The rumors that Canelo was getting ready to sign a contract to fight social media personality, Jake Paul got so loud this past Thursday that it made me sick to my stomach. The last time I was so disenchanted with boxing was in June of 1997 when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear in the ring. We had a fight party at my house in the Valley and three people came up to me afterwards claiming they would never watch boxing again. Turmoil in my heart led me to the door steps of my favorite barbershop in Glendale on a brisk Sunday morning.
The strong aroma of coffee overwhelmed my senses. Al the Barber was leathering Big Steve’s round face, preparing for a close shave and as always, Downtown Ronnie Brown was singing the blues.
“I’m your body and fender man, I can fix your car
I’m your body and fender man; let me fix your car
When it comes to bodies and fenders, I’m a superstar.”
“If it isn’t a Fightmonger himself in a flesh,” exclaimed Dave the Barber leaning on a brown leather chair that heard more stories than The Bible itself:” What brings you to our fine establishment on this glorious Sunday Morning?”
“It’s Canelo,” I said:” he was moments away from signing a contract to fight that You-tuber, Jake Paul; just a thought of that turns my world upside down and puts my whole being into a state of ambiguity about future of our sport.”
“How long did you have to wait to squeeze that word into a conversation?” inquired Dave the Barber:” Keep your shirt on. The Red head was lying to get more money out of Mr. Deep Pockets from Saudi Arabia and from the looks of it, he might have just succeeded.”
“Everybody lies!” cried out Downtown Ronnie Brown:” My two year old-granddaughter already knows not to tell her mommy when I buy her ice cream.”
“This has to be the most profoundly true statement you have ever made,” inserted Al the Barber while cleaning his razor: “Canelo wasn’t lying, he was simply weighing his options, in case you forgot, this is called prize fighting. Netflix and You-Tuber were offering a prize of one hundred million dollars. That is more money than I have ever seen or could comprehend.”
“Is that why I’ve seen Canelo say – Don’t pay attention to this F…ing youtuber. I just fight real fighters?” inquired Big Steve. “To quote my favorite boxing promoter Uncle Bob Arum,’ continued Big Steve while inspecting his freshly shaved round face:”Yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth.”
“In my humble opinion, Mr. Deep Pockets just saved boxing from a disaster,’ proclaimed Downtown Ronnie Brown:” imagine Canelo fighting that clown.”
“ Yeah, we should give him a medal, “ cried out Dave the Barber:” why don’t we give him a barbershop diamond belt .What I would like to know is what happens when he gets tired of boxing and decides to invest into pickle ball?.”
“Pickle what?”Inquired Big Steve.
“Never mind pickle ball,” replied Dave the Barber;” What concerns me is Canelo and the future of our sweet science.”
“Boxing is fine and will always be fine,” proclaimed Al the Barber:” It was fine a hundred years ago when the first ever black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson got arrested for transporting a white woman across the state line. It was fine when Floyd Mayweather got in the ring with Big Show. It will be fine today and tomorrow.”
“ Still, as my grandma Knockout Nana used to say— if you mess with a clown you will end up in a circus,’ opined Big Steve;” Will Canelo turn our sport into a circus?”
You know why boxing will survive, “continued Al the Barber;” because you cannot hide from the truth inside the squared circle.”
“All is well that ends well,’ inserted Dave the Barber:” Mr. Deep Pockets signed Canelo to a four fight deal. We should get Canelo Crawford later this year and who knows, he might even fight Benavidez next year.”
“Oh no, don’t even get me started on Benavidez,’ cried out Downtown Ronnie Brown.
But that is a topic for another time….
Fightmonger 
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