Floyd Mayweather Named Only Boxer He Truly Hates

Considered by many as the greatest boxer of all time, Floyd Mayweather finished his glistening boxing career unbeaten. His 50-0 record was cemented in 2017 when he knocked out UFC star Conor McGregor in Nevada, in what ultimately was his last professional fight to date.

The 5ft8, Michigan-born boxing phenomenon debuted in October 1996, when he knocked out another up-and-coming rookie in Roberto Apodaca, and he simply didn’t look back. ‘Money’ Mayweather has since gone on to dominate world boxing. A five-weight world champion and four-time lineal champ alongside being named ‘Fighter of the Decade’ for the 2010s by the Boxing Writer’s Association of America (BWAA).

‘Pretty Boy’ achieved greatness in the ring by taking on some of the biggest names in the sport, including Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, and Manny Pacquiao. But Mayweather has recently revealed the fighter that he disliked the most during his 23-year career.

Floyd Mayweather Chooses Boxer He Hates Most

When asked about his in-ring career, and the boxer he truly hated the most, the 48-year-old took great pleasure in announcing that his most hated opponent was in fact Oscar De La Hoya.

In response to the question “Which fighter did you dislike the most?” Mayweather responded: “Oscar De La Hoya.”

Mayweather was also asked which win gave him the most satisfaction in his career, to which the boxing legend replied: “There are two fighters. Ricky Hatton and the Manny Pacquiao fight.”

The rivalry between Floyd Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya is one of the most iconic in boxing history. Their highly anticipated fight took place on the 5th of May 2007, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. De La Hoya, a six-division world champion, was nearing the end of his career and hoping to cement his legacy with a win. Mayweather, meanwhile, at the peak of his career, sought to prove himself as the best pound-for-pound fighter.

The bout was a close, tactical battle, with Mayweather winning via split decision after 12 rounds. Though the decision was controversial, many believed Mayweather’s superior defence and counter-punching skills earned him the victory. The fight became one of the highest-grossing pay-per-view events in boxing history, highlighting the marketability of both fighters.

Their rivalry extended beyond the ring, however, fuelled by differing personalities and business approaches. De La Hoya, known as ‘The Golden Boy’, had mainstream appeal, while Mayweather, adopting the ‘Money’ persona, thrived on self-promotion.

Both eventually established their own promotional companies — De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions — intensifying their competition. The 2007 fight marked a pivotal moment in both fighters’ careers.

Floyd Mayweather Set to Step Back Into the Ring

Despite retiring as a professional in 2017, Mayweather has stayed active in a series of exhibition bouts since. The most famous of these saw him take on social media superstar, Logan Paul in 2021.

Floyd will compete in his next exhibition contest in June, when he is set to face kickboxing legend Mike Zambidis in Athens, Greece. He is also rumoured to still be considering a bout with heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, again under exhibition rules, before the end of 2026.

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