Unfortunately for Mayweather, his reading of Olympic history was correct. He lost a decision to a countryman of the Bulgarian in charge of Olympic boxing in the semifinals at 125 pounds that was such a robbery even the referee raised his hand in triumph, sure that Mayweather won.
"Politics, basically," Mayweather said. "But in a way I'm glad I got the bronze medal. It just made me work harder, made me want to become even more successful."
Fourteen years later, there's no more successful fighter around. The 33-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) is not only a pay-per-view superstar who has made millions, but -- in his eyes, at least -- one of the greatest fighters ever.
He returns to the ring tonight ready to earn many millions more in a 147-pound showdown, but this time there's a catch. In the other corner will be a fighter who some think has the best chance to beat Mayweather since the days he was fighting for medals, not money.
No, it's not Manny Pacquiao, much to the disappointment of many fight fans. But Shane Mosley may be the second-best thing.
"He couldn't just fight Joe Blow," Mosley said. "He had to fight somebody good if he wants to be considered the best."
That somebody is Mosley, who brings quickness and power to the ring. Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) may be aging chronologically, but he showed by stopping Antonio Margarito his last time out that he still has the speed and reflexes he used to beat Oscar De La Hoya not once, but twice.
The Margarito fight, though, was 15 months ago. Even without ring rust, 38-year-old fighters can sometimes look their age at just the wrong time.
Mosley weighed in Friday at the class limit of 147 pounds, while Mayweather was 146.
"Politics, basically," Mayweather said. "But in a way I'm glad I got the bronze medal. It just made me work harder, made me want to become even more successful."
Fourteen years later, there's no more successful fighter around. The 33-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) is not only a pay-per-view superstar who has made millions, but -- in his eyes, at least -- one of the greatest fighters ever.
He returns to the ring tonight ready to earn many millions more in a 147-pound showdown, but this time there's a catch. In the other corner will be a fighter who some think has the best chance to beat Mayweather since the days he was fighting for medals, not money.
No, it's not Manny Pacquiao, much to the disappointment of many fight fans. But Shane Mosley may be the second-best thing.
"He couldn't just fight Joe Blow," Mosley said. "He had to fight somebody good if he wants to be considered the best."
That somebody is Mosley, who brings quickness and power to the ring. Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) may be aging chronologically, but he showed by stopping Antonio Margarito his last time out that he still has the speed and reflexes he used to beat Oscar De La Hoya not once, but twice.
The Margarito fight, though, was 15 months ago. Even without ring rust, 38-year-old fighters can sometimes look their age at just the wrong time.
Mosley weighed in Friday at the class limit of 147 pounds, while Mayweather was 146.
