BWAA Fighter of the Decade: Floyd Mayweather Jr.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Floyd Mayweather was the most dominant fighter over the last decade, and that supremacy has been rewarded by the Boxing Writers Association of America as the first Joe Louis Fighter of the Decade recipient by going 10-0 (2 KOs) through 2010-2019.

Mayweather (50-0, 27 knockouts) beat out Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao for the honor, two fighters he defeated in the last 10 years. The list of nominees also included Andre Ward and Wladimir Klitschko.

In addition to Alvarez and Pacquiao, Mayweather defeated Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero, Miguel Cotto, Marcos Maidana (twice), Andre Berto and UFC star Conor McGregor, in a fight “Money” hardly trained for. That’s one current Hall of Famer (Mosley), and three future Hall of Famers (Pacquiao, Cotto and Alvarez).

“Thank you to the Boxing Writers Association of America for voting me Fighter of the Decade,” Mayweather said in a statement. “I am honored to be recognized by the media who covered my career throughout its’ many decades.

“Boxing has been a part of my life since I was two years old and I dedicated my life to it and gave it my all. I trained hard, showed up for every one of my fights and did my job successfully each and every time. To retire undefeated and achieve what I did in the sport is not only a gift to myself, but to the fans and most importantly, my team and family. I certainly didn’t do it alone and I appreciate anyone who played a part in it.

“Hard work and dedication, something I did for my entire career. I am grateful and humbled by this honor. Thank you so very much.”

Alvarez was Mayweather’s biggest threat in the voting.

In 2015, Mayweather beat Pacquiao by scores of 118-110 and 112-116 (2). In 2013, he outpointed BWAA 2019 Fighter of the Year Alvarez.

It’s why the BWAA has chosen Floyd Mayweather Jr., the only two-time BWAA Fighter of the Year in the 2010s (2013 and 2015), as the Joe Louis Fighter of the Decade.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I heard someone on twitter saying Andre Ward would have been a good shout.

Only Canelo and Pac can really compete with Mayweather here. Only Floyd beat his opponents most convincingly.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[DrDuke]

Floyd is a fighter of the decade for sure. Even despite the fact of competing only in the half of it. Winning Pac and Canelo wide is a too good achievement to be surpassed. Canelo and Pac themselves don't have such big wins. Yes, Canelo won Golovkin, but everybody know, how he did it. Actually, Canelo and Pac can be surpassed by Ward indeed.

[RonnyJ]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

[paddy chavez]

Roman Gonzales should of been in contention

[Stuarty]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

Beat Pac clean. First Maidana fight was close, but he rematched him and beat him clear.

[margaret thatcher]

Only hate could make someone not admit it was clearly Floyd

[Oben321]

Totally agree Thatcher.
Love em or Hate em....you have to give him props for his outstanding boxing resume hands down!!

[Bandog]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

You should be banned, just for being stupid.

[Thomastearns]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

And a whole host of other dubious activities.

Apart from the Hatton fight (yet another dubious one) I can't bring myself to rewatch a single Mayweather matchup.

Whereas Pacquiao on the other hand has rarely been in a dull fight.

Loved and respected across the world and is a living inspiration to millions.

[RonnyJ]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

And a whole host of other dubious activities.

Apart from the Hatton fight (yet another dubious one) I can't bring myself to rewatch a single Mayweather matchup.

Whereas Pacquiao on the other hand has rarely been in a dull fight.

Loved and respected across the world and is a living inspiration to millions.

Exactly.

There are a lot of boxing newbies here, who dont know what they talking about.

They werent around in the boxing scene when around 2008 paul williams and antonio margarito were in prime physical shape, one was 6'2, the other 5'11 and both were t/ko everybody. They were the most avoided boxers and what did the best boxer of the generation do, took 2 years vavation to avoid boxing them, was scared as hell when margarito approched him in the hotel lobby.

Avoiding and running. A boring career.

[RonnyJ]

Lost to pacquiao and maidana. Ducked margarito, williams and pacquiao.

Beat Pac clean. First Maidana fight was close, but he rematched him and beat him clear.

Nothing w as clean in the pac fight. Pac landed the cleaner punches.

Maidana landed the heavier cleanier shots.

[tiny_acres]

And a whole host of other dubious activities.

Apart from the Hatton fight (yet another dubious one) I can't bring myself to rewatch a single Mayweather matchup.

Whereas Pacquiao on the other hand has rarely been in a dull fight.

Loved and respected across the world and is a living inspiration to millions.

Exactly.

There are a lot of boxing newbies here, who dont know what they talking about.

They werent around in the boxing scene when around 2008 paul williams and antonio margarito were in prime physical shape, one was 6'2, the other 5'11 and both were t/ko everybody. They were the most avoided boxers and what did the best boxer of the generation do, took 2 years vavation to avoid boxing them, was scared as hell when margarito approched him in the hotel lobby.

Avoiding and running. A boring career.

Well when was Floyd supposed to fight Williamsor Margarito in the last decade?
Margarito lost in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Williams is on record saying that at no time were they at their same weights while at the top. William's says it wasn't a duck but I guess you know better

[littlepug]

Well deserved, he made most of his fights seem easy due to his high skill level, great feet, great defence, underrated power, could go toe to toe with anyone when he chose to, in fact when a opponent got a bit confident he would stand with them to put them in their place, people say he ran but really he led them around the ring to draw their lead and counter and whenever he chose to he could start to walk an opponent down, he did the subtle things exceptionally well and always turned up in shape and ready for business, he knew how to win and had the right amount of spite in his work that a champion at that level needs, if you don’t appreciate him as a fighter you really don’t know boxing

[tiny_acres]

Well deserved, he made most of his fights seem easy due to his high skill level, great feet, great defence, underrated power, could go toe to toe with anyone when he chose to, in fact when a opponent got a bit confident he would stand with them to put them in their place, people say he ran but really he led them around the ring to draw their lead and counter and whenever he chose to he could start to walk an opponent down, he did the subtle things exceptionally well and always turned up in shape and ready for business, he knew how to win and had the right amount of spite in his work that a champion at that level needs, if you don’t appreciate him as a fighter you really don’t know boxing

Well said

[RonnyJ]

Exactly.

There are a lot of boxing newbies here, who dont know what they talking about.

They werent around in the boxing scene when around 2008 paul williams and antonio margarito were in prime physical shape, one was 6'2, the other 5'11 and both were t/ko everybody. They were the most avoided boxers and what did the best boxer of the generation do, took 2 years vavation to avoid boxing them, was scared as hell when margarito approched him in the hotel lobby.

Avoiding and running. A boring career.

Well when was Floyd supposed to fight Williamsor Margarito in the last decade?
Margarito lost in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Williams is on record saying that at no time were they at their same weights while at the top. William's says it wasn't a duck but I guess you know better

Forget decades. If you not a newbie you know he ducked marga and paul 2007-2009.

Than he did all to avoid prime pac.

[tiny_acres]

Well when was Floyd supposed to fight Williamsor Margarito in the last decade?
Margarito lost in 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Williams is on record saying that at no time were they at their same weights while at the top. William's says it wasn't a duck but I guess you know better

Forget decades. If you not a newbie you know he ducked marga and paul 2007-2009.

Than he did all to avoid prime pac.

The topic that you are addressing is fighter of the decade

[margaret thatcher]

Well deserved, he made most of his fights seem easy due to his high skill level, great feet, great defence, underrated power, could go toe to toe with anyone when he chose to, in fact when a opponent got a bit confident he would stand with them to put them in their place, people say he ran but really he led them around the ring to draw their lead and counter and whenever he chose to he could start to walk an opponent down, he did the subtle things exceptionally well and always turned up in shape and ready for business, he knew how to win and had the right amount of spite in his work that a champion at that level needs, if you don’t appreciate him as a fighter you really don’t know boxing

I don't think his power was too underrated above 140,, vs career boxers he was 15-0 (2) and only scored 1 knockdown all the last decade (Ortiz) despite landing clean shots over and over. He was a fast, super accurate and super defensively good master boxer, but power had little to do with his later career success.

At lower weights he had more oomph to his shots though and would fight a lot in close

[lazboy]

Well deserved, he made most of his fights seem easy due to his high skill level, great feet, great defence, underrated power, could go toe to toe with anyone when he chose to, in fact when a opponent got a bit confident he would stand with them to put them in their place, people say he ran but really he led them around the ring to draw their lead and counter and whenever he chose to he could start to walk an opponent down, he did the subtle things exceptionally well and always turned up in shape and ready for business, he knew how to win and had the right amount of spite in his work that a champion at that level needs, if you don’t appreciate him as a fighter you really don’t know boxing

I don't think his power was too underrated above 140,, vs career boxers he was 15-0 (2) and only scored 1 knockdown all the last decade (Ortiz) despite landing clean shots over and over. He was a fast, super accurate and super defensively good master boxer, but power had little to do with his later career success.

At lower weights he had more oomph to his shots though and would fight a lot in close

From my point of view he became far more conservative and threw less power punches but had respectable power.

I’m not sure of the stats but I’m sure his volume dropped significantly from the earlier portion of his career. Floyd was never silly enough to leave himself vulnerable to gassing out and very much grew stronger as the fight progressed (as you’d know).

That being said, if he wasn’t such a tactician, I’m sure he could have done more damage and I could understand someone saying his power is underrated.

[margaret thatcher]

He was a tactician, but he landed so many clean power shots (because of excellent accuracy) that I'm not really buying much on his power above 140 when he couldn't even score more than 1 flash knockdown all decade. And people often say 'well but guys didn't just rush in and throw whatever, he must have had pop' , but that's not a power thing imo, it's an outboxing and countering thing. Pretty much no one rushes even totally feather fisted fighters anyway

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

wtf is 'The Bag'

[RonnyJ]

Forget decades. If you not a newbie you know he ducked marga and paul 2007-2009.

Than he did all to avoid prime pac.

The topic that you are addressing is fighter of the decade

Ok. You want 2010-2019. I got it.

Floyd fought from 2010-2015 (i dont count a fight against a opponent with a 0-0 record)

From 2010-2015 he lost against pac and maidana, had 1 dominant good win against a prime canelo. Struggled with cotto.

From 2010-2019 vasyl won againt prime gary russell, beat a 2 time olympic gold boxing world champion & prime linares and during the time period 2016-2017 loma looked like the best boxer ever(I believe it is 90s jones, but 17 loma looked phenomenal)

During 2010-2019 had 1 loss.

Timmy robbery
Floyd at best a draw. I had pac
Horn robbery

Pac (16 fights) took way more fights than floyd (9 fights) and way more risks. Instead of floyd self claimed best ever taking on dangerous opponents at the end of his career like spence or thurman floyd took berto and a debut boxer. What did pac do. Fight n win against thurman! Floyd avoided the bigger marga, midget pac fought the much bigger marga.

If a boxer is decade #1 than either pac or loma, not floyd.