Recently, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been enshrined by the World Boxing Council on its hallowed Green and Gold Belt.
The boxing sanctioning body announced that it is honoring the stellar athletic career of Floyd Mayweather by placing his picture on each of its belts.
Image Credit: WBC
Nothing Like The Green Belt
A few legends have only held the honor in boxing, and Mayweather, now in retirement, has joined their ranks.
“I’m honored to have the WBC include my likeness on their Green and Gold belts for eternity,” Mayweather said to the WBC. “I remember the first time I won a WBC belt and saw the photos of the great champions on there and always wanted to be there too.
“It really is a dream come true for me to be alongside the great Ali, and WBC founder Don Jose, and to be recognized by them for my contributions to the organization and the sport. I am beyond grateful to receive this honor.”
Floyd Mayweather's face will forever be on the WBC's famous green championship belt 'cause the organization has added Money's portrait … joining Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
— errolsam (@errolsam) November 28, 2021
The Greatest Of All Time Versus The Best Ever
Mayweather joins Muhammad Ali and Don Jose Sulaiman as the constant images on each WBC world championship belt.
Currently, each weight category’s WBC world championship belt features the two greatest champions of the division, and the sixth picture is the one from the reigning champion.
Muhammad Ali is considered The Greatest of All Time. Mayweather is self-proclaimed The Best Ever. The late former WBC president Don Jose is believed to have modernized fighter safety and is known as The Father of Modern Boxing.
La convención anual del WBC en el Hotel Intercontinental de la Cdmx será recordada por todos. Muchos momentos emotivos y con la presencia de grandes campeones como, @FloydMayweather @Canelo @SugarRayLeonard @robertoduranbox @Jcchavez115 Larry Holmes entre otros. @wbcmoro pic.twitter.com/LU2uC9FzLA
— PERIODICO SUPLEMENTO DE POLICIA (@DeSuplemento) November 25, 2021
Top Of The Game
Mayweather fought for two decades in the professional ranks. During his time, he had 50 pro bouts and went famously undefeated with 27 knockouts. However, Mayweather also won the WBC world championships in five divisions: super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, and super welterweight.
Floyd has been ubiquitous in boxing, changing both the athletic threshold for greatness and the business acumen of athletes.
The most accurate boxer recorded by Compubox, Mayweather has the highest punch percentages while receiving the fewest in return. Mayweather mastered the shoulder roll, a Michigan defensive signature, where a fighter rolls to protect his chin and defect offensive strikes.
In addition, Mayweather was a wizard at slipping punches and possessed an unmatched ring generalship.
The Most Coveted Belt In Boxing
The World Boxing Council, founded in Mexico City on Feb. 14, 1963, initially developed a black satin belt with a silver center plate.
Image Credit: The World Boxing Council
The famed Green and Gold Belt first appeared in the 1970s and has significantly developed ever since. The WBC World Championship belt features a gold centerpiece with the official WBC logo and the acronym WBC incorporated within three circles of flags, which represents the 170 affiliated nations with the WBC.
An Athlete Legacy Like No Other
Floyd came up in a family of boxers, two of which became champions. His father, Floyd Sr., started his training before he went to prison. However, his uncles Roger and Jeff Mayweather continued the tutelage.
Roger was a two-division world champion, having held the WBA and lineal super featherweight titles from 1983 to 1984 and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987 to 1989. Jeff held the IBO super featherweight title from 1994 to 1995.
Floyd’s first championship was the WBC super featherweight belt, defeating Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez, whose corner stopped the fight after eight rounds. After a tremendously courageous battle against cancer, Genaro died in 2011, and Floyd paid for his funeral.
The Best Of The WBC
Floyd dominated the division, defending the title eight times.
Floyd fought with a damaged left rotator cuff. He switched to southpaw in his first defense against Jose Luis Castillo for the WBC lightweight title. Floyd had a real battle on his hands but won a unanimous decision. Following successful surgery, a healed Floyd won another unanimous decision against Castillo considerably more quickly.
Floyd became notorious when he challenged and defeated Arturo Gatti for The WBC super lightweight championship in a masterful performance. Then came The WBC welterweight championship defeating Carlos Baldomir by unanimous decision.
Mayweather also defeated WBC super welterweight champion Oscar de la Hoya and captured the unprecedented fifth WBC championship.
Floyd’s career continued with outstanding results as he reconquered WBC glory in Welterweight and Superwelter in years to follow. Floyd defeated Victor Ortiz, Miguel Cotto, Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez, Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao, and Andre Berto in WBC championship fights.
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