So I’m naive. I’m not going to apologize for one second for being naive. I’m not going to apologize for trying to see the good in everybody and for believing that people by and large are ethical, generous, honorable and honest.
I am also naive because I believe that people who have been rewarded in life with great success and financial security should give back to the community or the sport or sector which has afforded them the opportunity to be wealthy, famous and successful.
I am naive to think that most boxing world champions are as generous and caring as our former world champion Jennifer Salinas who regularly gives back to her community. Jennifer moves between the USA and Bolivia always generously giving back to the underprivileged children in her home country.
And then we come to perhaps the greatest fighter of recent times, Floyd “Money” Mayweather. A stupendous and brilliant fighter who should have been remembered as one of the greatest of all time, the enigmatic Floyd rather chose to disrespect the sport that gave him so much, and turned it into a complete farce and circus with the decision to fight Connor McGregor.
Who you might ask is Connor McGregor in boxing terms, and the answer is no-one. This so called bout / fight / farce is a multimillion Dollar circus and as Mr Money categorically stated “It’s all about the numbers.”
Floyd Mayweather has enough money to feed several countries in Africa for a decade. Rather than giving back and being remembered as a legend and hero, he has thrown it all away to rather rake in another $100m or so.
They say money is the root of all evil, but in essence it’s the love of money which is the root of all evil. Maybe I’m naive to say that your reputation, Mr Mayweather, is in tatters. Maybe it doesn’t matter to you but it does to all your millions of fans and supporters.
All the best for the fight Floyd – I really hope it was worth throwing your reputation away for.
Until next time, keep boxing.
Howard Goldberg
PRESIDENT: World Boxing Federation
