Mayweather: “I’m better than Muhammad Ali and “Sugar Ray Robinson”

By Jason Kim: Unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO’s) was in fine form in HBO’s Mayweather/Mosley 24/7 episode 2, saying “I think I’m better than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson” at one point in the broadcast. I don’t know if Mayweather actually believes this or not, but if so, he’s got a lot of work to do to get to rack of the same accomplishments as those two fighters. Robison finished his career with a record of 173-196, 108 KOs, and at one point in his career had a record of 128-1. That’s an incredible record, and I can’t imagine Mayweather ever coming close to equalizing such an accomplishment.

Mayweather would have to fight all the time and beat the top guys over and over again without stop. I don’t think Mayweather would have be able to take the punishment of fighting often and would likely start taking losses at some point long before he even gets near 100. I liked to see Mayweather accomplish what Robinson and Ali did in their careers, but I see Mayweather as a difference kind of fighter.

He’s more of a businessman than a true sportsman like Ali and Robinson. Those two fighters always were looking to fight the best guys that they possibly could. I may be wrong, but I can’t see either Ali or Robinson asking for one of their opponents to take a random blood test. I think both of them would fight anyone no matter what the circumstances where. That seemed to be their personality.

Mayweather says “No one has a chance to beat me.” On May 1st, Shane Mosley is going to try to be the first fighter to accomplish that. Mayweather hasn’t taken on a really dangerous opponent in some time, beating the smaller Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton in his last two fights. Before that, it was an older Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley may be getting up there in age at 38, but he’s still easily the best opponent that Mayweather has faced in many years dating back to 2002 when Mayweather beat a prime Jose Luis Castillo in 2002.

On top of that, Mayweather has fought only once in the past three years, beating Marquez last year in September. That’s a lot of time away from the ring and his fight against Marquez, who is a great fighter, really wasn’t all that competitive due to the size advantage that Mayweather had in the fight.