Mayweather Jr’s not only fighter with troubled past

By Boxing News - 07/20/2014 - Comments

By Robert “Big Moe” Elmore: I don’t mind criticism of a fighter. It comes with the territory of being out in the public eye. It seems the closer Floyd Mayweather Jr gets to 49-0, the more negative articles seem to come out.

I recently read an article about Floyd Mayweather that basically outlined his profile on cases against his children’s mother. Most of the articles out here are about Floyd’s opponents, the way he fights, and how he conducts his business. But to see an article that simply plasters his personal life on wax, without offering a solution, I consider that irresponsible journalism.

I was reading it and trying to figure out what his motives was for outlining these cases. To me, there is nothing to gain and many will support the article just because they hate Mayweather. Floyd is looked at as an icon by some believe it or not. I can accept Floyd (the man) for the person he is. He admits his mistakes and always says he’s trying to improve in life. The problem lies in while trying to improve his every move is tracked. So one mistake and it seems like he Floyd hasn’t improved at all.

Every boxer has flaws and or a troubled past, but they are role models. If one looks hard enough, they can find some good and bad in every boxer. But the media has the power to project and protect anyone they see fit. Take Muhammad Ali for example. If he were around today and he struck a woman at 9:30am, and then at 12:30pm, he refused to be inducted into the army, proclaiming ‘The Iraqi’s didn’t do anything to me.’ And add in that he just beat Joe Frazier the week before. Which one you think the media will report on the most? The struck woman or his refusal to go to the army and the Frazier victory?

Boxers are taught to be tough. Never show a sign of weakness. These principles are also taught outside the ring as well. So if a boxer is going through something and they cry or ask for help they maybe afraid of being seen as soft. So they hold the aggression in. They hold it and hold until one day it comes out in way they see fit to express it. It reminds me of scene from Rocky 5 when Tommy Morrison’s character stated “that his father was a drunk and used to hit him and his mom. One day he was tied down and beaten so bad he couldn’t walk for a week. So now when he gets in the ring all he sees is him” (referring to his father).

So Morrison’s opponents were getting his anger that he had towards his father which can be very dangerous. So while Floyd’s police files maybe accurate and his behavior might not be approved by the masses, where are the articles that offer some help? Where are they? It’s easy to bash somebody. The only two I know that have come forth to help Floyd are Zab Judah and Robert Guerrero. It’s one thing to know a man is hurting, but its another not to give a hand when they need it. But every fighter has a troubled past. Don’t think so. Do research.



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