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Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao: Mike Tyson launches attack on 'little scared man' Mayweather for Muhammad Ali comparison

Iron Mike was angered by comparison to 'The Greatest'

Friday 01 May 2015 16:37 BST

Mike Tyson spoke in Las Vegas (UCN)

Mike Tyson has launched an astonishing attack on Floyd Mayweather, calling the unbeaten American a "little scared man" and "delusional" for comparing himself to Muhammad Ali in the build-up to Saturday's super-fight against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

"He's very delusional," the ferocious former heavyweight champion said. "He can't listen. If he was anywhere near that realm of greatness with Ali, he'd be able to take his children to school by himself

"He can't take his children to school by himself and you're talking about he's great? Greatness is not guarding himself from the people. Greatness is being accepted by the people.

"He's a little scared man. He's a very small, scared man."

Last week, welterweight Mayweather, who is unbeaten in all of his 47 professional fights, reiterated his claim that he is a better fighter than Ali, widely known as "The Greatest".

"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.

Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

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1/10Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Mike Tyson (Pacquiao)

Iron Mike thinks Pacquiao will win because he throws more punches. "Floyd doesn't throw anywhere near 100 punches a round. He is more of a scientific fighter, he really plots a lot, he poses whereas Pacquiao is feinting and moving around. That's just my opinion, Pacquiao has perpetual motion he's all over the god damn place."

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

George Foreman (Pacquiao)

"If we’ve got good judges this time, it's go Pacquiao," said Foreman. "Mayweather starts off early kind of looking for his timing and ... Pacquiao will pot shot him and get ahead on points and he’ll stay ahead. He’ll slow down later on and Mayweather will take on the more aggression but he doesn’t have a right hand. He’ll hurt his right hand. He can't get a knockout. So he’ll just have to cruise on in and win or lose the fight just by a couple of points."

Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Oscar De La Hoya (Pacquiao)

De La Hoya, who has fought both, nods in Pacquaio's direction...but only "if he can start well in the first two rounds, then the fight can go in his direction."

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Ricky Hatton (Mayweather...just)

Hatton said: "Manny has been in some real wars and that gives Floyd the slight advantage."

Jon Super

Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Nigel Benn (Mayweather)

Benn: "This fight is going to make Mayweather who he is. I believe that he has not got the recognition."

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Kell Brook (Mayweather)

"I'm leaning towards Floyd Mayweather," Brook said. "He's never lost before, he knows how to win and it's in Vegas. I think Mayweather is going to control the pace and I think he's too clever for Manny Pacquiao."

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Amir Khan (Mayweather)

"Mayweather will be smart and keep moving, so I think he will get a good unanimous win," Khan said.

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Shane Mosley (Mayweather)

"I think Mayweather’s going to out-point Pacquiao by moving, evading punches, and being able to do combinations and stuff like that," Mosley said.

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Miguel Cotto (Pacquiao)

"I'm rooting for Manny Pacquiao. I think the quickness of Manny is going to have a big impact on Floyd's performance," he said.

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Mayweather or Pacquiao? Boxing greats and current fighters make their predictions

Ronda Rousey (Pacquiao)

The unbeaten UFC fighter is backing Paquiao.

Josh Hedges / Zuffa LLC

"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.

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"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."

The contest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is expected to generate more than £300m for the pair, with the split going 60/40 in Mayweather's favour.

VIDEO: MAYWEATHER VS PACQUIAO - IN NUMBERS

Mayweather, 38, is an 11-time, five-weight world champion, while the Filipino Pacquiao, 36, has won versions of the world title at a record eight different weights.

VIDEO: THE FIVE BEST BETS

The fight will be broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office for UK viewers. The fight will cost £19.95 to purchase on Box Office, and will cost an additional £2 booking fee for those who book on the day.

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