UNBEATEN RUNS
As Floyd Mayweather uses his 50-0 record as evidence that he is ‘The Best Ever’, Eric Armit investigates some other unbeaten runs in boxing history that test ‘Money’s’ theory to the max
We take a look back in history at the sport’s longest undefeated streaks
PERHAPS the biggest controversy to emerge from Floyd Mayweather beating Conor Mcgregor in August last year was that “Money”, while beating a debutant, officially overtook Rocky Marciano’s record for the most victories by a world champion retiring undefeated with a 100 per cent record.
Marciano clocked up 49 victories and the win over Mcgregor moved Mayweather to 50. While the farcical nature of Mayweather’s victory is not up for debate, it is difficult to argue that beating Mcgregor should not be counted as an official result. As Marciano’s wins over Lee Epperson, Jimmy Weeks and Gilbert Cardone – none of whom had won a fight – are included in Marciano’s record, then Mcgregor also has to be counted on Mayweather’s.
Also, Floyd Patterson’s 1957 success over Pete Rademacher is accepted by all of the record books as a legitimate world heavyweight title fight, even though
Rademacher had never had a professional bout beforehand. So, like it or not, Mayweather sits at the top of the table of world champions who retired with a 100 per cent record, but his claims to be “The Best Ever” – largely due to the importance he places on being unbeaten – should perhaps be put into context.
Today, promoters and managers will go a long way to keep that ‘0’ on a fighter’s record and, of course, to retire undefeated and win every fight, particularly at Mayweather’s level, is very impressive indeed. However, I’d argue that in the current era, it is easier – for want of a better word – than it would have been in days gone by to get through an entire career without experiencing a loss. Indeed, Mayweather could soon be passed by the WBC strawweight champion Wanheng Menayothin, who is 49-0, and still active, so 51 wins should be well within his compass.
But to focus solely on champions who won every fight or went undefeated over a long career with a draw here and there is to overlook some of the incredible unbeaten runs achieved by fighters during their careers. Furthermore, one can certainly argue that during the unbeaten streaks detailed over the following pages, the boxers getting their hands held aloft were just as ‘unbeatable’ – at least for a period – as the few who retired with their spotless records intact.
Here, we count down the longest (in fights, not years) unbeaten runs achieved by world champions during their career.