Commentary: Don’t let Mayweather slide on his history of slugging women
As Floyd Mayweather backs up the Brink’s truck for the biggest haul in sports history, people are finally paying attention to a small detail about the world’s richest athlete.
He’s a total degenerate when it comes to women.
Boxing fans knew that long before Ray Rice made it a big sports issue. But with Mayweather expected to make up to $180 million for Saturday night’s fight against Manny Pacquiao, the general public seems a tad distressed by Mayweather’s habit of slugging defenseless females.
Not distressed enough to keep millions of people from plunking down $100 for a payper-view seat, of course.
I’m too cheap to have bought the fight even if Mayweather had never dragged his ex-girlfriend around by her hair. But if I were buying it, I’d be wrestling with my conscience.
It’s a tantalizing fight, but do I want to bankroll this bum?
If nothing else, I’d have to give up my right to get all holier-than-thou the next time Roger Goodell suspends a degenerate for 15 minutes.
It’s not that buying a Mayweather fight means you endorse domestic abuse. I just can’t help feeling Mayweather takes it that way.
His violence isn’t even in debate and society keeps rewarding him — the same society that now turns anyone even suspected of domestic abuse into a pariah.
Rice, Kurt Busch, Greg Hardy and Jeff Taylor were suspended for their actions. Jameis Winston has never been charged with anything, but accusations of sexual abuse have made him radioactive.
Mayweather makes Winston look like Gloria Allred, yet he boxes merrily along. The only explanation is the industry he works in.
We’ve always accepted boxing as the refuge for ex-cons, hucksters and greedmongers. But just because the sport holds itself to no standards, should we forever play along?
Mayweather’s rap sheet goes back 13 years when he got a six-month sentence for domestic violence and misdemeanor battery. It was suspended and he served two days of house arrest.
In 2004 he got a one-year suspended sentence after being convicted on two counts of misdemeanor battery against two women. In 2010 he was charged with a variety of felonies and misdemeanors after an incident with Josie Harris, the mother of his three children.
The police report said Mayweather punched her in front of two of the children and yelled that he would “beat their asses if they left the house or called police.”
Doctors reported Harris suffered a concussion and bruises to the back of her head. Mayweather faced 34 years in prison. After the lawyers were through, he got a 90-day sentence and was out early for good behavior. That allowed him to get back to the lifestyle he relishes.
They don’t call him “Money” for nothing. Mayweather supposedly has a fleet of 16 Rolls-Royces and $15 million worth of luxury cars that he never even drives. He never wears the same shoes or boxer shorts twice. That $6,500 underwear budget is bigger than the per capita income of 88 countries.
Mayweather’s extravagance has been part of the hype leading up to the Pacquiao fight. Glossies of his private jet top shots of battered women.
When ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” dared ask about that, Mayweather answered by trying to sell more tickets.
“When it’s all said and done, only God can judge,” he said. “But I don’t want people to miss this fight. This is an unbelievable matchup. Mayweather-Pacquiao. May 2nd. Be there.”
Millions will, which should really send a message to Mayweather. This is boxing, however, so the masses don’t see that as their responsibility.
Me? I’m more than happy to let God judge Mayweather.
Until then he can keep living for money.
But I’ll be damned if he’s going to get any of mine.