. After the fight, president of Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya stated that he believed Mayweather was the best in the game. -
vs. Ortiz
Mayweather took advantage of Ortiz not having his hands up and unloaded a left hook which wobbled Ortiz. Ortiz then looked at the referee, and Mayweather connected with a flush right hand to Ortiz's face. Ortiz fell to the canvas, and was unable to beat Cortez's count as the crowd of 14,687 jeered Mayweather. -
vs. Álvarez
Mayweather received a boxing record $41.5 million for the Alvarez fight. Mayweather won the match, with all scorecards in his favor. Won WBC & The Ring Light Middleweight titles.