Boxing Legend Thomas Hearns Says Floyd Mayweather Isn’t The Best Unless He Fight Manny Pacquiao Or Amir Khan
Boxing legend Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, who won eight world titles in six weight classes, said that Floyd Mayweather cannot be considered as the best fighter unless he face the likes of Manny Pacquiao or Amir Khan. The retired boxer wants Mayweather to fight the best fighters of the current generation before he hangs up his gloves.
A super fight against between Mayweather and Pacquiao has long-been talked about but it never really come to fruition. Although Mayweather has managed to stay undefeated in all his 47 fights, it would mean nothing if he doesn't face Pacquiao in the ring, Manchester Evening News reports.
Hearns thinks Mayweather's unbeaten record is nothing. "I can't say he's the best," Hearns said. The eight-time world champion acknowledged that Mayweather has done a lot more than other fighters. He said that Mayweather has made a lot of money in his fights. Mayweather pocketed $115 million from his fights with Saul Alvarez and Robert Guerrero. In his first fight with Marcos Maidana in May, Mayweather was guaranteed $32 million.
However, Hearns believe that Mayweather should beat fighters that are of higher standard. He said that the Grand Rapids native boxer only fights the same people. "He's winning massively and he's just taking the fights he wants."
Like every boxing fan's dream, Hearns said that he likes to see Mayweather fight Pacquiao in the ring. He also said that Amir Khan, who has been chasing a fight with Mayweather, would also present an amenable opponent for the undefeated five-division world champion.
Mayweather still has a couple of fights left in his lucrative deal with Showtime. He fought twice in 2014 against Argentine fighter Maidana. He is expected to return in the boxing ring in 2015, but the identity of his next opponent is still not known.
Hearns fought professionally from 1977 until his retirement in 2006. He has fought the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley, Nate Miller, and Uriah Grant. Hearns was the first boxer to win world titles in four divisions. He was also the first boxer to win five world titles in five different weight divisions. He has a record of 61-5-1.