(ThyBlackMan.com) Long lost are the days when our fighters embodied the collective pathos of our community. The last one to do it effectively was Muhammad Ali, whose eloquent delivery and stylish bravado captured and certified the black community’s desire to define itself by its own terms. Ultimately the message that he delivered to the world was that Black was the new cool.
The black community has always upheld its boxers to an almost mythical standard. From Jack Johnson to Joe Louis to Sugar Ray Robinson to Joe Frazier and even Mike Tyson, black fighters have always represented the indomitable will to withstand and conquer adversity. They represent the unapologetic truth that the fight in all of us is strong and heroic. In them we affirm our ability to be victorious over all of our personal battles that we too hope to be victorious over.
The boxing ring has been the earthly dwelling place for many of our real-life superheroes. It is the place where our champions get to prove that they are giants.
All of that comes to a screeching halt when it comes to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Notwithstanding an impeccable professional record of 46 fights and no
losses, notwithstanding the fact that he has a net worth of close to $300 million, higher than any other professional athlete regardless of sport, notwithstanding the fact that he works probably harder than most other fighters in all of boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has done more to bring shame to the black community than any other boxer before him.
The moral character of most boxers is sketchy at best. Neither can it be said that many boxers have lead personal lives that are exemplary of the finer elements of the black community. It’s rare that you see people from wealthy or even well-to-do families turn to boxing as a way out. This was no different for Mayweather whose family struggled to raise him during his father’s incarceration. Those years were tough, but thanks to his work no one else in his family will have to work for many generations. This is commendable.
But Floyd Mayweather Jr. misses the boat when it comes down to being the representative voice for black people. Why? Because if you’re going to talk about being the world’s best fighter in your weight class then be the world’s best fighter in your weight class and fight all of the challengers.
Case in point was a radio show that he did back in November of 2011. The host, ironically a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fan, asked him a question that many boxing fans have wanted to ask him for a long time. The question was “why won’t you fight Manny Pacquiao.” For those of you not in the know Manny Pacquiao is considered to be the best pound for pound boxer in the same weight class as Mayweather.
A few years ago when a fight between them was all but certain the Floyd Mayweather Jr. team requested, to the shock of boxing fans all over the world, that Pacquiao take a drug test to prove that he wasn’t using steroids. After considering it Pacquiao agreed, only to be stifled by being requested to accept a lower portion of the gate than he felt he should receive. The fight never happened.
This was an affront to boxing fans, and it would’ve stayed an in-house “boxing fan” debate had Floyd not opened his big mouth on a radio show and turned it into an issue of race.
“You’re not black, are you,” he questioned the DJ who was interviewing him.
“No, and what does that have to do with anything?” the DJ responded.
Wait a minute. Asking a legitimate question about a legitimate issue that deals specifically with how you make a living became an issue of racial solidarity? It’s not like he asked you your shoe size or where you go shopping for toilet paper. What?
By re-directing the tone of the conversation, the precipice of May weather’s argument became “what I did was about being black. You ain’t black. Fall back.”
The conversation then degenerated into what can be best described as a school yard fight between two first graders with Mayweather leading the assault that went from everything to his race to the host’s sexual orientation. It was an embarrassment of the highest degree.
In spite of all the discrepancies of many other fighters who have gone before him, none of them have ever shielded their cowardice behind race. And since he brought it up, one of the most sacred ideals that the black community holds in the highest esteem is justice. Making someone prove their worthiness by subjecting them to a spurious test is the same tactic that racist southern whites used to prevent masses of black folks from voting. In the lexicon of boxing, justice is when two worthy opponents have earned the right to fight one another. In the end Mayweather supplanted his own lust for money over the honor code within his own sport. In that instance Floyd Mayweather Jr. effectively pimped himself out to the highest bidder.
In other words, he played himself, AND used his blackness (and apparent homophobia) as a shield to prevent his inability to answer a straightforward question. To make matters worse he equated that with being black.
So, being black is not being able to articulate a response? It apparently also means that the only thing you’re good at is executing a non-sequitor argument. Thanks Mayweather.
By making it a black thing, then know this: the black community applauds champions and not chumps. Since you have claimed to be one of ours, we will uphold you to the greater good, and call you out when you come up short. The black community knows the difference between men and boys. And lastly the black community knows how to say “all money ain’t good money.”
Staff Writer; Steven Robinson
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