Heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman believes that the media should apologize for their negative takes on Floyd Mayweather’s bout with Conor McGregor, claiming that their T-Mobile Arena date could have been the best fight of 2017.

Appearing on the Obviously Fight Talk podcast, Foreman insisted that it would be hard to top the polarizing contest before the year is out.

“Well, for the first time, I think all of the media should apologize for all the negative things they were saying about the fight,” Foreman told hosts Noel O’Keefe and Robert Pallin.

“It’s probably…it’s going to be hard to top it. It could have been the fight of the year.”

The two-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist commended McGregor for making it to the tenth round against Mayweather and suggested that the Irishman’s aggressive showing forced the unbeaten great to fight “like an old boxing slugger.”

“Not only did he surprise Floyd Mayweather, he surprised me and a whole host of experts,” he said.

“Because McGregor hit Mayweather often, his defense didn't even work against Conor. He had to come out and fight like an old boxing slugger, like George Foreman or something.”

Foreman also thought that McGregor had Mayweather significantly hurt at one point in the fight, but referee Richard Byrd stopped the UFC champion’s onslaught. However, the boxing great was quick to point out that such incidents are common in boxing.

“The referee protected Mayweather in one of the last rounds. (Conor) hurt him,” recalled Foreman.

“He had him hurt, and was going for the finish, and the referee stepped in for no reason at all and stopped it. It was a vicious body punch. Conor had him with a good body shot and the referee saved him, but that's typical of a boxing match.”