Floyd Mayweather once made a bold assertion of being the greatest boxer in history, surpassing legends like Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
This drew sharp criticism boxing icon Mike Tyson. Known for his brutal honesty, Tyson branded Mayweather as “very delusional” for putting himself on the same pedestal as Ali.
Tyson highlighted Mayweather’s inability to perform everyday tasks independently, questioning Mayweather’s understanding of true greatness.
He said: “He’s very delusional. Listen, if he was anywhere near that realm of great as Muhammad Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself. OK, he can’t take his kids to school by himself, and he’s talking about he’s great? Greatness is not guarding yourself from the people. It’s being accepted by the people.”
“He can’t take his kids alone to school by himself. He’s a little scared man. He’s a very small, scared man.”
The former heavyweight champion further discredited Mayweather’s claims by stating that despite Mayweather’s accomplishments, he lacks the courage and stature that embody true greatness.
Mike Tyson was also questioned regarding a possible street brawl in his prime with Mayweather—with whom Tyson has a history of animosity. In response to that, he told GQ: “[I would] kick Floyd’s a**e… there wouldn’t even be no match.”
However, he did acknowledge Mayweather’s skill by saying that if he were the same size as Mayweather in the ring, Mayweather would likely outpoint him in a boxing match. He said: “[If] I was his size in the ring, he would outpoint me.”
Tyson’s admiration for Muhammad Ali shines through as he expresses deep respect for Ali’s commitment and dedication to the sport. In a heartfelt interview, Tyson was moved to tears.
He spoke openly about Ali on Michael Rapaport’s show in March 2019. He said: “I always like to think I’m a bad motherf**ker. A vicious motherf**ker,” he begun. “I don’t give a f**k, but that’s the part where Ali overshines me, because I can’t understand a man that’s willing to die for this. I talked the sh*t, but he’s the real deal.”
The 56-year-old then brushes off tears and refers to Ali as “a giant.” He acknowledged that no other boxer could measure up to Ali’s unparalleled commitment and readiness to lay everything on the line for the sport.
“Ali is a giant. There’s no way other fighters can match him. He’d die for this sh*t. I’m not going to die for this. That’s real talk. Ali is a savage, he’s an animal. He’s a different breed of person. He’s not like us.”