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Topics: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Boxing
Joe Yates
Topics: Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Boxing
Muhammad Ali is generally considered to have been the greatest boxer to have ever lived, however, Floyd Mayweather seemingly disagrees.
Mayweather's reasoning was that he'd never tasted defeat in an incredible professional boxing career that saw him go 21 years without ever losing or drawing, as he stepped away from the game in 2017 with an impeccable record of 50 matches and 50 wins.
While Ali recorded 5 losses in his time, the first to Joe Frazier in 1971 at a time when his record was 31 - 0, the legendary boxer came back to beat Smokin' Joe two times, in 1974 and 1975, and claim victory in the epic trilogy.
Ali, who's nickname is 'The Greatest', rounded his 61-bout career off with 56 wins, 37 of which were knockouts - 10 more than Mayweather.
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However, one person disagreed with Mayweather's claim - 'Iron Mike' himself.
Mayweather first staked his claim to being the greatest boxer of all time prior to his fight with Manny Pacquiao back in 2015.
“I feel like I have done just as much in the sport as Ali,” Mayweather said to First Post.
“It is hard for a guy to be like me, still sharp at 38. No disrespect to Ali, but I feel like I am the best."
He added: "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."
Five years later, it became apparent that Mayweather does still consider himself as the best of all time.
While appearing on the Club Shay Shay podcast back in 2020, hosted by three-time Super Bowl champion Shannon Sharpe, Mayweather insisted that he had 'accomplished more than every fighter in the history of boxing'.
"Is Ali the same fighter that got beat by a fighter with seven fights? Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali when he only had seven fights?" the 48-year-old said.
"And if we really tell the truth, what's the heavyweight guy that Ali fought three times? Ken Norton actually. Ken Norton beat Ali all three times - go back and look at the fights."
When asked about Mayweather's comments in 2015, Tyson replied: "He's very delusional. Listen, if he was anywhere near that realm of great Ali he'd be able to take his kids to school by himself. Okay?
"He can't take his kid to school by himself, and he's talking about he's great? Greatness is not guarding himself from
the people, greatness is being accepted by the people.
"He can't take his kids alone to school by himself. He's a little scared man, he's a very small scared man. I mean we just telling the truth... and I love Ali, of course."
Tyson has always made his admiration of Ali clear, having previously described him as the 'greatest of all time', even promising Ali that he'd win against Larry Holmes in their 1988 fight.
And the feelings appeared to be mutual, as Ali said of Tyson: "It’s very nice of him to pay a good compliment, but the man is a great."
UNILAD has contacted Mayweather's representatives for comment.