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Floyd Mayweather’s legacy makes him one of the most integral figures in the history of professional boxing.

Over a career which spanned 21 years, “Money” finished with an undefeated record of 50-0 and fought some of the very best.

His battles with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao are some of the most illustrious on his record, but all of them failed to stop him.

Known for his agility and speed, these legends of the game barely get anywhere near him in the prime of his career.

His final professional fight came against Conor McGregor on August 26 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena, Nevada, defeating “Notorious” in the 10th round by TKO and retired officially after that victory.

In recent years, the American has taken part in exhibition matches with Japanese kick-boxer and mixed martial artist, Tenshin Nasukawa, as well as social media megastar, Logan Paul.

While Mayweather wasn’t really known for his knockout ability, preferring to grind out the majority of his opponents for 12 rounds as they gas themselves out trying to lay a glove on him.

However, one particular knockout victory of Mayweather’s standouts above all others for many different reasons.

In his WBC Welterweight world title fight against Victor Ortiz, a 34-year-old Mayweather produced one of the most brutal knockouts you’ll ever see.

Ortiz was on the wrong side of the barrage in front of a near-capacity crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but the way the final blow happened still is a controversial talking point to this day.

Mayweather was evidently frustrated with Ortiz trying to headbutt him in the fourth round, an incident where the referee intervened to administer a verbal warning.

Ortiz then tried to touch gloves, with Mayweather deciding to deliver a speedy left and then a shattering right while Ortiz had his gloves down by his side.

The referee made the count, which Ortiz could not rise to answer.

While the knockout itself was all well and legally right within the sport’s laws, the question is: was it morally the right thing to do? The vast majority thought that it wasn’t.

❗️PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES❗️#boxing 🥊 pic.twitter.com/FjrYALtZfa — No Nonsense Boxing (@NNBoxing) May 19, 2022

❗️PROTECT YOURSELF AT ALL TIMES❗️#boxing 🥊 pic.twitter.com/FjrYALtZfa

After the fight, Mayweather alluded as to why the crucial point of the fight happened the way it did, stating:

“You gotta protect yourself at all times. I got hit with a head-butt, I got hit with elbows. I didn’t cry and complain. I done what I had to do as a fighter.

“I didn’t say my mouth was split open and cut inside. So, keep it clean. We touched gloves. Once we touched gloves, it’s fight time.”

Moments after the count out, Ortiz embraced Mayweather in the ring, with the latter saying: “You wanna be dirty and two minutes later it’s, like, you wanna be friends? It’s the hurt business. It’s boxing.”

1st year Sports Journalism student at Solent University

My sporting interests include football, cricket, basketball, tennis, boxing and professional wrestling.

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