Serafim Todorov, the Bulgarian fighter who was the last man to beat Floyd Mayweather in a boxing ring, has of how the victory set him on a path to misery.
Todorov overcame Mayweather in the semi-finals of the 1996 Olympic boxing tournament, before losing in the final.
He was offered a professional contract after his victory over
Mayweather, but turned it down, before the promoters turned their
attention to the American.
Nineteen years later, Mayweather is preparing for the richest bout in boxing history against Manny Pacquaio, while Todorov is living on a pension of €400-a-month.
“They saw my style, they saw me in the ring, they saw that I was
white,” Todorov told the New York Times. “There will never be another
white boxer like me, and they knew this. They wanted me to stay.”
Todorov had heard about all the perks before; he was offered a professional deal following the 1991 World Championships.
The signing bonus, the house, the car, the new life and the big fights in front of big crowds.
“Without considering, I said no,” he said. “I just said it quick, like that. No.”
He felt the Bulgarian judge had incorrectly scored the final which he
lost, and he accepted a deal from the Turkish federation, only for it
to collapse.
It signalled the end of his career, as he wasn't prepared to carry on fighting for Bulgaria.
Todorov feels that, had he lost against Mayweather, he would have
continued fighting for his native country, and may have gone on to forge
a successful career.
“Instead, it all happened and I wanted to hope that things here could
get better,” he said. “It was stupid. I came back and I found hell.”
Who will win when Mayweather and Pacquiao face off?
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