Floyd Mayweather’s victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in 2013 stirred controversy, drawing attention from boxing legend Mike Tyson.
Canelo, then a 23-year-old rising star from Mexico, challenged America’s pound-for-pound king, Mayweather, who was 36 at the time and showed his experience in the ring.
Mayweather outclassed Canelo, showcasing his superior boxing skills and earning a convincing points decision victory.
Two of the three judges scored the fight decisively in Mayweather’s favor, with Dave Moretti scoring it 116-112 and Craig Metcalfe 117-111. However, CJ Ross, the third judge, controversially scored the contest a draw at 114-114.
Ross’ scoring sparked outrage, especially considering her controversial scorecard in Manny Pacquiao’s loss to Tim Bradley the year before.
Tyson voiced his opinion, suggesting that Mayweather’s dominance might have fueled animosity and questioning Ross’ scoring.
Tyson expressed his concern, stating that such controversial scoring could lead to serious consequences and advocating for more scrutiny over judges’ decisions.
Following the controversy, Ross stepped down as a boxing judge and retired from scoring bouts.
Mayweather retired undefeated in 2017, having won 15 major world championship titles across different weight classes. He continues to participate in exhibition matches, facing opponents from various backgrounds.
Canelo, on the other hand, has emerged as a boxing legend, holding multiple world championships in four weight classes.
Dmitry Bivol remains one of the few fighters to hand Canelo a loss, following in Mayweather’s footsteps.
Tyson himself has ventured into the exhibition circuit, notably facing Roy Jones Jr. in a highly publicized event in 2020.
He recently announced his intention to make a full professional comeback against Jake Paul, although the fight has been postponed due to Tyson’s health issues.