Mayweather started his pro career in 1996 after grabbing a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics. He went on to become a world champion in five weight classes and retired in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record. Along the way, he picked up wins against Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Canelo Alvarez.
But it's Augustus, a fighter who retired with 34 losses, who Mayweather says gave him the hardest test. The two met in a non-title showdown in Michigan. Mayweather won by stopping Augustus in the second-to-last round, but he had to work for it.
Right after the fight, Mayweather said:
"Good fight – he's a tough motherf***er. I had to dig deep"
Augustus fought just shy of 80 times in his career but never got a world title shot. He hung up his gloves in 2011 with a reputation as a tough opponent for highly-rated fighters.
Years later, in an interview with FightHype, Mayweather doubled down on his praise for Augustus:
"Emmanuel Augustus was my toughest opponent. His record didn't show his skill-set, but the guy was unbelievable."
This statement from Mayweather shows that sometimes a fighter's record doesn't tell the whole story. It also highlights the respect top boxers have for opponents who push them to their limits, even if those opponents aren't household names.
Mayweather's career and his thoughts on Augustus remind us that in boxing, as in life, our toughest challenges can come from unexpected places. Even for a fighter as accomplished as Mayweather, it's the grit and skill of a journeyman that left the biggest impression.
Mayweather might be retired now, but he's still boxing's biggest showman. His surprising pick for toughest opponent shows he's still got the power to keep fans talking.