Floyd Mayweather is widely regarded as the greatest boxer of the modern era with his perfect 50-0 record – a one-of-a-kind accolade. His technical prowess, world-class defensive skills, and his punching accuracy always saw him get the better of his rivals. However, in one of his toughest outings, the world saw Mayweather getting toyed with by Emanuel Augustus before ‘Money’ Mayweather found the TKO victory in the 9th round, which Joe Rogan recently claimed to have found amusing.

Among the wide array of showboaters in boxing, Emanuel Augustus surely tops the list. The former boxer competed in a mind-boggling 78 professional bouts, racking up a mixed record of 38 wins and 34 losses (and six draws), but that’s not what he was known for. In fact, Augustus showcased one of the most awkward boxing styles, which proved to be a big problem for Floyd Mayweather when they fought in 2000.

Although Floyd Mayweather managed to knock the ‘Drunken Master’ out, which Emanuel Augustus was so often called, ‘Money’ Mayweather would admit later that he had to dig deep when he was in the ring with his former rival, something that Joe Rogan seems to agree with. During episode #2235 of JRE, the host told guest Mike Rowe, “He gave Floyd a hard f***ing time because he’s so difficult to fight… [Reacting to Augustus’s highlights] How do you deal with that?”

While showering praise on how good of a boxer Floyd Mayweather was, Joe Rogan also gave credit to Emanuel Augustus for his awkward, yet effective style. “When you’re a guy like Floyd and you’re getting clowned – the cream of the crop, Olympian, I mean you’re a f**king phenomenal boxer, just a fantastic boxer – and then you’re fighting this guy who’s dancing in front of you, but also really good. It wasn’t just that, like you rarely get a guy who’s clowning like that but also [has] that kind of head movement skill. Phenomenal movement.” Joe Rogan stated.

Meanwhile, his guest, TV personality Mike Rowe, wondered what went into Emanuel Augustus’ training that made his boxing so awkward but effective. Well, Joe Rogan believes that these are those kinds of things that can never be taught.

Joe Rogan believes Floyd Mayweather’s former rival’s awkward style comes to him naturally

In any form of combat sports, coaches always emphasize the importance of technique, and boxers like Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson, among many others, have proved how essential techniques really carve a fighter’s path to success. This is a reason why Joe Rogan doesn’t believe that the style Emanuel Augustus had was something that was taught in training.

“I don’t think anybody trains you to do that. [Someone like Cus D’Amato] he would never [allow it],” said Joe Rogan. However, he does seem to believe that if fighters naturally develop their own way of fighting, with a unique flair, there might be certain exceptions where coaches could play to those fighters’ strengths – but only if they find success consistently.

Is it fair to compare the consensus GOATs of two different sports like MMA and boxing? Well, UFC color commentator Jon Anik certainly thinks so. In a recent conversation in MMA Junkie, Anik claimed that Jon Jones has surpassed Floyd Mayweather, not just as a fighter but as an all-time great. Bold words, right? But Anik’s reasoning isn’t without nuance, he highlights Jones’ ability to thrive in the unpredictable realm of mixed martial arts. Yet, it begs the question, are we comparing apples to oranges when debating UFC versus boxing legacies?

“I think, with respect to Joe Calzaghe and Floyd Mayweather, Jon Jones has already pushed himself beyond those guys,” Anik stated. “Even if people want to denigrate the Stipe win because it happened at 42 years of age. I don’t think there really is anything left for Jon Jones to accomplish.” Anik argues that Jones, at 37, is successfully defending titles in a physically brutal sport, while Mayweather wrapped up his peak years by the age of 38.

“What he (Jones) wants like that 30, 40, 50, million dollar payday, which he so deserves,” Anik added. But here’s the kicker, in boxing, Mayweather achieved those financial milestones multiple times, raising a key debate about the differences between the two sports. When Anik says Jones has “pushed himself beyond” Mayweather, how do we measure that?

From one angle, Jones’ accomplishments in MMA, dominating two weight classes and returning after a long layoff to beat a heavyweight legend places him in rarefied air. Unlike Mayweather, who retired at 38 after his 2015 bout with Andre Berto, Jones is still thriving and looking for his next big challenge at the same age. Yes, Mayweather did return in 2012 to fight Conor McGregor at 41, but that bout was more spectacle than a legacy-defining contest.

On the other hand, Mayweather’s career achievements remain unmatched in boxing. With a spotless 50-0 record and some of the highest paydays in sports history, ‘Money’ turned boxing into a billion-dollar enterprise. Jones, despite being arguably the greatest MMA fighter ever, has yet to command the kind of financial success Mayweather routinely enjoyed. Does this disparity reflect the sports themselves rather than the athletes?