The outrage in the media surrounding Ray Rice knocking out his wife and the NFL’s handling of the situation would seem to suggest that tolerance for athletes who engage in acts of domestic violence are at an all-time low.
Mayweather vs Maidana 2: Fans again put to the test by Floyd’s history of domestic violence
Floyd Mayweather’s bout with Marcos Maidana is exciting on a boxing level, but the prospect of paying $75 to watch a serial abuser is causing conflict for many fans.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
But, tonight Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight Marcos Maidana in a highly anticipated rematch. Hundreds of thousands of homes--it was 900,000 for the first fight--will shell out $74.95 for the pay-per-view broadcast and the fight will take place in front of a sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Mayweather will take home $32,000,000 for the fight, that’s before his big cut of PPV revenue and almost every other aspect of the event that might draw any money.
The sports world will stand still for roughly an hour when the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter steps in the ring.
All that attention, and all that money, for a serial abuser of women.
His history of violence was detailed in gory detail by Daniel Roberts at Deadspin, but to summarize the allegations:
- 2001-2002 - Mayweather is accused of hitting his daughter’s mother, Melissa Brim, in the face with a car door and punching her repeatedly. Another incident with that woman involved Mayweather allegedly punching her in the neck. He would eventually enter a guilty plea on these charges.
- 2003 - Mayweather is accused of punching a woman and assaulting a female security guard at a night club. He was found guilty. He was however able to negotiate terms where the charge was dismissed in 2008.
- 2003 - Mayweather is accused of repeatedly punching and kicking Josie Harris (mother to his children) outside a night club. She eventually changes her story at trial.
- 2010 - Mayweather is accused of again attacking Harris (they were no longer together). He was accused of punching her repeatedly in the back of the head among other acts. Mayweather also reportedly threatened to kill his children if they called the police when Harris requested them to do so. He eventually entered another guilty plea that reduced his jail sentence to 90 days, of which he’d serve only two months.
There were other cases (such as one in 2012 where Brim had to call the police because of a “verbal altercation”) that have produced no real charges.
Mayweather vs. Maidana 2
Mayweather vs. Maidana 2
Mayweather now faces another flurry of accusations.
Shantel Jackson, Mayweather’s ex and a staple of the documentary features for his past few bouts, is suing Mayweather for allegedly abusing her and publicly humiliating her. He made news before the first Maidana bout, releasing sonogram photos he claimed were his twins. Twins, he says, that were aborted by Jackson.
“The real reason me and Shantel Christine Jackson @missjackson broke up was because she got a abortion,” Mayweather tweeted. “And I’m totally against killing babies. She killed our twin babies.”
In addition to his attempts to publicly shame Jackson for her choice, she claims that he threatened to post nude photos of her online if she didn’t take down a photo of her at a basketball game with Nelly.
Even more serious are the allegations in the court document that he physically abused her and, at one point, held her at gunpoint.
All of this doesn’t phase Mayweather, who has discussed his past extensively this week while also suggesting that the NFL was wrong in not sticking to the two game suspension for Rice.
Most notably, Mayweather was interviewed by Rachel Nichols on CNN last night and continued his bizarre defense strategy:
When Nichols asked Mayweather about his history of domestic abuse, Floyd responded, “Everything has been allegations. Nothing has been proven. So, you know that’s life.”
When she pushed that there were doctor’s reports in the 2010 incident that showed bruising and that his own children called the police and described the attack? “Once again, no pictures. Just hearsay and allegations. And I signed a plea-bargain. Once again, not true.”
The idea that there must be photos or video of the abuse for it to “count” despite multiple guilty pleas, and another time just being found plain ol’ guilty, is absurd.
But it’s Floyd at his most Floyd. As was his final declaration that, “Only God can judge me.” Well, God and the actual judges and juries who have done so.
This all leads to the difficulties of being a boxing fan in a world where Floyd Mayweather is king.
He is, with little doubt, the best boxer of his generation and there is an undeniable lure with “big fights.” It’s hard to pass up an opportunity to see a generational talent on the big stage given how rare the “big fight” has become in boxing.
But, by paying to watch his fights, you’re putting money right in Mayweather’s pocket. You’re contributing to his annual spot at number one on the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes.
ESPN ran a solid piece by Sarah Spain making the plea for fans to boycott Mayweather’s fights. Both for his history and for his continued inability to own up to what he has done.
In a perfect world, that’s exactly what would happen. Just as Rice eventually had to face true consequences for his vile actions, Mayweather would suffer a similar fate. Instead, his income has seemingly increased year over year as the allegations of violence against women have escalated.
Every fan will have to make their own call tonight. Is $75 to watch a serial abuser worth it simply because of the talent he possesses? Or will you hold back your money in protest?
It’s my job to cover the fight, but I’ll be headed over to watch the fight with Scott Christ of SB Nation boxing blog Bad Left Hook. One location, only one purchase.
At least that’s something...
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