Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao Fight: Muhammad Ali Reminds ‘Money’ Mayweather, ‘I Am The Greatest’
With Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao getting ready to square off in the ring, it seems as though fans of boxing have the perfect villain to root against. While people everywhere are getting excited to see these two boxers finally go head to head, the fight couldn’t come at a better time for a sport that is suffering in the popularity department.
However, despite the good attention that the fight is garnering, the media has also focused on Mayweather’s troubled past, the New York Daily News is reporting. Mayweather has an awful history of domestic abuse charges that several media outlets have been quick to delve into.
In fact, in ESPN’s Outside the Lines report, the broadcasting company focused on Mayweather’s past confrontations with women, many of which turned violent. These instances include Floyd Mayweather’s conviction in 2011 for domestic abuse charges against Josie Harris, who is the mother of his children.
With Mayweather’s abusive history in mind, many are actually boycotting the fight because of Mayweather’s past. “I will not promote, watch nor report on Mayweather’s fight,” ESPN’s John Saunders stated. “Because of his history with domestic violence, if the cable company came to my home and paid me to watch the fight, and hooked it up, and gave me surround sound, they could not get me to watch this fight.”
As is usual when it comes to the week before a big fight, Mayweather has been silent regarding the domestic issues. According to the New York Daily News, Mayweather and his media team will likely make sure the controversial topics aren’t brought up in interviews leading up to the fight.
Speaking of controversy, “Money” Mayweather recently ruffled more feathers when he stated that he was the greatest when it comes to the sport of boxing. His comments caused a reaction from none other than Muhammad Ali. The Washington Post reported, that the legendary boxer took to Twitter to express his views.
“Don’t you forget, I am the greatest! #Muhammad Ali,” the legendary boxer wrote. Despite Ali’s feelings, George Foreman agrees with Mayweather.
“Pound for pound, Floyd is better than me and Muhammad Ali ever were,” the former boxer told TMZ. “This is a better generation [of fighters] by far. They’re smarter, they’re stronger, they’re overall just better fighters.”
For his part, Mayweather isn’t short on hubris. “No one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali was better than me,” Floyd Mayweather explained to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. “No one could ever brainwash me and tell me that.”
[Image via Stephen Dunn/Getty]
