By now, the human failings of Ricky Hatton, of Antonio Margarito, of Floyd Mayweather and to a lesser extent to the verbally obscene David Haye have been well chronicled, especially during last week.
I’m not in this space today to kick or kiss any of the above troubled young men who happen to be internationally known boxers.
I noticed, and I’m sure many have, that America’s most important fighter and his United Kingdom equivalent both went down in flames in the same weak.
But, while we can’t ignore the moral weaknesses of this quartet, it’s now time for compassion.
See CBS2 TV, New York, on Mayweather being diminishing talent in a diminishing sport.
I’m rarely preachy but, when I think of compassion, who comes to mind first but Jesus:
“Then, while he tarried in the world, a man among men, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, he was constantly moved with compassion; for he felt all the griefs of mankind in himself. He took our sicknesses and carried our sorrows: he proved himself a true brother, with quick, human sensibilities. A tear brought a tear into his eye; a cry made him pause to ask what help he could render. So generous was his soul, that he gave all he had for the help of those that had not. The fox had its hole, and the bird its nest, but he had no dwelling-place. Stripped even of his garments, he hung upon the cross to die. Never one so indigent in death as he, without a friend, without even a tomb, except such as a loan could find him. He gave up all the comforts of life?he gave his life itself; he gave his very self to prove that he was moved with compassion.”
So, for today and going forward, let’s use a little “but there for the grace of God go I and hope for a peaceful future for all four of these ring warriors.
But let me get particular.
RICKY HATTON: His booze and Coke binges didn’t begin when that newspaper’s video camera started rolling. The huglely popular Macunian has been a man of excess in his personal life for years. His booze and food excesses were material for the “Ricky Fatton” jokes. But no one’s laughing now. May he prosper as he begins drug rehab. His popularity is not at risk here but his health, his very life, could be.
(See how manly man Hatton blames only himself, heads for rehab program.)
ANTONIO MARGARITO: Perhaps he and sleazebag trainer Capetillo also cheated in the Miguel Cotto beatdown or in other bouts but we’ll knew know sans a confession from either. “Margacheato” gets a fresh start against Pacman Nov. 13 and I, for one, wish him well as he tries to salvage the tail end of his career.
DAVID HAYE: Never met the man but why would such a charsimatic personality resort to such gutter talk (“gang rape”)? I’d suggest it’s not an ovebearing ego but, to the contrary, a telltale sign that Haye is quite unsure of his status at the top rungs of the heavyweight divsion. His manager-trainer Adam Booth needs to pull the fighter’s coat. His “beheading” teeshirts, portraying headless Klitschkos, was mildly amusing but comparing his next fight to gang rape was not.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER: The Baby Mama drama will pass in time. But Mayweather’s another guy who needs sage advice from somebody he really respects. 50 Cent is not that guy. My next column will reveal the ideal person who can help get Mayweather back on track.
Compassion is always in short supply in this rough world.
You wonder how a human being could throw that baby boy into the trash at the airport in Manila?
Those who rescued the abandoned, healthy tyke, they showed brilliant compassion.
