Oscar De La Hoya took to the screens of televisions across the nation as he took part in a taping of ?Cavuto Coast to Coast? on the Fox Business Network?
Professional boxing is in no way immune to its own brand of politics or bipartisanship. As election season in the United States nears, one needs to press a few more buttons on the remote control in order to find a news source which is indeed ?fair and balanced.? To be sure, such networks are few and far between and surprisingly, such respective media outlets don?t jump through hoops to get people to listen. Usually, situations and hot button issues such as taxes, healthcare, immigration, gun control and the like are what call our eyes and ears to the forefront.
There?s nothing new in seeing politicians use sports analogies in their campaigns. It?s a bit similar to when a handful of the unfortunate souls in the path of an oncoming hurricane seek to personify an act of nature by asking the wind and rain to bring its destructive best. There?s thinking outside of the box and then there?s debatably stepping outside of it. Closer to home and within the confines of this article is a case of stepping outside of boxing.
Earlier this week, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya took to the screens of televisions across the nation as he took part in a taping of ?Cavuto Coast to Coast? on the Fox Business Network. The former multi-division world champion exercised his right to free speech as he used the example of two of boxing?s top names to discredit statements made by presidential candidate, Donald Trump. Of course and as many of us are aware, Trump has shown no fear to play with fire as he?s made some quite abhorrent comments in the past regarding Mexican immigrants and people of the Muslim faith living within the United States.
If any of this is news to the reader, then please, by all means see for yourself just what the possible face of the Republican Party had to say. Oscar naturally took exception to such comments, as he himself was born in Los Angeles into a family of Mexican immigrants. Hard work is what has made this country great and the desire to reach as well as live the American Dream should be open to everyone. The nonsense created by the Census Bureau in terms what box to check in regard to our ethnicity or race should never be a deciding factor. The color of our blood is the same.
During the interview with Neil Cavuto, Oscar took the time to express his understandable disdain towards Trump?s approach to some immigration issues, whether actual or imagined on the part of Donald. ?I want to take this opportunity to invite Mr. Trump to the Canelo vs. Khan fight on May 7 in Las Vegas?, he said. The head man of the promotional giant continued. ?We have Amir Khan, a Muslim fighter from the UK, fighting against the most popular boxer in Mexico, Canelo Alvarez, opening up the new T-Mobile Arena.?
?We have an opportunity to show Mr. Trump just what Mexicans and Muslims can achieve ? and in a city that screams America: Las Vegas. Trump, let me invite you so that you can see what a Mexican and a Muslim can generate.?
Kind words from a good-hearted individual indeed. However, let?s tap the brakes and throw this into reverse for just a moment. There seems to a mix-up in the words chosen. First, neither Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) nor Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) is American. Secondly, such statements have irrevocably tagged one participant?s nationality to that of the faith of the other. Amir Khan is British and of Pakistani parents, so it?s natural that he is a Muslim. Canelo Alvarez is from Mexico and likely a Catholic. Give or take fifty years ago, being a Catholic was a hotbed topic in the United States. It?s what mudslingers threw in the direction of John F. Kennedy.
Most of us already know what a Mexican and Muslim can achieve in the case of these two fighters. It?s the reason why their May 7 bout is being sold for over fifty dollars a pop on Pay TV. Canelo is one of the pound-for-pound best boxers on the planet and Amir Khan is somewhere on the list as well, depending on who is asked. Maybe, just maybe such a view sets the wrong example for groups who are minorities, whether by growth or numbers in America. Of course, it?s changing and for the better day after day.
Individuals such as parents, teachers, ministers and the like all push the idea that professional sports is not the only way to a happy life. By all means, dream big and set the bar high, but try not to put all the cards on one side of the table. To see what the aforementioned groups can achieve and have been achieving for generations over, one need only stick their head out of the window. It?s everywhere and it?s great.
While Alvarez and Khan are to be highly commended for the sacrifice, determination and dedication shown to their chosen vocation, they may not be the best examples of what can be accomplished under the guise of being politically correct. Blue-collar jobs, industry, construction, medicine, engineering and law. Those are some good examples of what is achieved by the groups of people in undeserved question.
Although the United States holds firm ties with Mexico and the United Kingdom, two millionaires from the two respective locations can?t really show us what can be reached. We already know what they can do. It?s not likely that twenty thousand people will show up to watch much better examples hone their trade. We probably won?t see a million or so clicks of the ?buy? button to see how two of the most hardworking populations can strive for greatness and individual security. Oscar?s comments were likely made from the hip as well as heart. He?s a good guy. There?s no harm in trying to help, is there?
