Floyd Mayweather Jr: In a Class All of His Own

By the age of 30, most boxing fighters are on the verge of either two things: The downward spiral of their boxing careers, or either a late jumpstart to a blooming career; age coming with experience. Floyd may be both as he often admits, but he's more so in a category all of his own. He's one of the only few remaining active fighters whose undefeated, champion in (5) weight classes, and defeated all of his opponents with ease. Yes, Mayweather is truly something special, but he's far too underappreciated to gain the supremacy he richly deserves.

They said he wouldn't beat Diego Corrales, "Jose Luis Castillo was too big." "Arturo Gatti is too strong." "Oscar De La Hoya is too big and too good." "Zab Judah is too fast and to skilled." "Ricky Hatton applies too much pressure." Yet, Mayweather has been the smart money in all of these fights. Some of boxing's most expensive names could barely land a lick. He's beaten just about every lucrative former or current world champion you can think of. And whomever you forgot to mention (which isn't many) it would be hard as hell to pick them over Floyd.

After nearly twelve years of an undefeated streak at super featherweight, lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight, Floyd is facing the crossroads in his illustrious boxing career; once again electing that the possibility of retirement isn't far away.

"I'm not talking about fighting. I just fought about an hour ago," Mayweather growled as he spoke out to the press after his 10th round KO over England's Ricky Hatton. "All I want to do is take a long vacation and spend time with my family. See if I want to come back. I'm really bored with the sport of boxing. I had to get extra rest for this fight because I knew this kid was going to bring his 'A' game. He's tough as nails. I had him hurt a few times and he kept on coming. And I'm like, 'Damn, he's not going anywhere.' Ricky Hatton is one hell of a champion."

If you were to sit back and analyze the career and accomplishments of the best pound 4 pound fighter in the sport in Floyd Mayweather Jr what is there left for him to accomplish? Every fighter that was "supposed" to beat him has been either knocked out or thoroughly outclassed, and there is no way we can expect Mayweather to face each and every single fighter. Life is far too short and the business of boxing won't allow it. What we can do is give Mayweather credit for whom he has defeated and at what point of his opponent's career he did it. If Floyd was to retire in 2008 his legacy would be intact. At age 30, the face of boxing and the cash cow of the sport, pocketing the most green in 2007 alone. Despite his questionable behavior on the 24/7 HBO series, there isn't anything negative one can say to deter Mayweather's parade.

Career accomplishments:

1996 Bronze Olympic medalist

130lb WBC Super featherweight world champion.

135lb WBC Lightweight world champion.

140lb WBC Junior welterweight world champion.

147lb WBC Welterweight world champion.

147lb IBF Welterweight world champion.

154lb WBC Junior Middleweight world champion.

(19-0) in world title matches

(6) World championship titles in less than 10 years.

(5) Championships in different weight classes.

*Currently the #1 fighter in the sport.

*One of the only few active fighters who is undefeated (39-0 25KOs)

What else does Floyd have to prove?