There is no love lost between former UFC middleweight champion Anderson SIlva and boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather.
Silva appeared on Sway in the Morning Wednesday and talked about how respects “all the guys in the world” — except for Mayweather.
Sway said he thinks Mayweather is the greatest boxer in the world, to which Silva replied, “Who? Who? Who is this guy?”
Silva continued to feign ignorance before talking about his love and respect for boxing. He said his father boxed in Brazil for a long time, and that it has a traditional story that he likes. But as far as Mayweather being the greatest, Silva disagreed.
“The big man, the great man in boxing in my opinion is Muhammad Ali is the great man. He gave the chance to change the world inside the ring and outside,” Silva said. “This is very important. Boxers have the great story. I respect for boxing.”
When Sway asked if Silva respected Mayweather, Silva continued to pretend he didn’t know who he was. “I don’t know this guy. Is he Papa Smurf,” Silva said when a caller asked him why he doesn’t like Mayweather.
“Mayweather is good boxing. This is my opinion. The guy no respect me. I respect all the guys in the world,” Silva explained. “Mayweather is a part of this story in the world. I’m part of the sport in the world. Mayweather need to respect this, but this guy no respect nothing. Sorry, but I no respect Mayweather.”
To be fair, Silva is only repeating what Mayweather said about him recently. Leading up to UFC 162, Mayweather said he didn’t know who Anderson Silva was .
“I’m not disrespecting nobody, I respect the guys and what they do, but this is boxing. I don’t know that guy,” Mayweather said. “Tell me — he’s been on top for 17 years? I have a decade to go, come and talk me.”
Floyd Mayweather has been undefeated since October 11, 1996. Anderson Silva was undefeated from April 2006 until July of this year, when he lost his middleweight title to Chris Weidman . He’ll have the chance to regain his championship when the two meet again at UFC 168 on December 28. Mayweather will face Canelo Alvarez on September 14.