Boxing News 2015: Ex-World Champ Mikey Garcia Explains How Floyd Mayweather Jr. And Muhammad Ali Are Alike
Former featherweight and super featherweight champion Mikey Garcia believes there is a huge commonality between retired undefeated fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the man who is simply known as "the Greatest", Muhammad Ali.
Ali, who in his hey day also bore the nickname "The Louisville Lip," established a reputation as one of the biggest loudmouths of boxing from the 60's until the 80's. His most notable displays of his verbal prowess was during his fights with Sonny Liston and Joe Frazier.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has repeatedly claimed to be "The Best Ever," that at one point, he even ranked himself above Ali. And bearing the nickname "Money May," Floyd Jr.'s brand of marketing himself revolves around his financial status, where he brandishes his material possessions, from shoes, to cars and private planes.
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In an interview with Fight Hype, the 28-year-old native of Ventura, California compared Mayweather to Ali, mainly because of the penchant for trash talking displayed by both men. Garcia first noted that while Ali's incessant trash talking earned him a lot of haters and detractors, he was able to back them up and eventually make a good living out of it.
He also went on to describe Ali as a "good promoter" who was able to sell his fights through his words. Garcia also pointed out how it is a different time today, given the existence of social media and how people can easily blow things out of proportion.
"People hear something and they just don't like it, they twist it around, he gets a lot of haters," Garcia said of Mayweather. "But he also has a lot of followers."
Prior to his current persona, which took effect in 2007 after his then mega fight against Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather was simply known as "Pretty Boy." Garcia believes that despite the change in persona, Mayweather's "greatness" still relies on his capabilities as a boxer.
"Floyd is one of the best fighters, based on skills," Garcia said. "He's a great businessman, too."
