Floyd Mayweather was unhappy to learn that a list of top welterweights of all time didn't place him top of the pile.
The legendary 50-0 boxer is one of the sport's most iconic and famed stars, but in a list sent to him by a friend, Mayweather was placed below Sugar Ray Leonard. Also a legendary former champion, Leonard is considered by many to be considered one of the greatest fighters in history.
However, Mayweather feels he should be ranked higher after a career in which he faced a number of legends and top fighters, and never lost. Some of the names on his 50-0 script include Canelo Alvarez, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and even UFC legend Conor McGregor, while he argues Leonard's initial loss to Roberto Duran is a major black mark on his ledger.
“It was crazy, someone sent me something about ‘The Best Welterweights’," Mayweather told Fight Hype. “They had Sugar Ray Leonard No1. Like I said before, he was the guy that paved the way for myself. But how can you have a guy ranked No1 when his first loss was to a lightweight, Roberto Duran?
“And then they also talked about me facing [Juan Manuel] Marquez, which was at catchweight of 144lbs. But this same guy, Marquez, knocked out their No3 ranked welterweight – because they had Pacquiao No3. He got knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez. They were trying to say that basically he [Marquez] was too small for me. But he wasn't too small for Manny Pacquiao?"
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Mayweather's legacy has taken a hit as he moves into competing in exhibition bouts with celebrities and MMA fighters, regardless of his iconic and lengthy career. However, he feels that he should be given more respect from those who put together the lists, insisting that they are not experts in the sport.
“It’s crazy how all these ratings go nowadays. Of course, fighters are going to always say, ‘I would’ve done this, I should be ranked here.’ But a lot of these so-called boxing experts, it’s just crazy how these guys are experts. If you’re an expert, you’ve got to really do your homework before you speak on certain things about boxing.”
Mayweather is currently gearing up for the latest stop on his retirement world tour of exhibitions; a bout with YouTube star Deji who has a record of 1-3 in all boxing competition. He will go head-to-head with the Brit for the first time tonight in Las Vegas before a London press conference next month and a November 12 bout at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
