Floyd Mayweather Jr vs DeMarcus Corley

Floyd Mayweather Jr. made his 140-pound debut on May 22, 2004, in an exciting fight against former titlist DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley. Mayweather, 27 at the time, put on a clinical display as he dismantled his opponent, scoring a lopsided unanimous decision victory with scores of 119-108 (twice) and 119-107. Mayweather dominated the fight from the opening bell, using his speed, footwork, and accuracy to outmaneuver and outpunch Corley.

Mayweather's performance was particularly impressive considering he was facing a formidable opponent in Corley, who had won titles at both the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions. The win also made Mayweather the mandatory challenger for Arturo Gatti's WBC World Super-lightweight title, a fight he had been chasing for some time. Mayweather expressed his excitement about the potential pay-per-view fight with Gatti, saying, "He's an exciting fighter, I'm an exciting fighter, and I think that's a big pay-per-view fight."

Mayweather's purse for the fight was $3 million, a testament to his growing popularity and the anticipation surrounding his debut in the 140-pound division. His victory also solidified his position as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, with a record of 33-0 (24 KO).

Throughout the fight, Mayweather showcased his technical prowess, landing precise punches and avoiding Corley's attempts to counter. He also showed his resilience by weathering a few hard shots from Corley, including a knockdown in the third round. However, Mayweather quickly regained his composure and continued to control the pace and flow of the fight.

Despite his dominance, Mayweather did not take Corley lightly and acknowledged his opponent's toughness and skills after the fight. "He's a great fighter," Mayweather said. "He was the toughest fighter I've fought so far."