Shamed pair Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jnr facing the biggest fights of their lives -- Daily Mail

By Jeff Powell, DailyMail.co.uk

It is less than three years since Ricky Hatton squared off against Floyd Mayweather Jnr in a Las Vegas ring for one of the most enriching fights in boxing history.

Now, although they are still comparatively young men, their lives are unravelling in trans-Atlantic tandem.

The Hitman is falling apart in a haze of booze laced with lines of cocaine

The Money Man is stumbling from a racist rant against Manny Pacquiao into a court room to face charges of assault and larceny.

If the Englishman is not warned off his self-destructive lifestyle, there is a serious risk that he will end up in an early grave.

If the American cannot convince a Nevada judge that he neither beat up the mother of his children nor stole her mobile phone then he could wind up in the state penitentiary.

Hatton is facing a long battle with himself which will be tougher, even, than his twin KO defeats by Mayweather and Pacquiao .

Mayweather has a fight in November but not the one the world wanted to see - and which may never happen now.

Instead of challenging Pacquiao for the mythical title of world's best pound-for-pound fighter, he will be answering $3,000 bail and trying to defend himself against a prison term of anything up to 10 years.
The question of drugs swirls around both of them.

Hatton, thank goodness, is not in denial, His admission that he needs help to combat the ravages of his binges on coke as well as alcohol and fast food can be a first step towards salvation.

Mayweather's insinuations that Pacquiao bulked up from featherweight with the help of performance-enhancing substances are rebounding on him in the US.

Michael Marley, a New York lawyer who is also one of the most widely read boxing columnists over there, is not alone in noting the irony that Mayweather's extreme behaviour bears some similarities to steroid rage.

Since there is no more evidence of Mayweather using drugs than there is of Pacquiao, it is more likely that the Money Man cannot deal psychologically with the Pacman's ascendancy over modern boxing.
Fewer tears will be shed for Mayweather than for Hatton.

For all that he so desperately wants to be loved, Mayweather can neither contain the foul-mouthed arrogance which offends so many nor summon up the grace expected of a people's champion.

This man's idea of a charm offensive is to tell everyone how effing wonderful he is.

By contrast, Hatton's plight will evoke as much sympathy as it will provoke condemnation.

Generosity of spirit, not uncontrolled ego, is his problem. The Hitman is a warm, funny, engaging and - albeit with warts and all - genuine character.

As such he has won the affection not only of millions in Britain but of many in America, where they also loved his warrior exploits in the ring.

A natural-born fighter, Hatton thrilled and entertained us down his fighting years. How sad that, after deferring confirmation of his retirement, his world-beating career should end in sordid revelations on the front page of the News of the World.

Perhaps it was always going to be thus for a working-class boy whose hunger for doing everything to extremes was a primal factor in his drive to the top.

Mayweather had to fight his way up, too. But how different they have been since they got there.

While Mayweather luridly flashes his cash, Hatton is as discreetly giving to those around him and to deserving causes as he is indulgent with himself.

Ultimately, once the scandal subsides, the Hitman will be remembered fondly and with pride by the British public.

One of the most amusing personalities ever to lace up the gloves, we will want to laugh with him, not at him.

Mayweather won their fight in December 2007 but not the battle for hearts and minds.

Now, as the Hitman battles with his demons and the Money Man rages against all who dispute his claim to be the greatest, the Pacman will simply get on with proving his magnificence by fighting Antonio Margarito in front of a 75,000 crowd in the glittering new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on November 13.

If only everything in boxing were that simple.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Cops release report for Mayweather arrest -- Fox Sports

Fox Sports

The son of Floyd Mayweather Jr. told police he saw the boxing champion beat his mother last week as the two argued over her new boyfriend, FOX5 reported Monday.

A Las Vegas Police arrest report on the incident says Mayweather fought with 30-year-old Josie Harris after she returned from a Thursday night out and he began questioning her about a new relationship.

“Are you having sex with CJ?” she quoted him in the report, reportedly a reference to Chicago Bulls guard CJ Watson.

After telling him "yes," Harris said Mayweather grabbed her by her hair and repeatedly punched her in the back of her head.

The report says Mayweather threatened Harris, saying, “I’m going to kill you and the man you are messing around with.”

The couple's 10-year-old son told police he saw his dad "on his mother and was hitting and kicking her," according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Police say Mayweather threatened to beat the children if they left the house or called police. Harris was later treated at Southern Hills Hospital for what police said were injuries to her face and arm.

Mayweather, who owns the Las Vegas house where Harris stays with their three children, was charged with grand larceny because he is suspected of taking Harris’ iPhone following the argument. Detectives also recommended the Clark County District Attorney’s Office file a charge of battery domestic violence. A decision on the charge has not been made.

Mayweather surrendered to authorities Friday and was released a short time later on $3,000 bail pending a Nov. 9 appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Mayweather is one of the sport's most recognizable figures, with a record of 41-0 and 25 knockouts. He goes by the nickname ''Money'' and earned more than $20 million in May from his fight in Las Vegas against ''Sugar'' Shane Mosley. Last week the 33-year-old made headlines for a racially-charged video that criticized rival Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather later apologized.

Mayweather's lawyer, Richard Wright, was out of town Monday and unavailable for comment. On Friday, Wright acknowledged the criminal charge stemming from an allegation that Harris' iPhone was missing. He denied wrongdoing on Mayweather's behalf.

The value of the phone was put at about $322, meaning that Mayweather could face up to five years in state prison if he is convicted of taking items valued at less than $2,500.

Mayweather and Harris had three children together during what Harris characterized for authorities as a 15-year ''on and off'' relationship. She said they lived together for seven years before separating in May.

Police said Mayweather wanted to evict Harris from the house.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: msn.foxsports.com

Hatton checks into rehab with severe depression -- ESPN

ESPN staff

Former world champion Ricky Hatton is expected to meet with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) to discuss allegations of cocaine misuse after checking into rehab.

Publicist Max Clifford confirmed on Monday that Hatton has been diagnosed with severe depression and a drink problem, although he insists drugs are not the major issue following newspaper allegations that he took cocaine in a Manchester hotel.

"He met with the specialist today for four, five, six hours and he was told that his depression is severe depression and that he has a drink problem," said Clifford. "The drugs are quite recent and not actually the problem when we're talking about degrees.

"They are very confident if he does what they tell him with the treatment, therapy and advice, he can sort himself out. And he will do what they tell him."

Clifford continued: "He's been relieved by what they've told him. They've said, 'This is your problem, this is what's wrong, and we can sort it out. You should have come to us a long time ago'. It's been a shaft of sunshine coming through. He's faced up to it now even though he hasn't for some time and it's been there for some time."

Hatton is reported to be 'devastated' following Sunday's allegations in the News of the World. According to the fighter's official website he has agreed to seek treatment "following an emotional meeting with his close family".

Hatton has not fought since his defeat to Manny Pacquiao in May 2009, but has not ruled out a return to the ring and renewed his fighting licence in July. He is also a licensed promoter, and could face heavy punishment, including having both his fight and promoter's licences withdrawn.

"Clearly, the Board knows nothing of the actions referred to by the News of the World," said BBBC chairman Charles Giles in a statement. "But the Board will want to see Ricky Hatton at the earliest opportunity and discuss the issues raised in the press accounts with him."

The statement continued: "The Board enforces the strictest standards with regard to the use of both recreational and performance-enhancing drugs by participants in any capacity in professional boxing: it is concerned at all times to ensure that the sport is run in the best interests both of those who take part in boxing, and the public interest, and that those involved in professional boxing, do nothing to damage the reputation of the sport."

Source: espn.co.uk

No Money In Mayweather -- CBS New York

By Jason Keidel, CBS New York

Boxing has long drowned us in the wrong form of parody. But it wasn’t always so.

For those under 30, it’s nearly impossible for you to believe that boxing was an essential sport, the paradox of artistic barbarism. But it was. It was a place of the pauper, the outcast, the convict and the converted, where a kid could go from chump to champ with one punch. Clumsy theatrics aside, “Rocky” was an authentic premise, the story of a thousand fighters burned into history books.

And it was, believe it or not, the template for sportsmanship, where two men tapped gloves, assaulted each other, then hugged with taped hands, swollen torsos, and mangled faces. Smiles were distorted by bleeding slabs of scar tissue on the brow as the fighter explained his tactics to Don Dunphy.

It was great for all the reasons Floyd Mayweather isn’t.

“As soon as we come back from vacation, we’re going to cook that little yellow chump,” Mayweather said during the infamous YouTube rant that would make John Rocker blush.

Manny Pacquiao, a native of the Philippines, was the target of the invective. “We gonna cook that mother f—– with some cats and dogs,” Mayweather continued. “Rice with a little bit of cat, rice with a little bit of barbecued dog.”

There’s more, but you get it. Every critical adjective has been attached when there’s no need. Just watch it.

Talking smack was the ancient mandate because you knew the fighters didn’t really mean it. It was a pretext for ticket sales. Muhammad Ali was the lyrical motif of boxing for nearly two decades, taking bad poetry and making good on canvas. Eventually, fight purses became guaranteed but some good, concocted hatred sparked pay-per-view sales.

Boxing, its talent now drained by other sports that pay the same money with half the danger, now presents Mayweather as its sad spokesman. “Once I stomp the midget, I’ll make that mother f—– make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice.”

He really said it.

The phone book is stuffed with advocacy groups primed to attack such conduct. They are disturbingly – but not surprisingly – silent, moonwalking from a case that has no cachet for them. I don’t have to tell you why, but I will.

Filipinos don’t count, obscure people from an obscure land. They are victims of the duplicitous thorns of political correctness. You can imagine the screeching rebukes had Pacquiao said similar things about Mayweather. Indeed, Pacquiao would likely be barred from fighting in the United States.

Then there was the expected but ineffective pseudo-apology, the abstract, “I didn’t mean it in a bad way,” refrain. Did you mean it in a good way, Floyd?

“It’s an uneducated message,” said Pacquiao, taking the high road unknown to Mayweather’s Escalade.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. – yes, he’s a junior and a coward – attacked Pacquiao with the long arm of technology. Mayweather fights from his kitchen, a safe continent away from Manny’s wheelhouse.

Mayweather has said, on record, that he’s better than Ali and Ray Robinson. If you know anything about boxing you know the treasonous tone of that assertion. Not only is Mayweather a fraction of those fighters, he’s not nearly the man.

Ali, a civil rights icon, fought Sonny Liston when no one would. Robinson fought Jake LaMotta six (six!) times when no one would. Mayweather is a pop culture creature, known more for his vacations than his vocation, uneducated and unaware of the historical heft of his predecessors. Known for voracious gambling, perhaps he’s busy dropping ten grand at the sports book.

Or perhaps he’s busy slapping women and stealing their stuff.

According to The Associated Press, Mayweather was arrested Friday on charges of beating his ex-girlfriend in front of their three children. The woman he allegedly battered was treated at a Las Vegas hospital and has filed an order of protection from “Money” Mayweather. In the complaint, she also claims he threatened to kill her and that he stole her iPhone. Mayweather wasn’t his loquacious self during his perp walk from the Clark County jail after he posted $3,000 bail.

It’s hard to say which is more disturbing – his stream-of-consciousness rap or his burgeoning rap sheet. Mayweather has been arrested many times since 2002 (according to the A.P. report), all involving violence unsanctioned by boxing.

Mayweather is a small man who makes loud noises. At 33, his dwindling followers reflect his diminishing talent. He was a gifted boxer who toed the verbal line long enough to convince us to punch the “buy” button on the remote. Floyd fights only with his mouth these days, his star fading into a sport that is long past dusk.

Feel free to email me: Jakster1@mac.com

Source: newyork.cbslocal.com