Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Henry Bruseles met in a WBC World Super-lightweight Title Eliminator fight on Saturday, January 22, 2005, at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Promoted by Top Rank, the bout was expected to be an easy victory for Mayweather. The fight proved to be one-sided as Mayweather dominated Bruseles throughout the bout.
Mayweather, a former WBC super featherweight and lightweight champion, had moved to the 140-pound division, where he had won his previous fight. Against Bruseles, Mayweather improved his record to 33-0 with 22 KOs. Mayweather set up a proposed June bout with WBC champion Arturo Gatti, assuming Gatti got past James Leija in the following weekend's fight.
Bruseles, who had a record of 21-2-1, was overmatched and never threatened Mayweather. Mayweather methodically battered Bruseles from the start of the fight, and it was only a matter of time before the inevitable knockout came. The end for Bruseles came late in the eighth round as referee Jorge Alonzo stopped the fight just before the round expired.
Mayweather delivered a right uppercut with less than a minute left in the round, forcing a standing eight-count. After Bruseles gathered himself, Mayweather strutted forward before unleashing a left hook to finish off his opponent. The ringside doctor had Alonzo stop the one-sided affair with five seconds left in the round.
