Stepping into a boxing ring requires confidence as well as skill.

And one boxing great who ticks both boxes is self-proclaimed “TBE” (The Best Ever) Floyd Mayweather.

Mayweather retired from the sport back in August 2017, boasting an unbeaten 50-0 record.

Because of this, he's well within his right to classify himself as the greatest boxer of all time, and that's a topic he discussed in depth a few years ago.

Speaking to Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay, regarding one of boxing’s all-time greats Muhammad Ali, Mayweather said: “Is Ali the same fighter that got beat by a fighter with seven fights? Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali when he only had seven fights. I mean, we just tell them the truth, and I love Ali, of course. Next, let’s go.”

However, one man who was quick to defend Ali was another legend of the sport Mike Tyson.

Tyson has previously spoken out regarding how highly he rates the late Muhammad Ali, and on Mayweather’s words, he said: “He’s very delusional.

“If he was anywhere near that realm of Muhammad Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself. He can’t take his kids to school by himself and he’s talking about he’s great. 

“Greatness is not guarding itself from the people, greatness is being accepted by the people. He can’t take his kids alone to school by himself. He’s a little, scared man."

Throughout his career, Ali had 61 total fights, winning 56 of those bouts with 37 of those via knockout. Unlike Mayweather, “The People’s Champion” lost five times.

Ali held a number of iconic fights, having beaten top fighters such as Sonny Liston, George Foreman and Cleveland Williams.