Mayweather kicked off his pro career in October 1996 and never looked back. He went on to become a five-weight world champion, retiring with a perfect 50-0 record in 2017. Many consider him one of the best boxers of all time.
Throughout his career, Mayweather squared off against numerous boxing stars. His list of opponents reads like a who's who of boxing: Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Ricky Hatton. But it's Pacquiao who stands out in Mayweather's mind.
"It's because of his movement," Mayweather said whilst on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game Podcast. "He's a hell of a fighter, and I can see why he won so many fights, and I can see why he's going down as a Hall of Famer. It's just certain moves he makes."
Mayweather and Pacquiao finally met in the ring in May 2015 after years of anticipation. Dubbed "The Fight Of The Century," the bout came later than many fans would have liked. Still, it broke records at the box office, raking in over 72 million dollars at the gate and 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.
In the end, Mayweather won comfortably by unanimous decision in what turned out to be a rather uneventful affair. Despite the fight's lackluster nature, Mayweather's respect for Pacquiao's skills remains evident.
It's worth noting that Mayweather's pick for his best opponent differs from his hardest hitter. While he didn't specify who hit the hardest in this interview, it's clear that Pacquiao's movement and overall skill set left a lasting impression on the undefeated champion.