DURING A VISIT to the ESPN Deportes studios to promote his upcoming fight against Andre Berto, Floyd Mayweather was asked to name his top five boxers of all time.
It won’t come as much of a surprise to readers to learn that Mayweather selected himself at number one, but his decision to put Muhammad Ali as low as fifth certainly raised our eyebrows.
“We’re not going to be biased,” said Mayweather, before kicking things off by slotting himself into top spot.
Referring to himself in the third person, like every arrogant sportsman should, Mayweather explained his reasoning for putting himself at the top of the list.
“He’s beaten more world champions than any other fighter right here,” said Mayweather. “He’s done it in a shorter period of time than any other fighter up here, and he’s done it with less fights than any other fighter up here.
“Record-breaking numbers all around the board: pay-per-view, live gate, landed punches on the highest percentage and took less punishment. Done it in 19 years and been world champion 18 years. Done it in five different weight classes.”
One of the show’s presenters didn’t seem too impressed by Mayweather’s decision to leave Muhammad Ali off the summit of the list, to which the undefeated 38-year-old said: ”Muhammad Ali lost to Leon Spinks and Leon Spinks only had seven fights when he beat him.”
Ali had to settle for trailing behind Roberto Duran, Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez, while there was no room on the list for Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Leonard or Henry Armstrong.
Mayweather said: “Julio Cesar Chavez was 79-0 before he lost and he went to different weight classes. Muhammad Ali was only at one weight class. And Ali really lost all three times to Ken Norton. This is me just being honest.
“What Ali did was he stood for a cause in an era when African-Americans didn’t stand up for their people. He stood up for a strong cause in his era. Ali was the greatest for standing up in an era when black people didn’t stand up for each other.”
