Bob Arum Claims Floyd Mayweather's Undefeated Record Is Flawed: "Castillo Clearly Won"

Veteran promoter Bob Arum insists Floyd Mayweather's undefeated record should have been tarnished after his controversial 2002 bout against Jose Luis Castillo.

By Lubowa Babu Hussein

July 7, 2025 at 8:07 AM

2,696 views

Key Takeaways

Bob Arum asserts that Floyd Mayweather's undefeated record is flawed because Jose Luis Castillo clearly won their 2002 fight.
Arum criticizes the judges' decision as a 'travesty of scoring,' citing Harold Lederman's scorecard and punch statistics that favored Castillo.
Arum recalls that Mayweather's corner admitted defeat after the fight, and the crowd booed the decision.
Despite Mayweather winning the rematch uncontroversially, Arum maintains that the first fight outcome was incorrect and should count as a loss for Mayweather.

Floyd Mayweather's undefeated record of 50-0 has long been a cornerstone of his boxing legacy, but not everyone agrees it's deserved. Veteran promoter Bob Arum, who played a key role in Mayweather's early career, has publicly stated that the boxing legend's spotless resume should have included at least one loss.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Arum revisited Mayweather's April 2002 fight against Jose Luis Castillo, calling the judges' decision "a travesty of scoring." Arum highlighted HBO analyst Harold Lederman's scorecard, which favored Castillo 116-111, and pointed to punch statistics that he believes clearly supported the Mexican fighter's victory.

"After watching that fight, I got in the ring and went to Mayweather's corner," Arum recalled. "I commiserated with them. I told them that one loss wouldn't destroy their career. They thought they'd lost."

Arum also criticized the ringside judges for their unanimous scores of 116-111, 115-111, and 115-111 in favor of Mayweather. "The judges not only found for Mayweather unanimously, they scored it as if it wasn't even close. What kind of absurd scoring is that?" he said.

The promoter further emphasized the crowd's reaction that night, noting that fans booed the decision. Mayweather, visibly upset with his performance, quickly agreed to a rematch. "He's a smart boxing guy and knew he'd messed up," Arum added. "Castillo won that fight, eight rounds to four—no question."

Arum isn't alone in this belief. Many prominent figures in the sport have echoed his sentiment, arguing that Mayweather deserved to lose that night. However, the rematch eight months later saw Mayweather secure a clear and uncontroversial victory, further cementing his status as one of boxing's greatest.

Despite the debate, Mayweather's undefeated record remains intact, but Arum's comments have reignited discussions about one of the most contentious moments in the fighter's career.