Underdog Boxing: Look what you’ve done Floyd

source: gmanews

There used to be a time when fighters who lose fights simply said that the winner was the better man that day. But now, thanks to Floyd Mayweather Jr., fighters found a convenient excuse to tell whenever they lose fights.

Boxing fans are a smart bunch. None of them believe fighters who use lame excuses anymore. Cop outs such as their trainers putting too much petroleum jelly on their faces (Wladimir Klitschko) or eating the wrong kind of soup which caused diarrhea (Joshua Clottey) have no place in boxing but since Mayweather accused Manny Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs, a handful of fighters have followed him.

Fighters nowadays simply have to say that their opponents are taking performance-enhancing drugs. It’s easy to say and nearly impossible to prove. It is therefore the perfect excuse.

Jean Pascal tried to harass Bernard Hopkins into taking an Olympic-style drug test in the final press conference before the fight. Before the fight, Pascal even wore a shirt with “Take the Test" printed in front. He was beaten by Hopkins and thankfully, he stopped talking about performance-enhancing drugs.

But now, the latest accusation was made by Andre Berto, the former WBC welterweight champion. Berto was beaten last month in a Fight of the Year candidate by Victor Ortiz. After the fight, Berto turned to Twitter in an effort to discredit Ortiz.

“Yo this is the main question I get from fans and boxing people. Did they drug test Ortiz?" Berto tweeted. He followed it up with saying “Let me clear the air now!! You’re right. There is a reason why Ortiz had so much energy, a reason he could take my heavy shots and keep ticking. And there is a reason why he came into the ring 165 pounds. I know people close to him and his camp and I know exactly we he was taking."

Team Ortiz then threatened Berto that they would sue him for defamation unless he stops spreading rumors about Ortiz. It seemed to have worked as Berto tweeted “Wow why does everyone’s mind go straight to PEDs. Calm down everyone I was just talking about Ortiz eating his spinach like Popeye."

It was lame excuse from Berto but it might be enough to stop Ortiz from filing a suit. The problem is, with cases like this, a grain of doubt has already planted in people’s minds. Not all of those who read Berto’s accusations were able to read his tweets where he took it back.

The rule is that, as always, Ortiz should be deemed innocent unless proven guilty. However, in the court of public opinion, this hardly matters.

But there’s a light at the end of a tunnel. Pascal and Berto were the last to throw out these kinds of accusations and they both lost their titles. Hopefully, Mayweather faces Pacquiao so he can be defeated too. Maybe then all these accusations will stop. Boxing is already in dire straits. It will definitely do better without these baseless accusations.

source: gmanews