By: Sean Cross
Did the mother of Gervonta Davis admit she was telling the truth last Friday when she said she shouldn’t have called 9-1-1 to report Davis assaulting her earlier in the week? Or will she act like most victims, protecting someone who is easily hurt? Boxing fans and analysts have their own opinions, but no one saves the parties involved and law enforcement officials know the truth. As noted earlier online, those who like Davis are more likely to defend Davis, while those who don’t are at least skeptical.
And what about Tyson Furys? Is the heavyweight kingpin now banned from the United States for his association with a notorious international crime figure? Again, we don’t know. Crime figures are definitely known to have their hooks in the fight game. But only Fury, those closest to him, the criminal organization he is accused of having ties to, and international law enforcement officials know for sure. Like Davis, those who like Fury are more likely to defend Fury, while those who don’t are at least skeptical. As Kurt Vonnegut says: “That’s the way it is.”
One indisputable fact is that fighters like Davis, Fury and others have a history of finding themselves in trouble at one point or another. It’s for the reported abuse of women with Davis (and his involvement in a hit-and-run incident). With Fury, he is said to be putting the choices and trash of his friends into his system, which he knows full well shouldn’t be. When teaching my college students about certain writers, I often point out that it is sometimes wise to separate the author from the work. It can’t be done when it comes to art – but boxing is another story.
After all, who wants to encourage someone who believes he is abusive to women? Or cheating? Or a threat around? Of course, most people are free to please whoever they want for whatever reason they want. Those of us who write, blog, or podcast about the sport must try to achieve some level of objectivity when it comes to these matters. why? Because we often don’t know for sure what the truth is – or at least the evidence we don’t have. That’s not to say we can’t have our own opinions (I certainly do), but if we’re influencing others with our words, the smart thing—and the right thing to do—is to try to keep things neutral. At the same time picking up all the important information. It is not easy to do, but it is important.
