Examining the 2022 International Boxing Hall of Fame class

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (50-0, 27 KOs)

There is never anything guaranteed in life, but Floyd being a first ballot Hall of Famer is about the surest thing one can think of.

There isn’t much explaining to do; everyone knows Floyd. The face of boxing, the highest earning boxer ever, and one of the greatest defensive fighters ever. Love him or hate him, you can’t deny his skills and accomplishments.

Floyd won bronze in the 1996 Olympic Games, and he frankly was robbed. After that horrible decision, Floyd never lost again.

He turned pro following the Olypmics, would go on to win world titles in five weight classes, and was lineal champion in four of them. He is 26-0 in world title fights, and has 24 victories over former or current world champions. In 2016, ESPN ranked Floyd as the best fighter pound for pound from the last 25 years.

He was a two-time fighter of the year according to The Ring, and received the same honor three times from the BWAA. He also spent much of his career as the number one-ranked fighter in the world pound for pound, and fell no lower than two while in his prime.

If for some reason you still don’t believe he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer, let me run off some names: Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir,  Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao. These are just some of the guys Floyd defeated on his way to 50-0.

On top of his dominance for nearly two decades, he was unquestionably the biggest star in boxing, and was able to make more money than any boxer before him. He earned around one billion dollars, which is just absurd. All sport fans know who Mayweather is, and very few boxers cross over into mainstream popularity like Floyd.