Floyd Mayweather Jr believes that he is higher than Muhammad Ali in the list of the greatest boxers of all time.
Ali is widely regarded as the best fighter ever, while many believe that Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest pound for pound boxer in the ring.
However, Mayweather, who is deemed one of the best of his generation, is confident that he ranks higher than the two legends of the sport.
"No-one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali was better than me," Mayweather told ESPN. "No-one could ever brainwash me and tell me that.
"But one thing I will do - I'm going to take my hat off to them and respect those guys because those are the guys that paved the way for me to be where I'm at today."
The 38-year-old tried to back up his claims by drawing on the fact that he has won titles in five weight classes, while Ali, who remains the only man to win the world heavyweight title three times, fought in just one division.
"He only ever fought in one weight class," Mayweather added. "Leon Spinks beat him when he had seven fights. They'd never put a fighter in there with Floyd Mayweather with seven fights."
Mayweather will take on Manny Pacquiao in what is expected to be the richest bout in history on May 2 in Las Vegas.
Danielle Joynson
