Nickname: “Pretty Boy” / “Money” / “TBE” (The Best Ever)
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Weight Class: Super Featherweight / Lightweight / Light Welterweight / Welterweight / Light Middleweight
Stance: Orthodox
Professional Record: 50 – 0 (27 KOs)
Years Active: 1996 – 2017
Biography
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the most technically gifted and commercially successful boxers in history. A defensive genius with unmatched timing and ring IQ, he dominated five weight divisions over two decades without a single defeat.
Born into a boxing family — his father Floyd Sr. and uncle Roger were both pros — Mayweather emerged from the 1996 Olympics with a bronze medal and immediately began redefining professional precision. He captured his first world title in 1998 at super featherweight, then ascended through the divisions, claiming lineal championships from 130 to 154 pounds.
His victories over Diego Corrales, José Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, and Canelo Álvarez solidified his claim as TBE — The Best Ever. Beyond his mastery inside the ring, Mayweather became the sport’s highest-earning athlete, revolutionizing self-promotion and athlete ownership through “The Money Team” (TMT) brand.
Floyd Mayweather in the Hobby
Mayweather’s trading cards represent the modern pinnacle of boxing card collecting — bridging the hobby’s return to premium manufacturing with global popularity. His rookie and early Panini issues are the cornerstones of 21st-century boxing collections.
Rookie & Early Issues
1997 – Brown’s Boxing “The Signature Series” (USA): Widely recognized as Floyd Mayweather’s true rookie card, featuring an early-career portrait and often autographed by hand. Extremely limited print run.
1999 – Kayo Boxing (USA): First widely distributed Mayweather card set; known for sharp design and early action photography.
2001 – Ringside Boxing “Champions of the Ring” (USA): Features Mayweather as an emerging world champion at lightweight; condition-sensitive due to gloss and edges.
2013 – Topps Allen & Ginter (USA): Crossover mainstream card marking Mayweather’s return to pop-culture prominence; popular among non-boxing collectors.
Registry Metadata
Earliest Issue: 1997 Brown’s Boxing “Signature Series” (USA)
Rookie Year: 1997
First Mainstream U.S. Card: 1999 Kayo Boxing
Key Sets: 1997 Brown’s, 1999 Kayo, 2001 Ringside, 2013 Allen & Ginter
Known Variants: Brown’s Boxing rookies issued in both autographed and unsigned formats; Kayo parallels include gold foil versions
Grading Rarity:
– 1997 Brown’s Boxing: PSA population ≈ 60; PSA 10s exceptionally rare and command five-figure prices
– 1999 Kayo: PSA population ≈ 120; PSA 9–10 examples remain highly liquid among modern investors
Recent Notable Sales:
– 1997 Brown’s Boxing (PSA 10) — $18,400 (2024)
– 1999 Kayo (PSA 10) — $4,600 (2023)
Legacy
Floyd Mayweather Jr. fused defensive mastery with entrepreneurial genius to redefine boxing’s modern era. Undefeated across five divisions and the highest-grossing boxer of all time, he turned precision into profit and ringcraft into art.
For collectors, the 1997 Brown’s Boxing rookie card is a modern classic — the gateway to the 21st-century hobby and the defining artifact of boxing’s pay-per-view empire. In both legacy and market value, Money Mayweather remains untouchable.
