To some, the saddest sight in boxing is a prizefighter after the cheers have stopped.
Recognition eludes them. Physical ailments destroy their former godlike physiques. Some experience slurred speech, which could be a harbinger of further ramifications of brain damage down the road. And sadly, most end up broke with no skills, no friends, nobody willing to support them.
For a few years, a potential welterweight megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao has been talked about incessantly by not only boxing fans, but the public too, something that is increasingly rare in the sport. Mayweather has taken a lot of criticism for seemingly avoiding Pacquiao, but Mayweather supporters and even “haters” should be more concerned with something far more serious than a sporting event: The man is throwing his life away.
To wit: Mayweather, who pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor domestic violence charges in 2002 and was convicted in 2005 in the “unprovoked beating of two women in the Ra nightclub at Luxor,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, awaits the legal ramifications of an alleged September 9 domestic violence incident involving his three children and their mother, Josie Harris. If convicted of all the charges, Mayweather could spend over 30 years in jail. In 2003, Harris told police that Mayweather beat her, only to recant her story.
Mayweather’s worst judgment, though, has arguably been on display this month. Despite the fact that he’s free on bail in his domestic violence case, Mayweather has been accused of poking a security guard in the face several times in an argument over parking outside of his house. Then, on Monday, Mayweather was accused of attempting to force another driver off the road. Problem is, the alleged victim happens to be Quincey Williams, former Mayweather employee and victim of a 2009 shooting that resulted in Ocie Harris, an alleged associate of Mayweather, being indicted on two felonies.
I need to stress that the two incidents these month are, at this point, pure allegations. The legal system will determine the veracity of those claims. But if you’re Mayweather, why would you even leave the Big Boy Mansion knowing that the real fight of your life could potentially take place in a courtroom in the not-so-distant future? At this point, he must realize that he’s a target. People see the money he flaunts, they see that he’s constantly a legal target; they see opportunity. And with Mayweather free on bail that could be revoked pending an investigation into Monday’s incident, he should avoid all opportunists by making himself scarce.
Through shrewd self-marketing, hip-hop friendships with 50 Cent and others, and pure boxing ability, Mayweather has made himself the pay-per-view champion of boxing today. His defensive, safety-first style has ensured that the damage to his health will be minimal as compared to most boxers. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that his amazing ability to blow through vast amounts of money is well-documented and his legal bills are, well, certainly not inexpensive. Say the worst happens and Mayweather goes to jail for a period of time, thus ruining his ability to earn money in the ring. How will he manage, money-wise, for the rest of his life? He’s not marketable, so forget endorsements. As much as Mayweather boasts about his gambling acumen, I’d take that with a grain of salt. And call me cynical, but I’m not too bullish on the prospects of Philthy Rich Records.
Mayweather seems headed for a sad ending where all the leeches who gladly take his money now abandon him when he’s broke. The fact that seemingly nobody in his inner circle is standing up to him to put an end to this madness, even at the risk of their own income, makes me wonder if Mayweather really does have any true friends surrounding him.
Maybe the saddest sight in boxing is a prizefighter after the cheers have stopped. But with Floyd Mayweather, the saddest sight may be when the jeers turn to pity. That may already be happening.
