The worst thing about Sports that are "manly" (see violent or the much more sanitized "contact") is not just the obvious risk to the combatants long term safety but the risk of death by association. As men we get emotional about our teams, our opinions and "our guy" and often it can bring out the stupid in us; much like hot women. Hooliganism is not just a Soccer thing and it isn't just physical, if you don't believe me check out one of the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao message board debates and get back to me. The alarming part is men who are willing to cross the line so easily are boyfriends, husbands, students and even worse fathers. We of the keypad class love to put Testosterone in the front of our thoughts because it brings attention and page views; but what about the Testosterone in fans?. Boxing is a contact sport in and out of the ring, we also lead the pack on the Internet because we were marginalized by the time the .com boom commenced. We also remain the last bastion of cultural Tribal warfare that we even feature in our media and marketing of big fights. "Mexican Warrior" is a term that is fast becoming generic in our business and the male fans of Mexican descent often behave as if the term applies to them. There isn't one "name" fighter he isn't attracting a base of fans that identify with them a little too strongly. Mayweather fans? young, black, 18-35,nihilistic males who think they too are "Ballers" because the songs tell them so-it isn't hard to describe these guys in marketing terms. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. inherited his fathers base and their children, much like Dale Earnhardt Jr. in NASCAR. Since his fathers reign that fan base became the MAJORITY and with that often comes a sense that rules do not apply to them. Being the Majority also means there is no injustice unless it happens to one of your own. Antonio Margarito sought and found refuge for nearly ending Miguel Cotto's career, Brandon Rios could say practically anything and not many Mexicans protested the stripping of Sergio Martinez of the WBC (see Mexican) middleweight belt. Martinez is understandably pissed and determined to give Jr. a beating, he drove that point home with a blistering performance on Max Kellermans "Face Off" this past weekend to a predictable response. Now, i don't approve of the bullshit that put the belt around the kids waist but as of this writing i believe Martinez's little "heel turn" is going to end up being a "heal turn" - i think Chavez Jr. stops him. And yet, as of today Martinez is distracted by having to find a security team due to threats of violence and vandalism to his car in Oxnard CA. a heavily Mexican populated city. My Blink (Malcolm Gladwell) assessment is that some misguided fan that fits my above description actually inserted himself into the "Face Off" and considered Martinez's words as an affront to his manhood and to that i say GROW UP. It's time to stop babysitting Mexican Boxing Fans, your clearly the best and with that comes a certain degree of responsibility, when you behave in this manner you insult the integrity of ALL GREAT MEXICAN fighters Chavez Sr. included. I can abide passion, racial pride and identification, even trolling but actual contact with a combatant should not be tolerated. Chavez Jr. needs to speak out (but only briefly) to add a degree of class and maturity to something that we should be enjoying "in the ring" on September 25th. If he or Top Rank ignores the recent incident they are complicit and one day it will bite them in the ass, and when it does I'll have no sympathy because ultimately they got the fans they deserved.
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