By Adam Fillingham: It hasn’t been a good week for boxing. 3 arrests and one imprisonment means that boxing may now be getting a bad name for itself. Just look at the stars that have been arrested:
Unbeaten light middleweight James Kirkland is now being held in custody by federal authorities after being arrested with a loaded handgun in his vehicle last week at an Austin gun show.
He has been charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon and has a court appearance today. Apparently there is also another pending case involving Kirkland and firearms, so his May 2 fight on the Pacquiao-Hatton under card looks in serious jeopardy.
Former WBO light welterweight champion Kendall Holt has pleaded guilty in New Jersey to knowingly collecting money from drug transactions and delivering it to his manager Henry Cortes, who has also pleaded guilty to drug charges. Holt, who lost his title to WBC champion Tim Bradley on April 4th, may have the charge dismissed if he completes a pretrial intervention program.
After flying to Spain for what he thought was a routine court hearing, troubled former WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison was immediately arrested and sentenced to two and a half years in prison for assaulting a police officer and attempting to steal a car. Although having a glittering career, he has faced problems with alcohol, drugs and depression, and in 2006 he was declared bankrupt, stripped of both his WBO title and his licence to box for bringing the sport into disrepute.
Former world champion Arturo Gatti was arrested last week after missing a court date involving an alleged assault of his ex-wife. He has been released on bail, but must return in June.
Neither Gatti or his lawyer showed up for his arraignment on April 7, which led to his arrest Wednesday night at a Montreal strip club where he was reportedly celebrating his birthday.
Gatti, 37, was released on $2,000 bail and a promise not to consume drugs or alcohol and to stay away from his former girlfriend and her son.
He’s due back in court on June 5.
This dosn’t show boxing in a good light and with UFC and MMA catching up with boxing, if not overtaking it in USA and to some extent around the world, boxing is going to be overtaken. These boxers are showing up boxing. This is a sport with discipline not assaulting girlfriends and taking money from drugs. These boxers need to remember what discipline is and not swan about like it dosn’t matter.
Their sport is going speedily down and they aren’t helping.
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