Photo by Naoki Fukada
Boxing has a rich history of colorful characters and dominant personalities. Some of them forged the frame on which today’s players build their careers while others exited the stage, forgotten once their scene was done.
Love them, hate them or begrudgingly tolerate their existence, there is a generation of them who walk among us today.
Consider them the shudder down your spine after a shot of tequila, the burning on your tongue after a bowl of hot chili or in some cases the aftermath of an authentic Mexican dinner.
They may be gifted fighters, talented entertainers or both and the list certainly changes from month to month or week to week.
They are the heartburn that follows your favorite meal so grab some TUMS and dig in to a steaming plate of fighters that are pissing fans off.
5. Miguel Cotto
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) has an impressive resume and overall body of work in what surely will result in Hall of Fame induction. However, it doesn’t matter how drop dead gorgeous a woman is because somewhere there is a guy who is sick of her shit. While certainly no one would confuse Cotto with a woman, he plainly has displayed diva-like characteristics of late.
Perhaps this has been made more obvious due to his history as a no nonsense warrior.
Cotto is clearly enjoying the role of the “A-side” fighter that he earned by annexing the lineal middleweight championship from Sergio Martinez and is flexing his negotiating muscle as a result. Cotto as a middleweight champion has both fans and contenders alike salivating like a Rottweiler at a meat case. Potential blockbuster matches against Canelo Alvarez or a unification bout with Gennady Golovkin is everything that is right with boxing.
Rumor had it that we almost had Cotto vs. Alvarez on May 2, but Cotto waited too long in hopes of signing a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. While fans were disappointed, it would have made financial sense and was reluctantly given a pass expecting the blockbuster to be signed in the near future. Unable to put a solid agreement in place, Canelo filled his dance card while Cotto examined other appealing options.
Unfortunately, Cotto said that it didn’t make sense to make a fight with GGG as he hadn’t fought anyone of note and needed to build his resume. As a result fans waited almost a full year from Cotto winning the title for him to select Daniel Geale as an opponent.
This raised the ire of many boxing fans as the very opponent chosen by Cotto was destroyed in three rounds by the very middleweight deemed insufficient by the Puerto Rican star. Additionally, the conditions for Geale to get a shot were below the middleweight limit at a catch weight limit of 157 pounds.
Predictably, Cotto defeated Geale convincingly securing both a successful title defense and a payday. While not out of the doghouse yet, all will be forgotten should he come through with his originally suggested opponent in his next fight. Otherwise he can expect more pissed off fans, for the moment anyway.
4. Adrien “The Problem” Broner
Photo by Esther Lin
Adrien Broner has been living up to his name for quite some time. Broner has been groomed since early on in his career to become boxing’s next superstar once the current crop settles into retirement. Despite the best efforts of top promoters, marketing executives, managers and television networks, Broner is making himself as likable as a farsighted proctologist with sausage fingers.
While Broner worked his way up the ladder, garnering some excellent paydays, he seems to have taken for granted an opportunity that most can only dream about. At 23 years old he made a tape having unprotected sex with two women that was “accidentally” released. While most average Joe’s would not begrudge anyone that opportunity he may have alienated some of the more conservative consumers.
In another incident an intoxicated Broner was arrested in Miami after an altercation at the posh Fontainebleau Hotel. Broner got into a fight with a man at the hotel’s valet ramp and when security employees attempted to break it up he bit one of them on the arm. He was arrested and released after bonding out then tweeted an apology for his behavior.
Despite it all, Broner continued to win and his in the ring antics gleaned attention from the media and fans alike, not all positive. With each post fight, prepackaged rant, he irritated as many viewers as he entertained as his father brushed his hair and groomed him. His angle was no mystery. Be as cocky as possible, talk trash and align with the position as the antagonist that people would like to see knocked out.
Despite his efforts to the contrary he was still seen as amusing by some until his victory over Paulie Malignaggi. Broner won a decision then proceeded to emasculate him in the post-fight interview and left with Malignaggi’s “side piece” to the loser’s vocal dismay. Porn tape? Okay. Drunken biting incident? Um, alright. Loudmouthed anti-hero carbon copy? Errrrr. Gloating side piece thief? That is going too far.
Pissed off fans got what they were looking for when Marcos Maidana dropped Broner in the second round of their fight after getting dry humped earlier and again in the eighth. So celebrated was Maidana’s thrilling decision victory over Broner that it propelled him to a pair of multi-million dollar bouts with boxing’s No. 1 money man, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Broner may have gotten a DUI in January, but fans will be tuning in on June 20 to see if Shawn Porter can arrest Broner’s development after a wise move back to the 140-pound division.
3. Amir “King” Khan
Photo by Lucas Noonan/PBC
Amir Khan (31-3, 19) has been pissing off masses of boxing aficionados for years. When fistic followers of the pugilistic congregation began referring to the fighter as “A mere con” it was a clear sign that he had made “the list.”
Khan started his career off very well and quickly developed an elitist air to him despite a lack of conquests over elite opponents. He eventually planned a breakout performance against his first undefeated opponent named Bredis Prescott. Though Khan had recovered from knockdowns in previous fights he failed his chin check against Prescott and was stopped in 54 seconds.
Fans and defenders of Khan insisted that he got caught cold, it’s boxing it happens or it was a lucky shot and they might not be wrong. In a combat sport such as boxing these things sometimes happen to good fighters. They were absolutely mistaken however if they thought that “King” Khan would avenge his loss. He instead continued his campaign as though it was nothing but a bad dream.
Seeking to buff the scrape out of the paint of his career, Khan caught Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera a couple of fights before retirement. He followed that up by a victory over the feather fisted, but skilled Paulie Malignaggi, went life and death with Marcos Maidana and stopped the useful Zab Judah. Life was good.
At this point in time is where Khan ran into more turbulence in his trade. After having a couple of points deducted for pushing he lost a split decision to Lamont Peterson. He followed up this setback by getting blown away by Danny Garcia in four rounds.
It’s a tough sport and there is no shame in losing to a world class fighter or two and after a few confidence building wins he moved to welterweight. This is where the dookie gets deep. After his first victory at 147 against Luis Collazo, Khan start beating the familiar rhythm of the elitist drum and insists he deserves a shot at Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Continuing this rain dance after his second victory at the weight against Devon Alexander had the vast majority of fans on either side of the UK collectively rolling their eyes. Making it worse was his insistence to the fans that Mayweather vs. Khan is the fight that the fans want. Even after losing several online polls, Khan remained adamant that it was the fight that the world was craving.
With the names Manny Pacquiao (at that time), Tim Bradley, Keith Thurman and Gennady Golovkin (fans can dream) on the wish list for the Mayweather sweepstakes, Khan’s recent entrance to the party is a low priority. A weight class so laden with world class talent and potential matchups makes Khan’s obstinate demand that this is what the fans want leave those same fans with the distinct feeling that he is trying to piss down our backs and tell us its raining.
2. Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao
Photo by Will Hart
Manny Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) has been a polarizing figure since he tore through eight-weight divisions like the Tasmanian Devil. While the majority of the world’s boxing fans viewed his rise from poverty to prominence as a feel good story there has been a large circle of doubters to his legitimacy.
Pacquiao leaving a trail of prone bodies while winning world titles from Flyweight to Welterweight is a feat that has drawn cries of fraud from some skeptical spectators. It has been argued that a fighter would not be able to carry his devastating power through eight weight classes and dominate much larger world-class opponents without some kind of illegal performance enhancing assistance.
This allegation began growing legs during the Mayweather Missile Crisis when they were both hurling demands instead of hooks at each. Pacquiao had never failed a drug test in his entire career and his refusal to take the test his opponent insisted upon may have been more from ego than wrongdoing, but the result was the same. Fans around the globe rallied on one side or the other of the argument but were universally upset as this appeared to be the major factor preventing the “Fight of the Century.”
Implying that was Pacquiao’s only contribution to the ire of fight fans would be disingenuous and having Bob Arum speaking for him often made matters worse. Cuts taking an abnormal time to heal, a stadium being built just for the occasion and continuing infighting about blood testing were just a few grains of the salt rubbed into consumers’ wounds that was already raw from waiting.
As we all know the fight against Mayweather eventually happened, but it unfortunately did nothing to relieve the anger felt by fans, it only changed it. It would have been virtually impossible for the fight to live up to the hype after six years of spirited debate and obsessive speculation, but to say the Fight of the Century was a disappointment would be the Understatement of the Century. Pacquiao seemed to never put himself in proper position (no easy task against Mayweather), followed Mayweather more often than cutting off his escape and was clearly outpointed over 12 dull rounds.
During Max Kellerman’s immediate post-fight interview, Pacquiao claimed that he believed that he won the fight which isn’t uncommon though one wonders if he really believes it. It was the revelation after that interview that he entered the ring with a pre-existing injury to his shoulder that ignited a whole new firestorm. It is difficult to quantify exactly how much impact it had on the action, or lack thereof, that night and had many seeking a refund and has actually spawned several class action lawsuits against both Pacquiao and his promoted Arum.
The majority of consumers who shelled out $100 hard earned dollars felt as though they had been duped in a money grab and the number of potential new fans who will now opt for UFC will never be known. One thing is certain; fans are upset and will express their discontent with their wallets.
1. Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.
Photo by Esther Lin
Undefeated Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (48-0, 26 KOs) is the best fighter of his generation and the pound-for-pound list isn’t the only one that he tops. Mayweather has made an entire career and untold millions of dollars by creating turmoil and rubbing all but his loyal followers the wrong way. Let’s face it; he could make the Pope kick out a stained glass window.
Mayweather embraced the role as the villain years ago and as a result has become the highest paid fighter in the history of boxing. Rejecting an early multi-million dollar HBO offer as a “slave contract,” Mayweather watched the network giant disappear in the rear view mirror of his Bugatti as he drove to the more posh neighborhood that Showtime developed specifically for him.
Numerous allegations of domestic abuse authenticated the villain character to those who already disliked Mayweather and added untold members to their base. Mayweather’s stint in jail for assaulting his children’s mother in front of them did little to neutralize the disdain held by his detractors.
It has already been long debated who was to blame for the mind-numbingly drawn out road to Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather leveled the unsubstantiated accusation that Pacquiao was using performance enhancing drugs. He refused to proceed with negotiations until Pacquiao, who had never failed a drug test, concede to another kind of testing deemed acceptable by Mayweather. Facing a defamation lawsuit and having no proof he was forced to back off from the accusation though he maintained the testing condition in negotiations.
Once the blood testing issue was resolved Mayweather wanted a lopsided 80-20 split in the purse. Then Mayweather’s aversion to dealing with Bob Arum, who had been involved to this point was an issue. Mayweather floated the laughable condition that when Pacquiao’s contract with Top Rank was finished that he sign with Mayweather Promotions instead of signing an extension. Round and round it went until finally the abrasive fighter signed the contract for May 2.
Despite Mayweather insisting before the fight that he would stand and fight with Pacquiao and his uncle’s prediction of a stoppage, few gave it any credibility. Mayweather hadn’t scored a knockout since a technically legal sucker punch dropped Victor Ortiz as he was looking at the referee four years earlier.
The hope was for a crowd pleasing fight with the best man coming out with a dramatic victory and not a replay of the ugly 12 round clutch fest that was Mayweather’s last fight. In the end it was closer to the latter.
Defensive masters who stay in the pocket while deftly slipping punches and returning with sharp counters is the sweet science. Mayweather long ago stopped trying to win fans and developed a grab and shoot style suited to minimize excitement and preserve his undefeated record.
Say what you want about the undefeated welterweight champion, but you can’t deny at some points he has had your attention and at others your money.
I’ll bet that pisses you off.
