Sportsmanship: Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz incident
Sportsmanship? Is it necessary in sports? We've been taught from early on in life that we must play fair. Do not be a sore loser. And the most quoted, "it's not how you win but how you play the game." That quote you can say has the most impact regarding the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Victor Ortiz. Did Floyd Mayweather forsake that old age quote and instead used a famous old quote from Oakland Raider owner Al Davis. "just win baby". Or another old quote "all's fair in love and war." But what if every athlete in the world decided to forsake sportsmanship just to put a "Dubya" on their win column? You can certainly expect more dirty tactics, cheating, and taking blind cheap shots. That kind of approach to any sports or game will not enhance the beauty of the sport but mar the sport itself because it will labeled as a sport for dirty athletes. Playing dirty in any sport can result a serious injury to an athlete possibly so serious it can result to a death. Imagine when an NFL referee who was purposely blocked from seeing a flagrant foul done to another athlete. A chop block so serious that it ended a career of a defensive lineman. It is known, playing dirty can occur especially during the heat of the game. Many those who are willing to tote the line of dirty playing or taking a cheap shot at a defenseless fighter will have to consider their actions can lead to something more serious that it can result to either a career ending injury or death. A fighter that is ready for battle will likely be more prepared to receive blows. However, a fighter who is not ready to go in battle and still in a defenseless posture, if he or she is hit with a clean shot to their head, who knows what the end result could have been. It is highly likely that kind of blow or hard clear open shot can result to a major injury or even death due to the fighter was not ready to engage. Floyd Jr many times expressed the dangers of the sport. Cheating or cheap shot (sucker punch) can result to tragedy.
In boxing, before any bout is too commence, the referee will instruct both fighters to "PROTECT YOURSELVES AT ALL TIMES". But remember also, the referee will also say "FIGHT CLEAN AT ALL TIMES". Both are equally important and both fighters must be conscious on those instructions. But it is up to the athletes to execute and follow those instruction. Because if they don't, it can either lead to disqualification, a premature loss, a questionable win, a serious injury, or the worst of all, death. So far in boxing, fortunately there are no records known a cheap shot has resulted to death. But there are many instances where the fighters was so defenseless due to the punishment he has received that it indeed resulted in death. Which reminds me of the fight between Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini vs Duk Koo Kim. The fight which at first was a close fight but in the later rounds Mancini began to take over and dominate Kim. At one point, Mancini landed 39 straight shots at Kim. 39!!! The referee did not stop the fight even though Mancini was practically landing his punches at will and 39 straight times. But who is counting? That is a recipe for disaster. Even though Kim was able to get up and throw a few very weak punches, the referee was still not putting a halt to the fight even though everyone can see Kim was totally defenseless. Finally Mancini was able to land a hard clean shot that sent Kim to the ropes and fall to the ground, the referee finally stopped the fight. Was it too late? After the fight Kim immediately fell into a coma where he eventually died from his injuries. Later, Ray Mancini was not the same fighter afterwards. The burdened of guilt overcame Mancini were his next fight, he lost to Livingstone Bramble. Mancini was never the same after his fight with Kim. Kim's mother was so distraught she committed suicide months after her son's death. The referee later felt the guilt of letting a defenseless fighter take so much needless punishment which led to his death, a guilt that eventually led himself to commit suicide.
I am certainly not comparing the fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Victor Ortiz to the Ray Mancini fight against Duk Soo Kim. But pointing out the severity when a fighter is defenseless. What if the end result from Floyd Jr's supposed sucker punch resulted in Victor lapsing into a coma because it was a result from a hard clear shot to the head where he was in a defenseless posture? A sucker punch. What if Victor did not get up? What if Victor received a severe concussion that it ended his career? Or worse what if Victor met the same fate Duk Koo Kim went? Athletes especially must remember that sportsmanship is not just about playing fair but also remembering that not playing fair can result and lead to something very serious. I understand that Floyd Jr could have been retaliating due to Victor's head butt. I also understand the sucker punch he gave to Victor was in the legal boundaries. But Floyd was still in a defensive posture when he was headbutted while the sucker punch given to Victor, he was in a defenseless posture. Sometimes it is not about who's fault it is but to remember professionalism and sportsmanship will not be compromised regardless what the other fighter has done. We also must remember Floyd Jr also sucker punched Shane Mosley while Shane was just trying to tap Floyd's gloves. Something both learned while in the Golden Gloves. I remember reading about Manny Pacquiao where his trainer was telling him to retaliate due to the constant low blows and head butts against his fight with Agapito Sanchez. But Manny Pacquiao refused to fight dirty and retaliate in the same manner, instead he decided to fight clean and fair. In truth, Manny has had this reputation of being a clean fighter while still making himself a name in the Philippines. The Filipino boxing fans were so impressed with Manny's sportsmanship they made a shirt on behalf of Manny were it says "One Man Practicing Sportsmanship is better than 100 people teaching it." Another incident where great sportsmanship was practiced by one fighter was Joseph Agbeko. His fight with Abner Mares was one of the most controversial fight of the year. Joseph Agbeko was the recipient of over 20 low blows for which referee Russell Mora refused to deduct points away from Abner Mares. A few warnings but no point deductions. The fight resulted in a majority decision in favor of Abner Mares. In the post fight interview, Joseph Agbeko was asked why he didn't do the same (low blow) to his opponent. His reply was that he is not a dirty fighter and he is not about bad sportsmanship. That kind of sportsmanship gained so much respect from boxing world that it propelled Joseph Agbeko to a rematch, respect, adulation, and also led a small part to the demotion of referee Russell Mora. Also Abner Mares now has been labeled as a dirty fighter. A label no fighter wants to be known. Is there a lesson here? In fact Joseph Agbeko gained more fans and majority of the boxing fans want Agbeko to regain his title and belt.
Floyd Jr is known for his legendary training while preparing for his bouts. He practices his craft to perfection but I hope he will remember to practice the craft of sportsmanship. Victor, also take heed.
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