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My parents love boxing. My dad loves to tell people stories about how he took my mother to a fight, when they were still dating, and she was so full of adrenaline that when a woman stood up in front of her, blocking her view, she subconsciously pushed her back down into her seat.
And though years later, my mother began to find it too barbaric, my father is still a fan.
Earlier this week, he and I were talking and I asked him about his plans for the weekend. He said that he was planning on inviting our male family members and his friends over to watch the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight. But he was a little disappointed that the receiver connecting his sound systems to the television wasn’t working, so they wouldn’t be able to experience the fight in surround sound.
He was disappointed but he was still going to host, particularly since my grandfather, my dad’s father-in-law, was so excited about it.
But a few days later, my dad called us back to say that he was having additional reservations about paying $100 for the event.
“You know, I just don’t know if I can put money into Mayweather’s pocket knowing what he does to women.”
Well.
If you’re unfamiliar, Floyd Mayweather has a well documented history of abuse against women, both physical and emotional.
In 2010, he pled guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child Josie Harris. He spent two months in jail for the crime. He posted images of ex girlfriend Shantel Jackson’s abortion and defended the decision saying that Shantel asked him to make her famous.
His own son, Koraun ,called him a coward for the way he treated his mother. Some of his children have witnessed the abuse and have been threatened by their father if they opened their mouths about it. He’s pulled out guns on women.
And if that weren’t enough, there’s also the slut-shaming. Mayweather was quoted as saying, “If a female shows half of her body, she’s asking to be disrespected.”
It’s a lot y’all. In fact, Deadspin reported that there are at least seven documented instances of assault with five different women.
He has a problem. And after my father did some research and learned some of this information, he just couldn’t support him.
I spoke to him today about his decision and he said, “It’s too concentrated an effort to abuse women. It’s so hypocritical that we made such a big deal about Ray Rice. Ray Rice is a choirboy compared to Mayweather.”
And while my father came to the conclusion, it wasn’t an easy one.
“I appreciate boxing and I appreciate his style. He’s a bad boy! But every penny you pay, he gets a percentage.”
My dad admits that he wants to see the fight and he’s certainly receiving quite a bit of pressure to watch it. My 96-year-old grandfather called my father again today asking him if he was sure he didn’t want to watch the fight. When my dad said no, he wasn’t paying for it, my grandfather, who is a devout, old-school Christian, suggested that they go and watch it at a local bar.
My dad says my grandfather is looking to him for permission.
Fear of missing out is real.
And I understand it. I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that this is the event of the Spring.
But sometimes, it’s just not worth it to be in the know.
This was not to shame anyone about their decision to watch Mayweather get paid to do what he does outside of the ring as well; but I do wonder did anyone else have these same reservations?
