On July 18th, 2024, ESPN released its top 100 professional athletes since 2000 list, which features players from every professional sport, including combat sports athletes. However, despite boxing and MMA being two of the most decorated sports in the world, they felt somewhat disrespected on this list, especially regarding one of the greatest boxers of all time, Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather is one of the greatest athletes of all time, and certainly one of the greatest of his era, so it does not make much sense that the world-renowned boxer fell to 25th on this list.
Floyd Mayweather Ranked 25th on ESPN List
On the top 100 pro athletes in the 21st-century list, the greatest boxer and arguably combat sports athlete of the century ranked 25th. This ranks behind the greatest NBA player, LeBron James, the greatest NFL player, Tom Brady, and the greatest soccer player, Lionel Messi.
However, Floyd Mayweather did more in boxing than all these other athletes did in their respective sports. At the same time, those names can be put over Mayweather as they were all pioneers in athletics similar to how he was.
However, the argument becomes clearer as the list continues. There were four tennis players and seven basketball players on the list before Floyd’s name even came up. As great as Kevin Garnett was, many people don’t even consider him to be a top 10 NBA player of all time.
Mayweather’s Hall of Fame Career
Floyd Mayweather went 50-0 in his professional career, more than half of those wins taking place since 2000. He also became a five-division world champion ever since that year, tied for third-most all time. Those titles were won in the super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, and super welterweight divisions, being a total of 24 pounds apart.
Although Mayweather could never call himself undisputed, being a five-time world champion is much more impressive than that. His undefeated record also adds to his legacy, as it has turned him into one of the most iconic fighters of all time. Floyd retired with 50 total wins, being the 3rd most in boxing history in terms of an undefeated record.
His biggest wins came over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley, and Jose Luis Castillo. He was also the victor in his massive crossover fight against UFC Champion Conor Mcgregor, in a bout that the entire world watched. These wins have cemented Floyd’s legacy as a great athlete, so he should have been ranked higher on the ESPN list.
Where Should Floyd Rank on This List?
Due to his ranking being inaccurate, it leads to the conversation of where Floyd Mayweather should have ranked on this list. With respective Hall of Famers and superstars in the top five of this list, each of them has a legitimate reason to be where they are ranked.
Mayweather should have been put somewhere around the 7th spot, putting him behind great athletes such as Serena Williams and Roger Federer, but above others who aren’t considered the best at their sports. This makes sense as Floyd is considered the best boxer of the 2000s and one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time.
Ultimately, it seems as if ESPN heavily underrated Floyd on this list, and his accomplishments in the world of combat sports should have been taken much more heavily. Going unbeaten in over 51 fights is never an easy achievement, during which he fought the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Canelo, and more.
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