Floyd Mayweather Jr. has never been one to shy away from controversy, and during a recent appearance on ESPN, he delivered an impassioned response after being ranked below Muhammad Ali in the pound-for-pound greatest of all-time rankings. Despite expressing admiration for Ali’s legacy, Mayweather argued that in terms of pure boxing ability, he was the superior fighter.

While acknowledging Ali’s impact both inside and outside the ring, Mayweather drew a distinction between their careers. He praised Ali’s charisma, his famous victories such as the “Rumble in the Jungle” against George Foreman, and his principled stance against the Vietnam War. However, Mayweather believes his own undefeated 50-0 record, combined with his ability to “hit and not get hit,” places him above the heavyweight icon when it comes to boxing skills.

“What are we judging fighters on?” Mayweather asked, pointing out that while Ali stood for great causes, he also lost his world title to a fighter with only seven bouts, referring to Leon Spinks. “If we’re talking about record-breaking, we have to look at the facts. I didn’t get into this sport for forty years to say there’s another fighter better than me.”

When the ESPN hosts countered by bringing up the thrill of Ali’s legendary bout with Joe Frazier in the “Thrilla in Manila,” Mayweather dismissed the notion that exciting fights should define greatness. He criticized Ali’s “Rope-a-Dope” strategy, emphasizing that taking unnecessary punishment should not be praised. Mayweather pointed out that he retired with a perfect record, avoiding damage and making smart investments that secured his future.

In the end, Mayweather insisted that his ability to dominate opponents while staying unscathed made him unique. “I can make the extraordinary look ordinary,” he concluded. For Mayweather, the true measure of greatness is skill, longevity, and financial success—not just thrilling fights or standing up for causes.