Foreman and Ali were two of the biggest names in boxing during the 1970s. They both dominated the heavyweight division and fought each other in the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle'. Ali won that fight with an eighth-round stoppage, using his 'rope-a-dope' style to tire out Foreman, who was the favorite going in.
But Foreman thought highly of a more recent fighter. He told TMZ that Mayweather was better than both him and Ali.
"Pound for pound, Floyd is better than me and Muhammad Ali ever were. This is a better generation [of fighters] by far. They're smarter, they're stronger, they're overall just better fighters."
Mayweather certainly has the record to back up Foreman's claim. The Michigan native retired with a perfect 50-0 record. He beat some of the best boxers of his era, including Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, and Oscar De La Hoya.
Mayweather's last fight was against MMA star Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. He won by stopping McGregor in the tenth round. After that fight in late 2017, Mayweather hung up his gloves for good.
Foreman's words carry a lot of weight in the boxing world. He was a two-time heavyweight champion and had a career that spanned three decades. His praise of Mayweather shows how much respect the newer generation of boxers has earned from the legends of the sport.
Ali, who passed away in 2016, was known as 'The Greatest'. He famously told Mayweather that he (Ali) was still the greatest. But Foreman's opinion suggests that even the greatest can be surpassed.
Boxing fans will always debate who the best fighter of all time is. But Foreman's words remind us that each generation brings new talent and skill to the ring. The sport keeps evolving, and today's fighters stand on the shoulders of giants like Foreman and Ali.
Foreman's admission about Mayweather shows his humility and his ability to recognize greatness in others. It's a fitting part of his legacy as one of boxing's true gentlemen and champions.