Floyd Mayweather Picks Larry Holmes Over Muhammad Ali In Top Five List

Mayweather selected Pernell Whitaker, Roberto Duran, Aaron Pryor and Larry Holmes, leaving Ali off his personal greatest-ever list

Floyd Mayweather left Muhammad Ali out of his personal top five greatest fighters of all time and named Larry Holmes as his only heavyweight selection. The unbeaten former champion praised Holmes’ dominance during his title reign while overlooking Ali, a choice likely to spark debate among boxing fans.

“We gotta go Pernell Whitaker. I’m gonna go Roberto Duran. Aaron Pryor,” said Mayweather in a YouTube video.

When the discussion turned to heavyweights, Mayweather bypassed Ali and selected Holmes.

“If we’re gonna go heavyweights, I gotta go Larry Holmes, because Larry Holmes beat everybody in his era. When Larry Holmes got beat by Mike Tyson, he got beat by a young, hungry champion,” said Mayweather.

Holmes held the heavyweight championship from 1978 to 1985 and made 20 successful title defenses during his reign. He owns victories over Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Leon Spinks, and an aging Ali, while many historians regard his jab as one of the best in boxing history.

Mayweather’s decision to place Holmes above Ali is likely to spark debate among fans. Ali is commonly included on all-time pound-for-pound lists due to victories over Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman, along with his influence on the sport outside the ring.

The inclusion of Mayweather himself is also likely to draw discussion. The former five-division champion retired with a 50-0 record and victories over Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, and Canelo Alvarez.

The list reflects Mayweather’s personal view of boxing history, but Holmes being chosen as the lone heavyweight while Ali was omitted entirely is the selection that stands out most.

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