When asked where he'd rank Mayweather in his list of the greatest boxers ever, Jones didn't hold back. He fired off a quick response on the MH Podcast:
"Who? Who? If you don't respect Muhammad Ali, how can I respect you?"
Jones' comments come after Mayweather has repeatedly claimed he's the best boxer of all time, even above Ali. Mayweather, who retired with a perfect 50-0 record, has argued that his achievements outweigh Ali's. He's said:
"What are we judging fighters on? If we're judging them on standing up for a cause, then it's Ali, hands down. But if we're talking about taking less punishment and breaking all records then it's Floyd Mayweather."
Mayweather has also pointed out flaws in Ali's record:
"Muhammad Ali paved the way for me to be where I'm at today. He's a legend. But if we're talking about record-breaking, we have to look at Ali losing his world title to a fighter with only seven fights [Leon Spinks]."
But Jones isn't buying Mayweather's arguments. In an interview with Real Lyfe Productions, he criticized Mayweather's 50-0 record:
"Is it a 50-0 that I think he's the greatest fighter of all time? Nah. [Julio Cesar] Chavez went 80-0 at one point. 80. You gonna ever top that? No. He just didn't stop. [Floyd] got to 50-0 and stopped because of Rocky Marciano. Rocky died. If he wouldn't have died he probably would've kept going too."
Jones, who hails from Pensacola, Florida, has his own impressive list of achievements. He secured titles in four divisions and was known as 'Captain Hook' for his devastating left hook. His notable wins include victories over James Toney and Bernard Hopkins. In 2022, Jones was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
While Jones, Ali, and Mayweather are all considered some of the best boxers ever, it's clear that for Jones, Ali stands alone at the top. His respect for Ali's impact both in and out of the ring seems unshakeable, and he's not afraid to defend the legend's legacy against anyone - even someone with a perfect record like Mayweather.