Floyd Mayweather made quick work of many of his early opponents – but he knocked out one fighter faster than the rest.
Before Mayweather became a dominant five-weight world champion who outsmarted his opponents with superior boxing IQ and defensive craft, he was a hard-hitting super featherweight prospect.
After being robbed in the semi-finals of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics against Serafim Todorov, ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ turned over as a professional in October of that year.
He hit the ground running in the paid ranks, stopping five of his first six opponents, including three inside the opening round.
Mayweather blasted out Jerry Cooper in 99 seconds and blitzed Kino Rodriguez in 104 seconds, while Bobby Giepert could only last 90 seconds with the fast-rising phenom.
But ‘TBE’ would get much closer to the minute mark in his seventh outing against Denver journeyman Tony Duran.
Duran entered the fight with an unremarkable 12-15-1 record, but was expected to give Mayweather rounds after going the distance with his uncle Jeff three months prior.
However, Duran proved to be no match for the 20-year-old puncher who flattened him in 72 seconds with a short right hand.
Duran managed to make his way back to his feet after eating the heavy blow, but stumbled into the ropes upon regaining his footing, prompting the referee to wave off the contest.
It was clear from a very early stage in his career that Mayweather would be something special.
When Mayweather was a teenager, the late great Emmanuel Steward was quoted as saying: “There have been very few that have been more talented than this kid.
“He will probably win two or three world championships. I think he will go on to become one of the best ever.
As per usual, the Hall of Fame trainer was bang on the money.
During an illustrious professional career stretching up until 2017, Mayweather compiled an unblemished 50-0 record and won world titles from super featherweight to super welterweight.
Along the way, he beat 24 former and current world champions including Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, and Shane Mosley.
Boxing historians would tell you that legends like Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali rank higher than Mayweather when it comes to boxing’s all-time greats.
But there is no doubting the fact that Mayweather was the best of his generation.
Former foe Ricky Hatton perhaps said it best.
“After every single fight I’ve had, it was the only fight where I’ve sat in the changing rooms, bit down and thought to myself ‘wow, he was good’,” he told ESPN.
“Just his defence, his movement and just how clever he was.
“He knew when to put his foot on the gas a little bit, when to soak it up a little bit, let me blow myself out, let the storm blow itself out a bit and then put his foot on the gas.
“I would go as far and say a genuis, absolutely great.
