Mayweather insists no one can 'brainwash' him into believing Ali was better than him

Unbeaten US boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has claimed that he is the greatest boxer of all time, not legend Muhammad Ali.

Mayweather would go head-to-head against Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao in a mega bout on May 2 in a bid to prove that he is the greatest fighter of his generation, but the American insists that he is already the greatest fighter of all-time.

Ali is remembered by most as the greatest boxer who ever lived while most long-time fans of the sport believe that Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest pound for pound fighter. However, that is not Mayweather's view, News.com.au reported.

Mayweather said that no one can ever brainwash him to make him believe that Robinson and Ali were better than him, insisting that no one could ever brainwash him and tell him that. But he conceded that one thing he would do is take his hat off to them and respect those guys because they paved the way for him to be where he is at now.

Mayweather also explained why he is greater than Ali, who remains the only man to win the world heavyweight championship three times. He said that the legendary boxer only ever fought in one weight class.

Mayweather, who has won titles in five divisions, said that Leon Spinks beat Ali when he had seven fights, adding that they would never put a fighter in there with Mayweather with seven fights.