A retired boxing icon believes he was a greater fighter than Floyd Mayweather Jr ever was.
‘Money’ Mayweather is one of the few fighters in boxing history to retire from the sport with an unblemished record, having defeated all 50 of the opponents he faced during his exceptional professional career.
Throughout his tenure, Mayweather captured world titles across five weight divisions, ranging from super-featherweight to light-middleweight. He defeated an abundance of generational greats throughout his 50-fight career, including the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao, who he fought in ‘The Fight Of The Century’ 10-years ago.
He announced his retirement from boxing in 2017, just a short while after he beat MMA superstar Conor McGregor in their huge crossover bout which took place in August of that year.
Mayweather refers to himself as ‘The Best Ever’, however, there is one retired legend of the sport who believes he belongs in the argument for being the greatest fighter ever ahead of ‘Money’.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Roberto Duran, who is known more commonly as ‘Hands Of Stone’, was asked where he ranks himself as an all-time-great.
“I feel I am the number one. I’m the number one in the world, that’s what I think.”
Duran was then asked if he believes he could have beaten Mayweather Jr.
“Floyd Mayweather learned my style, and he didn’t go nowhere. If he fights me, I will defeat him.”
Duran is undoubtedly one of the most decorated fighters in boxing history. The Panamanian legend won world titles in four weight classes, as well as the undisputed championship at lightweight. Throughout his 33-year career, Duran fought an incredible 119 times, claiming 103 victories whilst beating the likes of Iran Barkley, Sugar Ray Leonard and Carlos Palomino.
