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Hall of Fame legend says he would have been the man to beat Floyd Mayweather

Sheldan Keay

24th December, 2025

Hall of Fame legend says he would have been the man to beat Floyd Mayweather
Image credit: Getty

Nobody was able to solve the puzzle of how to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr during his illustrious professional career.

Mayweather entered the paid ranks in 1996 after earning a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and over the next two decades he would establish himself as the biggest big office draw in the sport.

He retired in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record, becoming a five-weight world champion from super featherweight to light middleweight in the process.

Mayweather overcame a number of big names in his career, including the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez, cementing his place as one of the greatest boxers in recent memory.

Despite all of that success, one Hall of Fame legend believes he would have had what it takes to defeat Mayweather if they had faced off.

The man in question is Thomas Hearns, who told ESNews why he feels he would have had the edge in a potential fantasy clash.

“If I fought Mayweather, he was too small for me, way too small.”

Hearns claimed his first world honours at welterweight, before rising up the divisions and becoming the first boxer in history to win world titles in five divisions, having also secured gold at light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight.

‘The Hitman’ was known for his devastating knockout power, with 48 of his 61 victories coming by stoppage, perhaps showing just why Hearns is so confident that he would have been able to defeat Mayweather if they had fought.

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