Roger Mayweather believed only one fighter in history was better than Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather is undoubtedly among the greatest boxers of all time. However, before his death, Roger Mayweather revealed that there was a man who ranked him higher than his nephew.

Floyd retired with an unbeaten record of 50-0 in 2017, but has recently been linked to a professional return and a potential rematch with rival Manny Pacquiao.

While a second win over ‘Pac-Man’ wouldn’t do much for his legacy, a ‘TBE’ return could eventually see Mayweather break Bernard Hopkins’ record as the oldest world champion of all time, if he is able to overcome his Filipino opponent and then get his hands on the belt.

Even if Mayweather adds this historical record to his vast collection of accomplishments in the sport, it is difficult to imagine that it would be enough to change the mind of his late uncle and former coach.

Speaking to Boxing Scene in 2012, Roger Mayweather admitted that Floyd sat in second place in his all-time rankings, believing Sugar Ray Robinson to be almost firmly off the top spot.

“[Floyd] He is ranked just behind Sugar Ray Robinson. He’s won seven world titles, right? He beat everyone from 130 to 154. Where do you put him? Ray Robinson is the greatest period of all time. I don’t care what the circumstance is, Ray Robinson is the greatest fighter in the history of boxing.

“Do you know what his record is? 127-1. Do you know any other fighter with a record of 127-1? And the fighter that beat him, [Robinson] Hit him six times, Jake LaMotta.

“The only reason he was better than Robinson was because he was about 50 pounds over him. Ray Robinson wasn’t even a middleweight fighter but he slowly started making that weight and then he smoked [LaMotta] every time.

“No boxer in the history of boxing could do what Ray Robinson did. But fighters don’t fight that way much anymore; [every] Two weeks, three weeks, four weeks. Now they have all this medical shit. The fighters cannot fight as hard as they did in those days.

Robinson is widely regarded as the greatest of all time, having won world titles at both the welterweight and middleweight divisions and amassing an astonishing record of 174 wins, 19 losses and 6 ties during his legendary career.

As for Mayweather, he may be looking to raise his record to 51 fights. At the moment, it is believed that Pacquiao will fight in January, with the possibility of bouts against Amir Khan and WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero, who still cannot match the excitement that a second major bout with his former rival would generate.