Mike Tyson Does Not Believe Floyd Mayweather Jr To Be Boxing’s GOAT

Heavyweight legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson has recently gone on record stating that he doesn’t believe Floyd Mayweather Jr to be the greatest boxer of all-time, and that he can’t understand why so many give him that claim.

Tyson listed a couple names he believes should be on the list ahead of Mayweather:

“Floyd’s a great fighter, don’t get me wrong, but he had 50 fights. Listen, ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson had 47 fights, he lost one, and he had a 78-fight winning streak, with like, 60 knockouts.

“Don’t tell me about you’re the greatest fighter with 50-0. He’s a great fighter no doubt about it, but 50-0? Chavez had 90 (fights unbeaten), he was fighting like eight times a year against whoever fought him, against whoever was in the rankings.”

He’s not wrong either. Robinson made it to 40-0 before suffering his first defeat, a unanimous decision to Jake LaMotta, which he avenged just two fights later, and also won the trilogy two years later.

Fast forward nearly 100 fights, and the only blemishes were two draws and a no contest. He made to to 128-1-2 (1 NC), dominating his landscape for nearly a decade. Robinson continued fighting for twenty years after his first defeat, retiring in 1965 with a record of 173-19-6 (2 NC).

Tyson was spot on about Julio Cesar Chavez‘ career as well, as he made it to 89-0-1 before suffering his first defeat. Hell, he didn’t have that draw until his 88th fight that he walked into with a record of 87-0.

Chavez’ first defeat was a split decision to Frankie Randall, which he avenged via TKO in his very next fight. He wouldn’t lose again until he fought Oscar De La Hoya, dropping his record to 96-2-1.

Chavez eventually retired with a record of 107-6-2 in 2005.

There was also an undefeated Thai boxer by the name of Wanheng Menayothin, who was 54-0 up until last year, dropping a unanimous decision to Panya Pradabsri. Rocky Marciano retired with a perfect record of 49-0 as well, although that of course doesn’t surpass 50.

There may have been others that have surpassed Mayweather, but that doesn’t take away from what he did, and who he did it against. Mayweather is the best defensive fighter of all-time out of any combat sport, can’t we all just agree on that?

Do you believe Floyd Mayweather Jr is the greatest boxer of all-time?