Bob Arum, the legendary boxing promoter, thinks there's no contest between Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Leonard. He's firmly in Leonard's corner when it comes to who's the better boxer.
Arum shared his thoughts with Sky Sports Boxing before Mayweather's big fight against Manny Pacquiao in 2015. He didn't pull any punches when comparing the two fighters.
"Floyd Mayweather is an excellent, excellent fighter, a great technician but to compare him to Ray Leonard is a joke. Floyd has megalomania, he believes that because of his accomplishments he rules everything he surveys and do what he pleases."
It's worth noting that Arum used to represent Mayweather early in his career before the fighter decided to promote himself. Despite this history, Arum clearly favors Leonard's skills and accomplishments.
Sugar Ray Leonard made a name for himself in the 1980s with some unforgettable fights. He bounced back from a loss to Roberto Duran in 1980, winning their rematch and reclaiming the WBC welterweight title. Leonard then became the undisputed welterweight champ after beating Thomas Hearns.
Mayweather's career is nothing to sneeze at either. He's a five-division world champion with an undefeated 50-0 record. He's beaten some of the best in the business, including Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya, and Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather hung up his gloves in 2017 after stopping MMA fighter Conor McGregor in the 10th round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It was a fitting end to a career that saw him become one of boxing's biggest stars.
But for Arum, all of Mayweather's achievements don't stack up to Leonard's. He sees Mayweather as a great technical fighter, but Leonard as something more. The promoter's words show just how highly he rates Leonard's skills and impact on the sport.
