MANILA, Philippines – Thomas Hearns, one of the greatest boxers ever, is hardly impressed with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
James Robson of the Manchester Evening News had a chance to talk to Hearns, who is in Manchester, England for a promotional event.
The legend famously known as “The Hitman” was asked what he thinks of Mayweather, the undefeated American currently considered as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
“I can’t say he’s [Mayweather] the best. He is doing more than a lot of fighters have done and he’s made a lot of money,” said Hearns, the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions.
Like his fierce rival Sugar Ray Leonard, Hearns wants to see Mayweather get it on with Manny Pacquiao.
“But he’s got to beat someone of a higher standard. Right now he’s fighting the same people. He’s winning massively. He’s just taking the fights he wants,” explained Hearns, who along with Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran formed the “Big 4” of the middleweight division of their era.
Mayweather has raked in millions of dollars in fight purses over the years, but no other bout could bring him a career-high payday except one against Pacquiao. The two fighters have previously tried to deal with each other for a megabout, but nothing came of those talks.
Pacquiao is set to take on Chris Algieri in Macau next week, and if he gets past the American, a duel with Mayweather would be the most logical next step. Hearns just hopes Mayweather is open to it.
“I think everybody would like see him fight Pacquiao. I think Pacquiao would do pretty good,” Hearns said, adding Mayweather should also consider facing British fighter Amir Khan.
“Amir Khan might do well. He would do all right. If he lost, it wouldn’t be badly,” he continued.
Hearns retired in 2006 after compiling a record of 61-5-1, with 48 knockouts. Along the way, he copped world titles at welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight.
For him though, records don’t matter, clearly a swipe at Mayweather’s supposed fear of losing his unbeaten status.
“We didn’t care about that (records). We just thought about the next fight. We just wanted to be in good fights,” Hearns stressed.
“I think they are thinking about it (unbeaten records) more so now. We just wanted to put on a good show and make people happy.”