By Radio Rahim
For the better part of two years, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (48-0, 26KOs) has been calling himself "the best ever" or "TBE" for short.
Mayweather's position of calling himself TBE has generated criticism from experts and fighters - and that criticism exploded when Mayweather explained why heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali was a level below.
Mayweather is planning to retire at the end of year, when he returns to action on September 12th. He wants to retire undefeated at 49-0, and strongly feels he will walk away with the label of TBE.
Can Mayweather retire in September with the recognition of TBE?
Three division world champion and former Mayweather opponent, 'Sugar' Shane Mosley, says no.
"No [he can't retire as the best ever], not at all. You can't claim that title until you've fought everybody, everybody around - up or down [your weight class]. A lot of the best fighters, the pound for pound fighters, they went up two of three weight classes and then cam back down....they fought all around. Even Roy Jones fought at heavyweight and he was 160 coming out of the Olympics. You have to test your skills and your talent," Mosley told BoxingScene.com.
Mosley did test his skills in a similar fashion. He was one of the most dominant lightweights in boxing history - and skipped over the 140-pound weight class to compete at welterweight. After capturing titles at that weight, he eventually moved up and became a unified champion at junior middleweight, and then eventually dropped back to welterweight for fights with Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and others. During this period, and beyond, he flip-flopping between 147 and 154, accepting the best fights available in each division.
