Who Was Better? Muhammad Ali or Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR

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By Jeffrey “Italian Medallion” Cellini

Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR. has been one of the biggest names, not only in the boxing industry, but in all of professional sports for the past two decades. Mayweather, JR. had occupied the number one position in the pound-for-pound rankings for a good portion of his career. Retiring in 2015 with an undefeated record (49-0) has had many boxing pundits question where he ranks among the all-time greats in pugilistic history. Floyd had fantastic accomplishments during his career, including becoming a five-division world champion and winning twelve world titles. Among his many other accolades, he had defeated many of the other great fighters of his generation including Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, and Manny Pacquiao, all of whom also were highly rated during their professional careers.

Several of the world’s top boxing publications have recognized Floyd Mayweather, JR. as the best fighter over the last 25 years, and have either listed him as the greatest or one of the greatest welterweight champions of all-time.

No one can deny that Floyd Mayweather, JR. was a gifted fighter with exceptional defensive skills, and a master technician in the ring. Unfairly, his critics like to argue that the champion ran and dodged his opponents in the squared circle, yet there have been marvelous displays of counterpunching his strongest competitors in the ring, with his fights against Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto standing out the most. What hurts Mayweather’s image though is the lack of a fight that produced the drama of a thrilling spectacle for the fans. Some of his best fights are often talked more about the controversial scoring rather than an epic exchange of punches that had spectators screaming on their feet. Great fights often make fighters great. Truthfully, despite the fact that Floyd Mayweather won a number of Fighter-of-the-Year awards throughout his career, none of his fights are labeled as timeless classics.

Muhammad Ali (3-Time World Heavyweight champion) won the title twice against two foes that were practically deemed invincible at that time, namely Sonny Liston and George Foreman. Ali sought out the biggest challenges and overcame the fiercest competitors to lay claim to being the ‘greatest ever’. He won the heavyweight title two times as an underdog when he faced two men that were seemly unbeatable. He defended his title nine times during his first reign as champion (before being stripped of belt), and had another successful ten title defenses during his second reign Muhammad Ali never fought exclusively in the United States, but fought and defended his title all over the world.

Unfortunately, Floyd Mayweather, JR. never pushed the envelope when it came to making matches where he was a considerable underdog versus his opponent, nor ventured outside the United States (primarily Las Vegas), into unfamiliar territory. “Money” never went against the odds, often waited for favorable circumstances in his career. Mayweather waited countless years before deciding to sign a big contract to fight his main rival, Manny Pacquiao, in the biggest fight of his career. Unfortunately, many fans criticize Floyd for waiting years before agreeing to the mega showdown, claiming Mayweather had waited until the Pac-man’s skills started to erode. To lay claim to being the ‘greatest’, one has to venture outside his comfort zone and push his abilities to the limit. Somehow, Floyd Mayweather, JR. never answered this calling, but always waiting until he was either the slight- or prohibitive favorite for bettors before taking on his challengers.

People are often labeled as ‘great’ in their fields of expertise when they overcome the unthinkable, or accomplish the unbelievable. For many, perhaps just doing what has already been done but to do it more perfect is not merely enough in the eyes of the public. Many fighters have won world titles in multiple divisions, and have also beaten a handful of other world champions. Some fighters have finished their careers with an unblemished record. Alexander the Great is not legendary because he won battles, but that he won them in astonishingly fashion. Thomas Jefferson is not praised for just writing any piece of good literature, but a new masterpiece that had set a new precedent for the world. To be great takes more than doing the ordinary better than everyone else. It is standing out among the crowd by doing the unimaginable, and doing it in grand fashion.

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