Floyd Mayweather dominated the sport for a number of years, named as the BWAA’s Fighter of the Decade for the 2010’s and breaking a number of pay-per-view records. Now, ‘The Best Ever’ has named the active fighter who should be receiving more pound-for-pound recognition.
Following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his three heavyweight world titles, after a below par showing against Rico Verhoeven, the Ukrainian has dropped down many fight fans’ pound-for-pound rankings.
Instead, Japanese phenomenon Naoya Inoue now seems to be the standout candidate as pound-for-pound king, with a trifecta of American stars; Shakur Stevenson, David Benavidez and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, hot on his tail and hoping to claim top spot in the near future.
Yet, in the eyes of Mayweather, considered to be the pound-for-pound king of the 21st century, there is another American who should be under consideration. On a FaceTime call, on The Pivot Podcast, Mayweather told Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis that he ‘deserves to be at the top’, but that his time will come.
FM: “I am proud of you.”
JE: “Thank you, I appreciate it. Thank you, you are one of my favourite fighters, man.”
FM: “I am proud of him, he can fight his a** off. I am going to continue to see you do good, man. You deserve to be at the top, but everything takes time, you’ll be OK.”
Ennis is undefeated after 36 professional contests and became a two-division unified world champion when he halted Xander Zayas to claim the WBA and WBO super-welterweight straps last month.
Later this year, it is expected that the Philadelphian will attempt to add another belt to his collection, with a fight against IBF super-welterweight ruler, Josh Kelly, now in his sights.
