A former world champion that retired with an unbeaten record believes he is the greatest fighter of all time ahead of the late, great Muhammad Ali.
Ali, who earned the right to be called ‘The Greatest’ during his glittering professional career, is widely considered to be the best fighter to have ever laced up the gloves, entering the paid ranks back in 1960 after he captured a light heavyweight gold medal at the Summer Games in Rome.
The Louisville-native would go on to win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions during his tenure, rising to stardom between the 1960s and 1970s where he defeated the likes of Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston and George Foreman.
Whilst Ali proved his outstanding credentials time and time again throughout the course of his storied career, there is another legendary American fighter that believes he is even better than the heavyweight icon.
In an interview with The First Post, Floyd Mayweather made a shock admission where he claims he deserves to be ranked higher than Ali, having remained unbeaten in all 50 of his professional bouts.
“I feel like I have done just as much in the sport as Ali. No disrespect to Ali, but I feel like I am the best. Ali lost in his career to Leon Spinks. He lost some other fights and is still known as the greatest. That is what it is.”
Mayweather established himself as a pound-for-pound superstar during the 2000s, capturing world titles in five weight classes before his retirement in 2017.
He racked up victories over a number of legendary fighters along the way, including the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao to name just several.
Mayweather is now set for a shock bout against Mike Tyson in 2026, and the heavyweight legend has spoken out in the past about his newfound rival’s claim that he is better than Ali.
