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Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao: Mayweather reiterates he's better than Muhammad Ali and ignores Freddie Roach jibe

Mayweather calls himself 'The Best Ever' and chose not to respond to Roach's claim that the mega-fight is between 'good and evil'

Thursday 23 April 2015 19:07 BST

Floyd Mayweather at his final open training session (Getty Images)

Floyd Mayweather has defended his claim that he is a superior boxer to Muhammad Ali as the countdown to his £332million clash with Manny Pacquiao continues.

Mayweather, unbeaten in 47 fights and favourite to extend that record against Pacquiao in Las Vegas on May 2, is scathing of the five losses Ali endured during a celebrated career spanning 56 bouts.

While the comments made during an international conference call on Wednesday night will not win him any new fans, the 38-year-old is unconcerned by the criticism he knows he will receive.

Great boxing rivalries

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1/10Great boxing rivalries

Great boxing rivalries

Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier – 1971, 1974 & 1975

Possibly one of the greatest rivalries of all time, not just in boxing but in any sport. These two titans met three times, with Ali taking home the spoils 2-1. The first was known as the ‘Fight of the Century’ in which two undisputed title holders came together, it ended with Frazier winning after 15 rounds via unanimous decision. The final fight was dubbed ‘Thrilla in Manilla’, where Ali retained all three of his heavyweight titles.

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Great boxing rivalries

Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling – 1936 & 1938

Among two of boxing’s most historical fights. With Schmeling’s origins of Nazi Germany, these two represented something a little more than just two heavyweight boxers at their peak coming together. Louis was undefeated coming into the first fight while Schmeling already had 60 fights under his belt. The German won it with a 12th round knockout. By the time the pair met again, Louis had won the world Heavyweight title. It only took him one round to knock out Schmeling. Louis’ performances gained him national recognition and became one of America’s first African American heroes.

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Great boxing rivalries

Micky Ward v Arturo Gatti – 2002, 2002 & 2003

The first time these two met proved to be The Ring Magazine’s ‘Fight of the Year’. A famous left hook body shot in the ninth brought Gatti to his knees and proved the deciding factor in the judges’ decision. A rematch was agreed immediately with Gatti knocking Ward down in third, however the American managed to finish the fight before losing by decision. The final fight also won The Ring Magazine’s fight of the year, Ward knocked down Gatti in the sixth, but before the referee could count to ten, the bell sounded. Gatti was able to come back and win via unanimous decision.

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Great boxing rivalries

Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank – 1990 & 1993

In what was initially a fierce domestic rivalry, became one of world interest between these two British greats. Eubank was originally the challenger and began shouting out for Benn after only 10 fights. After winning his WBO middleweight title, Benn agreed to face Eubank. With each fighter saying they were going to knock the other one out, it was the challenger that actually did. With a technical knockout in the ninth round. The re-match was watched by half a billion people worldwide, with both defending titles it was so even, it ended in a draw.

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Great boxing rivalries

Gene Tunney v Jack Dempsey – 1926 & 1927

Fighting twice, these bouts have gone down as two of the most famous in boxing history. Tunney won the first over 10 rounds via unanimous decision. The second is why these two were forever known in boxing history. In the seventh round Dempsey threw a flurry of punches to knock Tunney down for the first time in his career. The referee couldn’t count until Dempsey had reached a neutral corner. He didn’t oblige, buying Tunney valuable time. Tunney managed to rise at a time many say was over ten seconds. This is why the fight is known as the Long Count. Tunney went on to knock down Dempsey in the eighth and win by unanimous decision.

Great boxing rivalries

Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez – 2004, 2008, 2011 & 2012

One of the greatest modern day rivalries which will go on to be imprinted in boxing’s history. Having fought four times to this day, Pacquiao has won two, Marquez one and the other being a draw. Marquez winning the most recent with a sixth round knockout, handing the Pac-Man back to back defeats. The Ring Magazine awarded it not only ‘Fight of the Year’ but also ‘Knockout of the Year’.

Great boxing rivalries

Ken Norton v Muhammad Ali - 1973, 1973 & 1976

Ali’s second defeat came to the man known as ‘The Black Hercules’. In what was their first fight, Ali was the 5-1 favourite and had won 10 fights since his first lost to Frazier. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in the fight, despite The Greatest carrying on, he lost on a split decision. Six months later, Ali avenged Norton winning also on a split decision and re-gaining his NABF Heavyweight title. The third and final fight was some three years later after Rumble in the Jungle, Ali won via unanimous decision.

Great boxing rivalries

Marco Antonio Barrera v Erik Morales - 2000, 2002 & 2004

Involving two of more modern days most famous Mexican boxers, the Barrera v Morales trilogy is a famous one, spanning over three different classes. Their first fight was in the super-bantamweight division with both holding titles. Morales won the first on a close split decision. Deciding to move up classes, Morales went to Featherweight, where again he met Barrera for a title match. This time Barrera won, in what was Morales’ first ever career defeat. The third and final time they met was in the Super-Featherweight division, where again Morales lost and with it his WBC title.

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Great boxing rivalries

Riddick Bowe v Evander Holyfield - 1992, 1993 & 1995

These two Heavyweight giants came together three times in a famous blockbuster conquest. In the first fight, Holyfield walked in with Lineal, WBC, WBA & IBF Heavyweight titles having beaten Buster Douglas and George Foreman. Bowe had never tasted defeat and to everyone’s surprise, won via unanimous decision. The re-match went the distance with Holyfield winning on a split decision. This was Bowe’s first and only career defeat. The third, unlike the other two, was ended after eight rounds when Bowe knocked out Holyfield.

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Great boxing rivalries

Sugar Ray Leonard v Thomas Hearns – 1981 & 1989

These two first met in a heavyweight clash with both boxers’ welterweight titles on the line. Ray Leonard known for his boxing skill, and Hearns for his vicious punching. The epic battle lasted 14 rounds before Leonard unleashed a series of punches, forcing the ref to stop the fight. The re-match, known as ‘The War’, had both fighters again holding titles, this time in the super-middleweight class. After 12 rounds of back and forth punishment, the fight was scored as a judge’s draw. The two never fought again with Hearns moving to light-heavyweight.

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"No disrespect to Muhammad Ali, but he did it in one division. I just look at Ali's career when he fought Leon Spinks and lost to a fighter with seven fights," Mayweather said.

"There were some other fights he lost and he's still known as The Greatest because that's what he put out there. It is what it is.

"He called himself The Greatest and I call myself TBE (The Best Ever). I'm pretty sure I'll get criticised for what I said, but I couldn't care less. I could care less about the backlash."

Mayweather's boast will have done little to prove as inaccurate the role of bad guy given to him by Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer who is billing the showdown at the MGM Grand as a battle between good and evil.

"I'm not fighting Freddie Roach, I'm fighting Manny Pacquiao. He's trying to get his fighter the edge," Mayweather said.

"He's basically making it a god against a devil kind of thing, but he doesn't have to get in there and fight.

"He's entitled to say what he wants to say, but the fighters aren't speaking like that and it comes down to the two fighters.

"I'm not going to speak negatively about Freddie Roach because I'll be accused of picking on someone who isn't 100 per cent healthy (in reference to the Parkinson's disease suffered by Roach)."

Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach (Getty Images)

Mayweather has offered few crumbs to Britain's Amir Khan, who is desperate to face the pound for pound king before he retires.

"I believe in taking it one fight at a time. Manny Pacquiao is the guy in front of me right now and that's my focus. My last fight will be in September, but I don't want to overlook anyone," Mayweather said.

PA

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