Floyd Mayweather Jr. is known for two things—his undefeated record and his brash, unapologetic self-confidence. In a now-infamous 2015 interview with ESPN’s First Take, Mayweather didn’t pull any punches: he called himself the greatest ever, boldly stating that, “Nobody can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali were better than me.” While Mayweather did tip his hat, calling legends like Ali and Robinson “stepping stones” who built the path for him, he remained crystal clear: in his mind, no one did it better.

But Mike Tyson, never one to let strong statements slide, fired right back. “He’s very delusional,” snapped Tyson, adding a personal jab by claiming Mayweather “can’t even take his kids to school” because he’s so “scared of the world.” For Tyson, greatness means being embraced by people; “a great person never needs to guard himself against the people as he’s accepted by the people wholeheartedly,” Iron Mike explained.

This Tyson-vs.-Mayweather back-and-forth has simmered for years—and now, it’s flaring up again, thanks to a provocative Facebook post by Boxing TV. The timing isn’t lost on fans: Mayweather’s set to face John Gotti III in his latest high-profile exhibition, a choice that’s drawn skepticism from boxing purists. While Floyd claims, “five exhibitions in five countries in nine months,” some critics roll their eyes, wondering if these matchups truly cement greatness.

What really reignited the debate, though, was a piece of fan art—Mayweather and Ali side by side—shared online by artist Ross Baines. The comments exploded, and the boxing world is arguing all over again: who’s truly “the Greatest”? Is Mayweather’s flawless 50-0 more impressive than Ali’s transcendent legacy?

Fans React: Is Mayweather Really Boxing’s Finest?

Not everyone’s buying what Floyd’s selling. Frankie Moreno summed up a popular view:

“I call him a decent fighter but no way a great fighter; you have to fight and beat a great fighter to become one. Sorry, you didn’t fight any great fighters.”

Leigh Thomas was even less charitable, sarcastically posting:

“Mayweather was very skilled and sneaky clever with his fights….. Best ever!!! He won’t even make the top 5!!”

Others echoed Tyson’s “delusional” critique. Billy Alan McMillan chimed in:

“Delusional is the word. There was only one Greatest, mate.”

But not all fans are anti-Mayweather. Rob Razura pointed out:

“I think he is talking about his body of work as a boxer. He is undefeated, so that can’t be ignored.”

And Luis Jimenez, embracing Floyd’s defensive mastery, wrote:

“He’s the greatest defensive fighter. Never got hit and won… Simple concept. Do not get your brains battered, win every time, get rich and still talk.”

The Never-Ending Debate: Record, Legacy, or Something Deeper?

So—does an unbeaten record trump Ali’s era-defining courage and charisma? Is boxing greatness about who you fight, or how you fight? Is it about risk or results?

What’s clear is that Mayweather’s confidence (some say arrogance) keeps his name in the conversation— but as long as there are fans, icons like Tyson and Ali will never be overshadowed by numbers alone.

Whether you love him or loathe him, Floyd “Money” Mayweather still does what he does best: make boxing fans talk, argue, and—above all—remember that greatness can never be measured by a single stat. And as Iron Mike Tyson keeps showing, sometimes it’s your presence, not just your record, that keeps your legend alive.