Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali are two of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up the gloves, but while they were similar in many ways, according to a Hall of Famer, they stood for completely different things.
Vice TV’s latest episode of ‘The Grudge’ explores the remarkable rivalry between ‘Money’ and Manny Pacquiao.
In the eyes of many, the clash between the two legendary welterweights is the biggest fight in boxing history.
However, for others, Ali’s bouts with Joe Frazier and George Foreman will never be touched.
WOW: ‘The next Floyd Mayweather’ was dominated by a boxing legend, ‘Money’ defeated twice
Al Bernstein reveals the difference between Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali
During the Grudge, Al Bernstein said he’d never seen an event generate as big a ‘frenzy’ as Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao.
However, on the night, the battle between the pair failed to deliver, with the American winning a unanimous decision. Mayweather even went as far as to say Pacquiao was an ‘easy’ fight.
Unlike the collision between the iconic 147-pounders, Muhammad Ali delivered incredible entertainment during both The Rumble in the Jungle and The Thriller in Manila.
With that in mind, Al Bernstein opened up about the differences between the former heavyweight world champion and Mayweather’s biggest bouts, and why the all-time greats left entirely different legacies.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Knockout, the Hall of Famer explained: “When you think of some of those fights like The Rumble in the Jungle and The Thriller in Manila, they were in exotic settings.
“That wasn’t the case for this fight; this was in a traditional Las Vegas casino setting, where both Mayweather and Pacquiao had often fought, and they both felt comfortable there.
“What added to those fights, in a way, to the drama of those fights, in addition to the fact that they were compelling in the ring, was the setting that they were in.
“Mayweather and Ali are vastly different figures, because Floyd Mayweather is all about commerce and the confines of the sport he’s in.
“Even if some of the things that transcended the sport in terms of social media and culture, they were not things that were loftier. Ali became known for being a showman and being more than that.
“Whether all of that was justified at all times is a whole other question. Clearly, he was a man of principle when it came to Vietnam, and certainly took his role as an ambassador to the world, seriously, an ambassador for sport and people who needed a voice.
“So, he was a very different kind of figure and one of the most compelling ever.”
Al Bernstein on whether Manny Pacquiao would’ve beaten Floyd Mayweather before his loss to Juan Manuel Marquez
While Mayweather ultimately defeated Pacquiao relatively comfortably, that might not have been the case had they met several years prior.
In his prime, the eight-weight world champion was a truly frightening competitor, blessed with devastating power in his hands.
However, in a moment of madness, his terrifying aura was swept from beneath his feet.
Now, Bernstein has given his view on whether Pacquiao would’ve beaten Floyd Mayweather before his loss to Juan Manuel Marquez.
Boxing fans keen to watch the documentary through their cable provider or a selection of streaming platforms can use the VICE TV channel finder.