Floyd Mayweather is one of the most self-confident figures in any sport, and he has never been shy about stating his claim for being considered the greatest boxer of all time.
While many might name a heavyweight icon such as Muhammad Ali or a prime Mike Tyson as the most skilled and fearsome fighter in the sport's history, Mayweather's résumé is extremely impressive.
The 48-year-old retired with a perfect record of 50 wins and no losses after a 10th-round TKO win over UFC superstar Conor McGregor in 2017.
Across his 21-year career, he recorded 27 knockouts and won 15 major world titles spanning five weight classes, from super featherweight to light middleweight.
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He was named the Boxer of the Decade for the 2010s by the Boxing Writers' Association of American and he was twice named Ring magazine's Fighter of the Year.
In 2016, ESPN ranked Mayweather the greatest boxer of the past 25 years.
"I knew from the very beginning I was the best in boxing, from day one," Mayweather said in an interview to promote an exhibition bout with YouTuber Jake Paul in 2021.
"I just knew I was better than every other fighter. And to this day, there will never be another fighter better than me. Never.
"You tell me another fighter that beat 16 world champions straight. Just tell me. That's all I ask.
"I was world champion 20 years."
Mayweather also defended his decision to take on Paul in the exhibition fight, which – as it was unscored – ended in a draw after eight rounds.
"I would [rather] have the currency than the legacy, my legacy is already engraved in stone," he said.
“They say, ‘Mayweather’s doing exhibitions, it’s bad for boxing.’
“At the end of the day, my mother’s a millionaire, my dad’s a millionaire, my children are millionaires.
“My little [five-month-old] grandson is a multi-millionaire and he don’t even know it.
"I’ve made a billion. I’ve reached that four years ago. [Now I’m] over $1.2billion. I knew from the beginning I was the best in boxing, from day one."
Topics: Floyd Mayweather, Boxing
Ryan Baldi