Legendary promoter Bob Arum named his 'Mount Rushmore of boxing' - but left out Floyd Mayweather.

The iconic American National Memorial sculpture, situated in the Black Hills region of South Dakota, features the carved heads of former US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Promoter Arum was asked which legends past or present deserve the recognition to be put on the sport's own place of honour.

And he picked Muhammad Ali, Tyson Fury, Marvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao.

But speaking to Rich Eisen, Arum explained why he thinks Fury would beat Ali if they fought in their primes.

He said: “Fury wins. No heavyweight, no heavyweight before or since could beat Fury. Fury is so incredible.

“Guys who were 6 ft 9 were bums when Ali was fighting right because they couldn’t move and there were always flaws.

“But here’s a guy Fury [who] takes an incredible punch, moves like a welterweight, and has a pretty good punch himself, knows how to box. We haven’t seen that combination ever, ever.

bob-arum-top-rank

Bob Arum is the CEO and founder of boxing promotion Top Rank

“You know, I feel sorry for [Deontay] Wilder who’s a terrific fighter because he came in an era that gave us Tyson Fury, and remember it’s not a fluke because Tyson Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko when Klitschko was riding high and nobody gave Fury a chance. 

“Fury is the goods because he can box, he can punch, and he keeps getting better.” 

Fury, 33, went off the rails for a bit after beating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

But he returned three years later to face Albanian cruiserweight Sefer Seferi in a comeback fight in Manchester that lasted four rounds.

The Gypsy King confirmed his status as the greatest fighter of his generation by completing a classic trilogy with Deontay Wilder, which ended with two victories for the Brit after a controversial draw, which really ought to have made it three if it weren't for some incompetent judging on the night.

Ali - aptly nicknamed 'The Greatest' - is widely considered to be the greatest heavyweight boxer to have graced the planet.

He died in 2016 at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy that shall never be forgotten.

Hagler will also go down in the history books forever, having competed against the likes of Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard.

The former undisputed middleweight world champion - who also had a career as an actor - passed away in 2021 at the age of 66 after experiencing chest pains and breathing difficulties.

Like Fury, Pacquiao is also no longer actively competing, after he came up short against Yordenis Ugas last year.

Pac Man may have only just retired last year, but he has managed to keep himself busy outside of the ring including an unsuccessful campaign to become the president of the Philippines.

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