Throughout boxing history Ricardo Mayorga “El Matador” maintained a status as both one of the most colourful and most controversial figures to enter the ring.
Mayorga started from Managua Nicaragua where his fighting career defined itself by both aggressive fighting and his forceful personality and fearless nature both inside the ring and among non-boxing crowds.
The professional boxing realm received Mayorga as a fighter when he turned 20 in 1993. His starting phase encountered different forms of opposition during the early part of his professional boxing career.
Mayorga started his boxing run with numerous early losses before displaying any signs of becoming a future world champion.
Despite a refusal to modify his unorthodox and aggressive fighting methods Mayorga started receiving more respect from observers during his boxing development.
Mayorga established his reputation as a dangerous puncher with a strong chin through his victories against local Central American opponents during the late 1990s.
The boxing world was surprised when Mayorga captured the WBA Welterweight crown by beating Andrew “Six Heads” Lewis in 2002.
In 2003 Mayorga stepped into the ring against Vernon Forrest who carried both the WBC Welterweight Championship title with great prestige. Several experts predicted that strong boxer Forrest would secure a victory due to his skilled and disciplined performance style.
The world was again surprised when Mayorga won through knockout in round three of their initial matchup against Forrest.
He managed to create the first unified WBA and WBC welterweight championship with this successful bout.
Ultimately Mayorga secured a narrow majority decision during their later rematch in the same year which solidified his status as one of the leading welterweights during his time.
Following his victories at the welterweight level Mayorga progressed to compete at the light middleweight and middleweight weight classes.
Mayorga attempted to fight Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC Light Middleweight title during 2006.
He generated a lot of publicity by continually insulting De La Hoya during the pre-fight promotional campaign.
Mayorga confronted De La Hoya in the ring where his stronger technical abilities resulted in a sixth-round stoppage defeat.
Mayorga’s professional career experienced its decline as he continued to grow older. Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto defeated Mayorga as part of his losing streak.
Mayorga closed his professional boxing career with a loss to Andrey Sirotkin during their 2017 match.
