Money, morals and Mayweather
Anyone who cares about boxing knows that a number of its participants have criminal pasts—and, for that matter, criminal presents and criminal futures. In Mayweather’s case, the news of his latest assault and concomitant jail sentence was sometimes treated as yet one more episode in a colorful life. A few months after the sentence came down, HBO called Mayweather “one of boxing’s most intriguing and controversial figures” and broadcast “Floyd Mayweather: Speaking Out,” an interview conducted by Michael Eric Dyson, the scholar known for his analysis of African-American culture and politics.
“I’m pretty sure Martin Luther King been in jail,” Mayweather said, rather nonsensically. “I’m pretty sure Malcolm X been in jail.”
At one point, Dyson suggested that Mayweather’s critics were jealous and possibly racist. He asked, “Do you think people have a real resentment of your success as a black man who’s flashy, making it rain, and they look at their own lives and see that they’re not doing nearly as well as you?”
What should we do with athletes like Mayweather, who commit particularly disturbing crimes? In boxing, the answer, traditionally, has been: as long as they are not currently incarcerated, let them fight.
Read The Best Defense by Kelefa Sanneh in the New Yorker.
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May 20th, 2015 at 17:42
im a manny pacquiao fan since seeing him the first time in blow by blow (channel 13). i watched (and paid for) all his fights in ppv or in theaters since showing boxing live in movie theaters was first concocted by solar in his 2nd fight with morales. feels great when one shows solidarity and sense that extra oomph in supporting and watching live the “fighting pride of the philippines” (tumatayo pa rin madalas ang balabibo ko kapag naririnig ito kay buffer), with the interesting exchanges among buboy, roach, and manny in-between rounds also live.
but now i believe manny, roach, and arum deserve to be sued for the recent screw-up (whether by koncz or whoever in their team). they sold a product that was not according to full/expected spec. and it was worse for people who bet on pacquiao winning, not knowing that they were putting money on a fighter who is not 100%.
manny has to give up part of his recent purse to settle.
and as part of this settlement or verdict, i wish the us courts can order a rematch.