Arum's statement carries a lot of weight. He's been in the boxing business for over 60 years and has worked with some of the greatest fighters in history. The 93-year-old promoter has seen it all, from Ali's iconic battles to Mayweather's perfect career.
Muhammad Ali is widely regarded as one of the best fighters of all time. He transcended the sport in the 60s and 70s and became the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion in history. Ali was involved in historic fights, including the 'Rumble in the Jungle' against George Foreman and the 'Thrilla in Manila' against Joe Frazier. These fights cemented his status as 'The Greatest'.
Floyd Mayweather, on the other hand, dominated boxing in the 2000s and 2010s. He was the biggest pay-per-view draw in the sport and a five-weight world champion. Mayweather retired with a perfect 50-0 record in 2017, after beating notable opponents like Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, and Canelo Alvarez.
Despite the incredible achievements of Ali and Mayweather, Arum believes Inoue is in a league of his own. He recently told Jai McAllister:
"Inoue is not only pound-for-pound the best in the world, Inoue is the best fighter I've ever seen, no matter what weight category or anything. I have never ever in the almost 60-years I've been in boxing seen anything like Inoue."
Inoue's rise through the ranks has been impressive. He's won world titles in light flyweight, super-flyweight, and bantamweight before becoming the undisputed champion at super-bantamweight.
Not everyone agrees with Arum's assessment, though. Eddie Hearn, another prominent boxing promoter, has a contrasting opinion. He's claimed that Inoue should be removed from the pound-for-pound rankings altogether.
Arum's statement has stirred up quite a debate in the boxing world. It's a testament to Inoue's skills that he's being compared to legends like Ali and Mayweather. Whether you agree with Arum or not, it's clear that Naoya Inoue is a special talent who's making a big impact on the sport.