Duran vs Leonard. AP Photo
Roberto Duran, a Hall of Famer who is considered as the greatest lightweight in the history of boxing, doesn’t agree with Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s claim of being “The Best Ever.”
Hands of Stone told BoxingScene.com that he’s the best fighter ever to concoct the Beautiful Science, pointing his years of in boxing across five decades.
“No, he is not [the best ever], I feel I’m the number one, the number one in the world [on the all-time pound-for-pound list],” Duran said.
Mayweather finished his career at 49-0 after a decision victory over Andre Berto in September.
Duran, who only had one loss in his 73 fights, has a professional record of 103-16 with 70 knockouts. He fought the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.
“I fought in five decades, I am a six-time world champion in four weight divisions and at that time we used to fight 15 rounds,” Duran told BoxingScene.com.
He added Mayweather’s defensive style was something the American only learned from him and if they fought in each other’s prime, he would defeat Mayweather.
“Floyd Mayweather learned my style. He learned my style and he didn’t go nowhere [in using it]. If he were to fight me, I would defeat him. As I’ve always said, Floyd Mayweather would have never become anything during my time period,” Duran said.