Roger Mayweather

Roger Mayweather (April 24, 1961 – March 17, 2020) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999 and later on a boxing trainer.

Serrano entered the bout with a record of 49–3–1 and had lost only once since first winning the title in 1976.

Nonetheless, Mayweather led on all three judges' scorecards before he beat Serrano by TKO in round eight and effectively ended Serrano's career.

Bramble had defeated Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini twice for the title in the mid-1980s.

Mayweather, who was 64–4 as an amateur, made his professional debut on July 29, 1981, against Andrew Ruiz.

Mayweather won by technical knockout (TKO) in the first round.

In his thirteenth fight, Mayweather beat Ruben Muñoz Jr. for the IBF-USBA lightweight title.

He was a two-division world champion, having held the WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles from 1983 to 1984, and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987 to 1989.

After improving his record to 14–0, Mayweather earned a title shot on January 19, 1983, against lineal and WBA super featherweight champion, Samuel Serrano.

Mayweather made two successful title defenses against Jorge Alvarado and Benedicto Villablanca before suffering his first loss via first-round knockout against Rocky Lockridge on February 22, 1984.

Mayweather won the IBF-USBA super featherweight title when he gave Kenny Baysmore his first loss, by TKO in round three.

Thus, Mayweather earned the opportunity to fight against WBC super featherweight champion, Julio César Chávez, on July 7, 1985.

Although Mayweather won the first round on the judges' scorecards, he was knocked down twice in round two and lost by TKO.

On November 28, 1986, Mayweather beat Sammy Fuentes for the WBC Continental Americas lightweight title.

In his next bout, on March 28, 1987, Mayweather fought against Pernell Whitaker for the WBC-NABF lightweight title.

Mayweather was knocked down in round one, but he knocked down Whitaker in round nine.

Whitaker won by unanimous decision (UD).

After Mayweather moved up to the light welterweight division, he fought against WBC light welterweight champion, Rene Arredondo, on November 12, 1987.

Mayweather led on the scorecards and knocked down Arredondo three times in round six to win by TKO.

Mayweather made four successful title defenses before he encountered Mexican champion Julio César Chávez again on May 13, 1989.

Prior to this fight, Mayweather was being called by several boxing writers as "The Mexican assassin" due to his numerous wins over Mexican fighters during the last few years.

Chávez was still undefeated at the time, and with a 63–0 record, he was becoming a legend.

Mayweather retired after round ten due to the body damage inflicted by Chávez.

Mayweather won the WBA Americas light welterweight title on April 5, 1990, from Ildemar Paisan.

He fought Rafael Pineda for the vacant IBF light welterweight title on December 7, 1991, but he lost by KO in round nine.

On March 14, 1993, Mayweather beat former WBA lightweight champion, Livingstone Bramble by corner stoppage in round five.

Additionally he held the IBO light welterweight title in 1994, and the IBO welterweight title from 1994 to 1995.

Mayweather defeated Eduardo Montes for the IBO light welterweight title by third-round KO on May 28, 1994.

Less than three weeks later, he defeated Marco Antonio Ramirez by TKO in round three.

In his next fight, against Johnny Bizzarro on August 4, 1994, Mayweather won the IBO welterweight title by unanimous decision.

He defended the belt once in 1995.

On June 25, 1995, Mayweather fought the 14–0 Kostya Tszyu for the IBF light welterweight title.

Tszyu won by unanimous decision.

Mayweather won his last title—the IBA welterweight title—on March 12, 1997, when he beat Carlos Miranda via twelfth-round TKO.

Mayweather's final bout was a majority decision victory over Javier Francisco Mendez on May 8, 1999.

He ended his career with a total of nine major and minor titles in four weight classes.

When asked about his ring nickname, Roger stated:

"It's funny because I wanted a boxing nickname that wouldn’t be common to most people. One day when I was flipping through channels and I came upon this channel showing different reptiles, and they were showing the black mamba, one of the most deadly snakes in the world. I loved the way the mamba attacked so quietly, but when he hit you he just hit you one time and the poison was in you. That reminded me of myself right there."

Mayweather served as the trainer for his nephew, Floyd Mayweather Jr., from 2000 to 2012.

Under Roger's guidance, Floyd Jr. became one of the biggest names in the sport of boxing and one of the pound for pound greats.