Boxing Rumors 2016: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Wins BWAA's Fighter of the Year Award
Even retirement won't stop Floyd Mayweather Jr. from becoming the best boxer in the face of the Earth, or at least that is what the Boxing Writers Association of America has to say. The former pound-for-pound king and self-proclaimed "best ever" was recently named as the 2015 Sugar Ray Robinson Fighter of the Year, based on balloting results revealed on Friday.
This is the undefeated American's third time to receive the same award, having hoisted the trophy back in 2007 and in 2013. Although he only fought twice in 2015, his May 2 triumph over Manny Pacquiao looked to be good enough for the members of the BWAA to vote for him. The other fight he won was against Andre Berto in September before announcing his retirement from the sport.
Aside from Mayweather, this coveted award was also won three times by several fighters, including Pacquiao, who won it in 2006, 2008, and 2009; heavyweight greats Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Evander Holyfield, and Sugar Ray Leonard.
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The fight against Pacquiao surely did have some major implications in the results because it was the richest and most lucrative fight in the history of boxing. Mayweather impressed in that outing, outpointing and out-boxing the Filipino boxer to win and unify the welterweight world titles. Aside from generating $600 million in revenue, the fight also sold 4.6 million PPVs.
Mayweather retired from the sport with an undefeated record of 49-0, with 26 KOs. However, not everyone believes he's retired for good. There's constant talk of him eventually coming out of retirement this year to once again fight Pacquiao in another lucrative payday. The opinionated American denies the entire rumor and remains firm at his decision of retiring.
He will be recognized at the 91st annual BWAA awards gala with other awardees, but the date and venue haven't been released to the press as of this posting.
