Boxing legend and cult hero Mike Tyson has hit back at Floyd Mayweather, as the former world champion made astonishing claims that he had ‘done as much in the sport as [Muhammad] Ali.’
Tyson, 58, responded to Mayweather’s claims brutally, calling him ‘delusional’.
Ali is widely regarded as the greatest boxer in history. Mayweather, however, isn't - although he was able to stay unbeaten during the course of his boxing career.
Ali won 56 of his 61 professional bouts, with his final fight and defeat coming at the hands of Trevor Berbick in 1981. He managed 37 knockouts in his career, but his impact on boxing goes far beyond titles and success.
Muhammad Ali is considered one of the greatest boxers in historyPAMayweather, on the other hand, retired from professional boxing in 2017 after his lucrative bout with former MMA champion Conor McGregor in which he reigned victorious once more to take his remarkable professional record to 50-0.
Within the record, ‘Money’ bested some big names within the industry, such as Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya, on his way to winning 15 major world championships across five different weight classes.
He was also labelled ‘Fighter of the Decade’ for the 2010s by BWAA and the ‘best pound-for-pound boxer of all time’ by ESPN.
Since his retirement, the 48-year-old has participated in multiple exhibition fights, fighting YouTube stars such as Logan Paul, Deji Olatunji and former Geordie Shore star Aaron Chalmers.
JUST IN: Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stoll make decision set to have huge impact on daughter Poppy
Floyd Mayweather in his famous bout with Manny Pacquiao
GETTYDespite this, during an interview with First Post, Mayweather said: "I feel like I've done just as much in the sport as Ali.
"It is hard for a guy like me, still sharp at 38. No disrespect to Ali, but I feel like I am the best. Ali lost in his career to Leon Spinks. He lost some other fights and is still known as the greatest. That is what it is."
Tyson was quick to put the theory to bed in a scathing YouTube interview, however, saying: "He's very delusional, he can't listen. If he was anywhere near that realm of great Ali he'd be able to take his kids to school by himself.
"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, greatness is being accepted by the people. He can't take his kids alone to school by himself. He's a little scared man... a very small scared man."
The fierce response from Tyson came as no surprise, as he firmly believes Ali to be the greatest to ever compete in the sport.
Tyson himself dabbled in an exhibition game last year, at the age of 58, losing to YouTube boxer Jake Paul on points. This was his first fight since the infamous loss to Kevin McBride in 2005.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Mike Tyson fought influencer Jake Paul last year
GettyMayweather’s comments come after Canelo Alvarez’s business manager, Richard Schaefer, claimed Alvarez could be the first boxer worth over $1billion by next year, surpassing Money's record.
Alvarez, 34, has only lost two of his 67 fights in his career - one of them at the hands of Mayweather in 2013.
Speaking to the Ring, Schaefer said: “Canelo is, without any question, the smartest businessman in boxing I have ever met.
“And we are going to get him over that next hurdle… He’s going to be the first fighter to break the billion-dollar net worth, I have zero questions about it. When? Probably next year.”
It is certainly not a record Mayweather will be overly thrilled with losing. However, his unbeaten record is going nowhere - so long as he stays retired.
