Fight of the Century: who is Floyd Mayweather?

Name:

Floyd Mayweather Jnr

Age:

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Background:

Mayweather was born into a boxing-mad family in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1977. His father, Floyd Snr, now his son's trainer despite their troubled relationship, fought Sugar Ray Leonard and his two uncles, Jeff and Roger, both won world championships.

Accounts of his upbringing differ. Floyd Jnr claims he grew up in poverty, sleeping seven to a room and often without electricity. Floyd Snr insists that he provided for his family. However, he did so through dealing drugs and spent time in prison as a result. Floyd Snr even tells a tale of how he used his two-year-son as a human shield when he was threatened with a gun, says the BBC.

Mayweather's father is critical to his story. "The relationship between Floyd Jr – whose mother was a drug addict – and his father, Floyd Sr, has shaped every aspect of the younger man's life," says the Daily Mirror. "The turbulent relationship with his father, and the flagrant need to impress him, has cast a large and painful shadow over Floyd's career."

Whatever the truth of his background, Mayweather grew up with one aim in life – to make money. There can be no doubt he has done that, but at the same time he has done himself few favours in the PR department.

His brash attitude (he began his career with the nickname 'Pretty Boy' but later changed it to 'Money') and ostentatious, some would say vulgar, displays of wealth have alienated many. In the build-up to this fight he even had the temerity to suggest he was better than Muhammad Ali.

Far worse than that is his history of domestic abuse. He has been accused of assaulting five different women, and in 2012 he spent time in jail for an attack on Josie Harris, his former girlfriend and mother of three of his four children. That grim record has promoted many to call on fans to boycott the fight.

He is "the ultimate boxer, but he is also the ultimate braggart," says the Daily Express. "He is a self-confessed brat with a criminal record for a domestic abuse charge. How could you like this man?"

In the way taken control of his career, developed his own brand and maximised his earning potential Mayweather has broken new ground. But, says Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail, "a history of violence against those less capable of defence is a stain that cannot be easily scrubbed away. Without doubt, there is debate in the wider black community around his suitability as a role model that would not be present if his fighting was restricted to the ring."

Boxing career:

Born with boxing in his blood and schooled in the sweet science since he was a toddler, Mayweather grew up to become one of the greatest fighters of his, or any, generation. Mayweather goes further, and refers to himself as TBE – the best ever. Certainly his professional record of 47 wins and no losses bears witness to his talent.

He started out as an amateur and won bronze at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, where he undeservedly lost to Serafim Todorov of Bulgaria in the semi-final. That was Mayweather's last defeat.

Since then he has won titles in five divisions won numerous boxer of the year awards and is, according to The Ring magazine, the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

He has also turned himself into a money-making behemoth. In 2006 he split from promoter Bob Arum and struck out on his own, founding Mayweather Promotions and setting up The Money Team brand. He is now the highest-earning sportman in the world.

Strengths:

Think what you like of him out of the ring, in it he is almost untouchable. Key to his success is his defence, taught to him by his uncle Roger. Mayweather uses the unorthodox "shoulder roll", tucking his chin behind his shoulder and making himself almost unhittable.

Aside from his trademark defence, he has "an uncanny ability to work opponents out, find the holes, make instinctive decisions under duress and win round after round," says Gareth A Davies of the Daily Telegraph. "Mayweather has superb ring generalship and has the street smarts even to fight dirty when he has to."

Weaknesses:

Mayweather is not known for his ability to knock out opponents, meaning that he often has to go full distance to win. But questions have been raised about whether, at 38 years of age, he is starting to lose his stamina.

He also throws relatively few punches, and if he is to win on points he must maintain the accurancy and economy he was known for in his younger years.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has also questioned his desire. But Mayweather will not surrender his precious unbeaten record easily.

What are his chances:

He may be the bad guy, but he is also undefeated and fighting on his terms on his own patch, in the very same ring where he has won his last 11 fights. In a survey of 50 fighters and pundits by The Ring magazine, 42 of them backed Mayweather to win.

The bookmakers agree, and with a day to go before the fight he is not available at anything more generous than 4/7 on.