We have seen our fair share of boxing stupidity over the years. It’s been a mixed back of stupidity. Sometimes it’s a referee making stupid calls in the ring. Sometimes it’s one judge who’s stupidity impacts the outcome of a fight. More recently it was all three judges. Before I get to Nevada, and it’s crew ups, let me touch on another state.
The state of Texas has held the title for boxing stupidity. At least it has in recent times. Malignaggi getting ripped off in Houston Vs. Juan Diaz is one example. There are several more exampled for me to drop, but I think most fans get the drift. Fighters have been robbed more in Texas than anywhere else in recent times. With what happened in Las Vegas last Saturday, it seems as if Nevada has taken the title from Texas and is back on top as the most ignorant of places when it comes to boxing integrity. Seriously, if I were a manager and found out the my fighter had to fight in Texas, I would have to take a serious look at it. I would warn my fighter and tell him or her that in Texas, funny things happen. In Nevada on Saturday, Manny Pacquiao was the victim of what many are saying was the fix of the decade. Texas is happy about this one. At least it didn’t happen in Texas. Top Rank head Bob Arum told me a few days ago that he’s so disgusted with the decision that he has asked the state of Nevada’s Attorney Generals office to launch an investigation in order to get to the bottom of this terrible decision. He slammed the Nevada commission, and he made it clear that he doesn’t trust them. Arum went to the state Attorney Generals office rather than deal with the Nevada commission.
Corruption in boxing, something that’s not so new. The sport has had corruption since the beginning days. Hopefully one day, the sport will find it’s way and we can have more integrity driving this great sport.
