Both Michael Marley (Boxing examiner) and Kevin Iole (Yahoo! Sports) have made valid (in part) commentary regarding a recently released short video where Antonio Margarito, Robert Garcia, and Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios, are apparently mocking Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and the associated Parkinsons Disease tremors he suffers.
I've had several Spanish speaking friends listen to the audio and all agree the correct interpretation reveals the three alleged culprits were saying they were afraid of Roach and were "shaking in their boots" as a sign of that fear.
Further clouding the stances of both Marley and Iole is the apologies of all three men, with Margarito trainer Robert Garcia saying neither Margarito nor Rios knew Roach suffered from the disease.Whether you believe any, none, or all as to what their intentions REALLY were, the subject has again ridiculously allowed race to become a part of the conversation.
Iole allows his better judgement to incorporate his (and many others') own dislike for the WBC and the way it conducts business, specifically targeting WBC president Jose Sulaiman for his seeming preference to have Mexican Champions represent his organization.
Most everyone with an ounce of boxing knowledge has little sympathy for the struggles of the WBC and president Sulaiman, but to enter that scenario into the issue of Freddie Roach and his own disrespect (along with many others) for Antonio Margarito, can leave one with the opinion no one involved in this "lead up" to Saturday night's fight can be considered a role model for the sport.
Freddie Roach has continually needled Antonio Margarito with his opinion Margaito should be banned for life from boxing with that view being shared by millions of fight fans, but the fact remains Margarito served his California State Athletic Commission imposed one-year suspension and has been approved to fight in Texas.
What seems forgotten is that without Margarito vs Pacquiao, what other fight would garner as much attention from the boxing public?
The same attacks on the WBC for it's support of Mexican fighters is the same support offered by Mexican fight fans for "one of their own" in Margarito.
Many of the other supposed "deserving opponents" Pacquiao could have selected would have in no way offered up the support of the same Mexican group Iole is critical of when mentioning both the WBC, Jose Sulaiman, and Antonio Margarito.
First the "guy from Las Vegas" comes out with a video mocking Manny Pacquiao and Fillipino people in general, with a "free pass" given by Marley for what he termed "inexcusable" antics.
Could the disdain Marley and Iole share for Antonio Margarito have been a bit tempered by their often desperate appeals to the "guy from Las Vegas" to sign the contract to fight Manny Pacquiao?
The fight between the "guy from Las Vegas" and Pacquiao was the one most everyone associated with boxing wanted to see, but that fight isn't the one scheduled for this Saturday night in Dallas, Texas.
Should the day come when the "guy from Las Vegas" signs to fight Manny Pacquiao, are we to prepare for Kevin Iole to go after the predominantly black leaders of the IBF and it's predominantly black leadership, as he has the Mexican organization the WBC and it's embattled president Jose Sulaiman?
There is absolutely NO QUESTION the "guy from Vegas" and his team will make defamatory, derogatory, and slanderous comments about Pacquiao, his family, and even Iole and Marley themselves, should they be critical of what the "guy from Vegas" and his team are into.
Michael Marley is (allegedly) a huge fan of Manny Pacquiao, so as long as the Pac Man doesn't fight the "guy from Vegas" (who for some odd reason Marley backs away from ruffling his feathers) expect the Pacquiao opponent to be lambasted at some point for negative comments.
Boxers, promotors, trainers, and managers all make negative and derogatory remarks about each others upbringing, backgrounds, and abilities at some point leading up to a big fight.
The ONLY problem is when a member of the media references the nationality of an organization and it's leader as a point of reference when applying his/her opinion to the discussion.
SHAME ON BOTH MICHAEL MARLEY AND KEVIN IOLE, for adding more fuel to an already sensitive subject that does nothing for the sport of boxing other than give detractors another piece of ammunition.
If these two men are that disgusted, why not publicly state their displeasure and refuse to write anything more regarding this fight Saturday night, whether it be commentary or the final outcome?
Because they already understand boxing has it's own value system in place, and compassion is not usually part of the equation.
Stephen Johnson feature writes for INSIDE BOXING.com, UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND.com, and co-hosts INSIDE BOXING LIVE!
Source: examiner.com
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