It’s very rare that you get a year in boxing like 2009. It was a year that saw the unexpected in a sport where you learn to expect just that. It came in like a lion and left like a lion and we are all still recovering from the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, JR., fall out. Consider this a year in review, covering the negative things that have transpired in the sport, and let’s see if the sport moved forward or fell back.
Tragic July
On July 1st, the world was informed that former 3-Time World Champion Alexis Arguello had committed suicide, but a cloud of mystery surrounds it. The story at the time was that he had shot himself through the heart, but foul play is not ruled out and those that knew him personally, believe that it was a murder. Arguello was remembered for his wars with Aaron Pryor and his relentless style in the ring.
Ten days after the death of Arguello, the boxing world lost another champion. Fan favorite Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was found dead in a hotel in Brazil. His wife, Amanda Rodrigues, was immediately suspected and brought in, but then released and the death was ruled a suicide. Much like Arguello’s death, there is a lot of mystery that surrounds this and there has been a lot of demand from the Gatti family to be more thorough and open with the investigation. This may be one of those deaths that are forever shrouded in mystery.
They say that it “comes in threes” and on July 25th, Vernon “The Viper” Forrest would be murdered, shot to death at a gas station in Atlanta, Georgia. Forrest was robbed at gunpoint and then retrieved his own gun, partaking in a shoot out, unaware that the shooter had a partner waiting in the wings. Forrest was shot in the back several times and killed. He was the man that beat a prime Shane Mosley on two occasions and was back in the mix with the WBC Super Welterweight Title around his waist.
Hands of Plaster
Antonio Margarito was on top of the world. Considered the “most avoided fighter” on the planet, it seemed like justice when he stopped the undefeated Miguel Cotto in a high profile fight. He was seen as the every day man, the working man, and proved that hard work and persistence paid off, but there was more at play. On January 24th, Margarito took on Sugar Shane Mosley, but something about the hand wraps struck Team Mosley funny and when the wraps were later tested, Plaster of Paris was detected. Margarito was entering the ring with loaded gloves. Justice was served as Margarito was knocked out by Mosley and then banned from the sport. He claimed no knowledge and then Bob Arum showed just what a scumbag he is when he announced that a white kid would have never been banned. Margarito is set to return and Mexico has welcomed him with open arms. Maybe he will have to kill somebody to convince them that he shouldn’t be boxing.
Poor Loser
Roy Jones, JR., all set to take on Bernard Hopkins in a pay per screw to top all pay per screws had to get by the lightly regarded Danny Green, but the cruiserweight power-puncher caught the faded Jones and scored a first round stoppage. That threw a wrench in the works for the PPV rematch with Hopkins, but this is boxing, and never underestimate the greed of Hopkins or the ego of Jones. Jones cried foul and said that Green loaded his gloves, releasing letters to boxing publications and trying to erase the publics’ memory of him hitting the floor and being stopped in one. As word got around about the potential loaded gloves, Hopkins and Jones signed to fight and now it is set for an April Pay Per View. Jones, JR., created doubt about his loss…enough to finagle this upcoming rematch. It is exactly what is wrong with boxing.
Steroid Scandals
On January 21st, Shane Mosley was still fighting the charges that he used steroids prior to his 2003 rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. Mosley would admit using them and insiders claim that he used them for quite a while. Luckily for Sugar Shane, the Margarito hand wrap scandal took the focus off his misdeeds.
On November 9th, Kermit Cintron stated on e radio show thap he believed that Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao was on steroids because of his body structure and jump in weight.
On November 23rd, Floyd Mayweather, SR., made the claim as well that Pacquiao was on steroids.
On December 3rd, Shannon Briggs came back after a short hiatus from the sport to score a first round knockout over Marcus McGee. It was later turned to a no decision after Briggs tested positive for an illegal substance. Team Briggs claimed it to be asthma medication. Others point to performance enhancing drugs. The jury is still out.
On December 26th, Floyd Mayweather, JR., publicly expressed his concern that his future opponent, Pacquiao, was on steroids and demanded different testing, which was refused by Team Pacquiao.
On December 30th, Manny Pacquiao files a lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather, JR., and SR., for defamation of character, calling them “liars,” and stating that “liars go to hell.”
Note: On January 8th, 2010, Teddy Atlas would announce on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights that he received inside information that he trusted concerning emails from Team Pacquiao to Team Mayweather, asking what the penalty would be should Manny test positive for steroids.
The Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather super showdown was the talk of the boxing world and we watched as week by week and day by day, it fell apart. It was a black eye for the sport in the year 2009, especially if it should ever come out that the biggest star in boxing is using illegal drugs to get an edge on the competition.
Mike Tyson … Can’t Forget Him
Mike Tyson has become a new man…well, sort of. After a make up with Evander Holyfield, a new documentary exposing his personal life and inner feelings, and a possible return to the sport, he made the news again on November 11th, in an all too familiar way. Tyson had a physical altercation with a paparazzi in a LA airport. The charges were later dropped but it still made worldwide news and may give us an indication that he has a long way to go before he’s the new man he claims to be.
The year 2009 had more drama than most. We had the steroid scandals, murders, and loaded gloves, but we also had some great things like the Showtime Super Six Tournament, launched in 2009, cruiserweights invading the heavyweight division, and a lot of great fights. 2009 was a mixed bag for the boxing fan but delivered what we have come to love: the drama of the sport, both inside and outside of the ring.
Source: ringsidereport.com
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