text: Floyd Mayweather has claimed he is a better fighter than Muhammad Ali. Mayweather, who takes on Manny Pacquiao in their $300 million mega-fight on May 2, is widely considered to be the current pound-for-pound No 1. But he believes there has never been a better boxer in the history of the sport. Floyd Mayweather trains ahead of his fight against Manny Pacquiao next weekend . In an interview ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Mayweather said: 'No one can ever brainwash me to make me believe that Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali was better than me. No one could ever brainwash me and tell me that. 'But one thing I will do, I'm going to take my hat off to them and respect those guys because those are the guys that paved the way for me to be where I'm at today.' When asked if he truly believed he was better than Ali, Mayweather recalled the heavyweight losing his world titles to Leon Spinks in 1978. Muhammad Ali suffered a shock defeat to Leon Spinks who had only fought seven times previously . The inexperienced Spinks celebrates his surprise 15 round split decision victory over Ali . 'Leon Spinks only had seven fights,' he said. 'Never put a fighter in there with Floyd Mayweather with seven fights.' Mayweather also criticised the 'rope-a-dope' tactics adopted by Ali against George Foreman in their Rumble in the Jungle. 'Are you going to tell me its cool to lay on the ropes and take punishment and let a man tire himself out from beating you,' he said. 'He's basically fatigued - you hit him with a few punches and he goes down and quits. You want to be glorified for that? Absolutely not, not me.' Ali adopted his famous 'rope-a-dope' tactics before stopping George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle .
target: Floyd Mayweather is widely considered the best boxer in the world .
  But he believes he is better than heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali .
  Mayweather did admit that he respects both Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson .
  He takes on Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in their $300m mega-fight .
  Mayweather-Pacquiao weigh-in will be first ever with paid-for tickets .