World Boxing News totals the number of world champions beaten by boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and rival Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather and Pacquiao were cited as generation boxers during their remarkable careers. Mayweather, who turned professional in 1996, and Pacquiao, who entered the paid ranks a year earlier, are recognized as the number one and two of the last twenty years.
Pacquiao won the WBN Fighter of the Decade Award from 2000 to 2009, while Mayweather took the honor from 2010 to 2019 despite only competing for just over half of those ten years.
Nonetheless, the rivalry existed from the day they won their first world titles. Sadly for boxing fans, they should have traded blows in 2010 but eventually faced off five years later in what amounted to a last-minute money grab.
Until that fateful meeting in 2015, when they smashed all-time box office records, Mayweather and Pacquiao defeated a host of past, present, and future world champions.
Mayweather’s run began at 17-0 in October 1998, when he dethroned Genaro Hernandez for the WBC super featherweight title. However, at 22-0 and with four title defenses under his belt, he had beaten just a solitary world champion during his tenure. He then decided to go for legacy, and after beating six more titleholders over his next eleven bouts, he went on an unprecedented 15-fight streak to defeat only world champions.
‘Money’ beat Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell, Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz, Miguel Cotto, Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez, Marcos Maidana [twice], and Manny Pacquiao before hanging up his gloves after seeing off Andre Berto.
After all was written on his pro career, Mayweather ended his tenure with victories over 23 world champions, with 25 separate wins due to rematches with Castillo and Maidana.
Tony Pep’s title is debatable. He only won the IBO title, while others won the IBA, WBU, and WBF versions, which held more meaning during the 1990s.
Floyd Mayweather – World Champions Beaten In total, Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Genaro Hernandez, Gregorio Vargas, Diego Corrales, Carlos Hernandez, Jesus Chavez, Jose Luis Castillo [twice], DeMarcus Corley, Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell, Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Victor Ortiz, Miguel Cotto, Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez, Marcos Maidana [twice], Andre Berto, Tony Pep [IBO].
Manny Pacquiao – World Champions Beaten To end the debate, rival Pacquiao defeated 22 world champions. They were Chatchai Sasakul, Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, Jorge Julio, Marco Antonio Barrera [twice], Érik Morales [twice], Óscar Larios, Jorge Solís, Juan Manuel Márquez [twice], David Díaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Brandon Ríos, Timothy Bradley [twice], Chris Algieri, Jessie Vargas, Lucas Matthysse, Adrien Broner, and Keith Thurman.
We went for a record-equaling shot against Yordenis Ugas in 2021 but fell short. There are still reports Pacquiao will try again in 2025 against Mario Barrios.
For now, Mayweather has the edge in the number of single champions defeated at 23. At the same time, Pacquiao is on top in total victories against world champions at 26 to Mayweather’s 25.
Note: IBA, WBU, and WBF are not counted.
