Floyd Mayweather suffered his final defeat towards an novice legend who ended up homeless on the streets.
That reverse got here towards a a lot slighter, teenage Mayweather, who competed on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Video games. The Grand Rapids native claimed a bronze medal for his efforts. Shortly after, Mayweather turned professional – and the remainder is historical past.
Floyd Mayweather’s Final defeat
However Bulgarian Serafim Todorov ousted Mayweather for a gold medal shot on the semi-final stage. He scored a controversial determination by the slightest of 10-9 margins and stays notorious on account of Mayweather’s nearly 30-year-old spell with out one other reverse.
Nevertheless, the bout didn’t come with out controversy, as Mayweather raised his hand on the finish. The American’s celebrations have been a good reflection of how the competition went. It may have been so totally different for the teen if the outcome had been corrected on the time.
Within the last, the way more skilled Todorov misplaced to Somluck Kamsing, however Mayweather discovered to reside with the entire episode. Discussing his spot on the rostrum for a house Olympics and his novice profession as an entire, Mayweather has by no means been bitter.
He defined how he felt about Membership Shay Shay.
“If I misplaced six fights all by one level, then there’s something to that,” he identified. “However I used to be combating on the pc scoring system, which was troublesome.
“So far as how I checked out novice boxing, it’s a studying program getting ready you for the skilled ranks if that’s what you select to do.
“Am I pleased with my novice profession? – Completely. Am I pleased with the Bronze medal and never profitable gold? – Completely.
“The referee raised my hand as a result of he thought I gained. However I’m glad that the combat went the way it went. It made me work a lot more durable as knowledgeable – to not really feel that very same ache once more.
“It was top-of-the-line issues that ever occurred to me.”
Serafim Todorov
The ex-Pound for Pound King additionally talked about that the Bulgarian was homeless at one level.
“That very same man that I misplaced to is now homeless, and I really feel dangerous,” stated Mayweather. “I want him nothing however one of the best. I don’t know why he didn’t change into a boxing coach as a result of. On the time once we fought, he was already loads older than I used to be.
“I used to be combating on the elite stage at 16. (At first) I needed to show professional at 14, nevertheless it by no means occurred. 5 years later, I turned professional at 19. Inside a 12 months, I used to be a champion.”
Todorov has since made a small amount of cash from promoting his story about being the final fighter to defeat Mayweather. He spoke to the New York Instances in Central Park to remember his recollections from that semi-final.
“He was 19, bear in mind. My expertise was a lot stronger.
“I beat all of the Russians, all of the Cubans, some People, Germans, and Olympic champions. I used to be making enjoyable of them within the ring. British, French — I beat all of them,” Todorov proclaimed to Sam Borden.
“I used to be very good. I used to be a really stunning and enticing fighter to observe. You should be an artist within the ring. I used to be an artist.
“It was identical to every other combat, to be trustworthy — I had crushed a lot stronger fighters,” he added.
Floyd Mayweather assured his followers that his defeat to Todorov didn’t have an effect on his emotions about his time on the Video games. He nonetheless calls it his most vital profession achievement.
Nevertheless, one other matter is whether or not profitable gold would have altered his profession trajectory. In distinction, 1992 gold medal winner Oscar De La Hoya earned Pay Per View thousands and thousands far sooner than Mayweather did throughout his tenure.
Mayweather had the final chuckle by beating De La Hoya on Cinco de Mayo in 2007.
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Learn all articles and unique interviews by Phil Jay. Be taught extra concerning the creator, skilled boxing author, and World Boxing Information Editor since 2010.
