LeBron James recently won recognition as "Athlete of the Decade," and the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is certainly deserving of the honor bestowed by the Associated Press. However, undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. does not share the same sentiment. He is convinced he deserves the award more than James.
The AP's AOTD award has been previously given to dominant sporting figures like Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods, who both built a lasting legacy of their achievements. It's easy to see that AP saw the same qualities in James, who this early is believed to be the greatest basketball player of all time.
James is tipped to soon surpass the dominance and influence once wielded by the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. And if he does, because the records speak volumes of the things he had accomplished in the last 10 years.
James boasts of three NBA rings and a mainstay in every All-Star games in the decade that passed. He certainly owns a name that is a brand known worldwide, and there is no stopping the man from reaching Hall of Fame status, according to Fadeaway World. The facts are there to scream AP voted just right.
However, Mayweather is not in total agreement with the decision. The flamboyant fighter thought his exploits from 1996 up to the present year would be hard to ignore. The American said he has been a dominant sportsman in the last two decades and puzzled he was overlooked.
"I love LeBron James, but when we talking about Athlete of the Decade, that's me ... That's me. Hands down. We talking about from 1996 to 2020 and I've never received Athlete of the Decade," Mayweather was reported as saying.
True enough, the claim made by Mayweather was hard to refute. He has 50 professional bouts and not a single disappointment. As pointed out by Essentially Sports, the boxing champ conquered the biggest names in his field and the name of Manny Pacquiao quickly comes to mind.
Prior to Mayweather duking it out with Pacquiao, boxing experts said it's the Filipino boxing who would deliver the first taste of defeat to the American. The pundits were proven wrong.
Mayweather even did a crossover fight and faced off with MMA superstar Conor McGregor. The result was an easy demolition of the Irishman.
So the latest claim made by Mayweather may sound arrogant, but he is not exactly singing out of tune. As a warrior in his own arena, the undefeated boxer has proven he is a force and a name to reckon with, and it remains so.
