Editor’s note: This article contains references to domestic violence. If you or someone you know is a survivor of domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline. 1-800-799-7233 or https://www.thehotline.org/.
We cheer when a boxer reaches out to a man.
We do nothing when he dabbles in women.
The latest example of boxing’s ugly indifference is repeat offenders. Jarbonta Davis was arrested in Parkland, Florida on Tuesday. He was charged with one count of his battery causing harm to his body. This is a misdemeanor of domestic violence in Florida. According to the incident report, Davis “intentionally touched and beat” the female victim and “deliberately physically harmed” him. He was hit with a “slap of the hand”, causing “a small abrasion on the inside of the upper lip on the right side of the mouth.”In his 911 call obtained by TMZthe woman told the operator, “He’s going to kill me.”
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Davis denied the physical assault.
This is not Davis’ first offense. In 2020, Davis was arrested after a video surfaced showing a 135-pound candidate grabbing his ex-girlfriend by the neck and dragging her out of a basketball game. was arrested again later that year for driving a According to police, Davis left the scene leaving behind victims, including her pregnant woman. The woman, Gia Smith, told a judge in September that she looked Davis in the eye and asked for help before fleeing, and she has a trial date in the case set for February.
Boxing is unlike any other sport. It allows a lot. Embracing Mike Tyson after being convicted of rape. In 2012, Nevada licensed Floyd Mayweather to face Miguel Cotto Week rear Mayweather agreed to serve 87 days in Nevada prison for beating the mother of his children, Josie Harris. pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an attack on a woman at a nightclub in
To be fair, other sports aren’t always like this.In 1995, Bengals lineman Dan Wilkinson didn’t object to punching his pregnant wife in the belly. Team owner Mike Brown persistently described the incident as a “wound”. Jason Kidd did not contest spousal abuse in 2001. The NBA’s only response was for the Nets to trade Kidd to Phoenix. Kobe Bryant found guilty of sexual assault Never before, but the idea that Bryant would be allowed to travel in and out of Colorado for trials like he did in the 2003-04 season seems wild today.
Mainstream sports are still incomplete, but they are evolving. Deshawn Watson has never faced criminal charges for allegedly cheating with more than 20 women during a massage session, but the NFL gave Watson an 11-game suspension. Three women suspended Trevor Bauer for 324 games (later reduced to 194 games) after accusing him of sexual misconduct. Bauer, who is still under contract with the Dodgers, may never pitch again. Miles Bridges did not contest one felony count for domestic violence, which remains unsigned.
where’s the boxing
Why do sports power brokers often collectively shrug against violence against women?
money, obviously. As Davis fights, he rakes his seven-figure gate. He’s generating his six-figure pay-per-view purchases. He has cash in the pockets of every promoter, manager, and network that works with him.
No accountability. Not from Davis’ advisor, Al Haymon. Not from Showtime, the network that broadcast Davis’ last 11 fights, and next week’s Davis pay-per-view of Hector against Luis Garcia will be his provider. Showtime’s parent company, CBS, prides itself on investigating domestic violence. In recent years, the network has shed light on abuses in the military and the NFL. On the other hand, an athlete who was arguably accused of assaulting multiple women is effectively on payroll.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the network said Showtime was “aware of the situation but has no comment at this time.”
Boxing’s indifference to the treatment of women comes at a time when it should be courted to them. Katy Her Taylor’s title defense against Amanda Serrano was the best fight of the year and drew her over a million viewers worldwide. The video of Claressa Shields winning Savannah her Marshall attracted two million viewers. Alicia Baumgardner and Michaela Meyer got into a blood feud. The audience is full of girls who will lead the next generation. If boxing needed an economic reason to take a tough stance on violence against women, it wouldn’t need it, but it is there.
And maybe it will. Showtime put the brakes on a scheduled match between Davis and Roland Romero last fall after Romero was accused of sexual assault. Rescheduled last May, Mr. Davis’ latest brush on legislation represents a different test: A major U.S. sports league sees violence against women as deserving harsh penalties.Boxing too. should do the same.