As tough as it seems to be for fight fans to agree on much of anything when it comes to Floyd Mayweather Jr – is he really “T.B.E?” Did he “lose” that first fight with Jose Luis Castillo? Would Floyd have lived with the 130/135/140/147-pound greats?
Is Mayweather perhaps the finest defensive fighter ever? – one thing most of us are in agreement on is the fact that Mayweather put on his career-finest performance when he faced Diego Corrales.
The clash of unbeaten 130 pounders took place on this day 21 years ago, and Mayweather – still calling himself “Pretty Boy” at the time – quite literally made mincemeat out of a very good, you could argue great, fighter.
Mayweather, his hands not bothering him as far as hurting him and forcing him to protect his mitts, was on fire in Las Vegas.
“Chico” was an impressive 33-0, to Mayweather’s 24-0, and Diego was coming off a big stoppage win over Angel Manfredy. Also, Corrales was freakishly tall for the weight (his reach, however, was shorter than Mayweather’s).
Some experts and good all-around judges felt 23 year old Mayweather was entering the ring with the man destined to test him like no other fighter. Instead, we got a thoroughly one-sided fight. A beatdown. A masterclass. Mayweather’s finest hour.
Five times Mayweather sent Corrales, also aged 23, to the canvas. Five times Corales got back up. Mayweather was pinpoint accurate with his shots, his slick defensive moves were something to behold, and Floyd’s vicious intent was evident in a way it had not been in any other fight (or would be seen in any future fight).
This version of Floyd Mayweather was no safety-first fighter who was content to cruise to a decision victory. This version of Mayweather wanted blood and he got it.
In the end, having failed to win a single round, a still-game “Chico” was pulled out by his corner in the tenth round. Corales wanted to carry on, but he had no chance in hell of beating Mayweather on this night. Maybe no 130 pounders in history would have beaten this version of Mayweather.
It was a special performance; the kind the great ones can look back on and smile over with genuine satisfaction when their career is over. Mayweather has his critics, yes, but there was and is nothing to criticize about his performance of January 20th, 2001.
