Muhammad Ali has a message for Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It is no secret that Floyd Mayweather Jr. believes he is the greatest boxer of all-time, but Muhammad Ali has something to say about that.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. made a bold statement last week, not that such a thing is some new phenomenon.

Mayweather believes he is the greatest boxer of all-time, something that has been common knowledge for some time. To go 47-0 for your professional career like he has, you have to have that mindset.

The boxer still feels the need to convince fans that he is the greatest, however, and he has taken aim at a fellow boisterous boxing legend that has a very good case for the title as well, Muhammad Ali.

"Mayweather told ESPN, “No one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali was better than me.”"

This statement is not too outlandish for the 38-year old boxer, who is known for his brashness. Mayweather went on to take shots at Ali, though, citing his upset loss to Leon Spinks in 1978, and his boxing style that strategically broke down opponents throughout the fight.

"“Leon Spinks beat him when he had seven fights. They’d never put a fighter in there with Floyd Mayweather with seven fights. So are you going tell me that it’s cool to lay on the ropes and take punishment and let a man tire himself out from beating you and then he basically fatigued? You hit him with a few punches and he go down and quit, and you want to be glorified for that?”"

Anybody familiar with the outspoken Ali knows that he would not stay quiet for long, responding to the current champ on Twitter.

"Don't you forget, I am the greatest!" #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/HXaTz39RPM
— Muhammad Ali (@MuhammadAli) April 27, 2015

Ironically, Ali had the same message for George Frazier back in 1974 before he took down the then-undefeated boxer.

Neither Ali or Mayweather have ever been known to be shy or back down from controversy, and the back and forth jabs between two of the greatest of all-time will only increase the hype for this weekend’s title bout between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, as if the fight needed any more.

Who really is the greatest between Ali and Mayweather?

We will never know because it was two completely different eras, and it is nearly impossible to compare the two.

Many pundits point to Mayweather’s undefeated record as the tiebreaker between the two, but those people are also quick to forget that he has been ducking the Fight of the Century with Pacquaio for five years, which thankfully will end on Saturday.

Ali has multiple losses, but he never backed down from a fight. He also faced much tougher competition throughout his entire career.

We may never know who the greatest boxer of all-time is, but one thing is certain; both fighters will never be forgotten and each has earned their place among the sport’s all-time greats.

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