by David P. Greisman
For this week’s “Fighting Words” and the first 10 of “The 10 Count,” click here. For 10 more, read below…
11. Boxers Behaving Badly update, part one: Roger Mayweather, uncle and trainer to Floyd Mayweather Jr., has had his trial pushed back, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Mayweather’s trial on charges of battery and battery causing substantial harm was to have begun today (Aug. 2). Instead, it has been delayed until Oct. 25 because a major case was scheduled for the same time.
The charges stem from a 2009 incident with a female boxer who lived in a Las Vegas condominium Mayweather owns. Mayweather, 49, had told Melissa St. Vil – 26 years old, 1-1-1, formerly trained by Mayweather – to get out of the condominium, according to past reports. The disagreement got physical.
Police officers said they saw the former 130- and 140-pound titlist choking St. Vil when they arrived at the scene. She was taken to a local hospital, treated and released. Mayweather, who had a lamp broken over his head and had injuries to his head and face, was arrested.
12. Boxers Behaving Badly, part one: Shannan Taylor, a former middleweight title challenger, was arrested and charged with driving drunk with a blood alcohol content of 0.150, three times the legal limit in Australia, according to the Illawarra Mercury.
The 38-year-old is 50-8-3 with 36 knockout wins. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
13. Boxers Behaving Badly, part two: Stephen Sutherland, an Australian Olympian, has been charged with assault, theft and damage, according to the Hastings Leader.
The 19-year-old flyweight, who lost in the first round of the 2008 games, is accused of “punch[ing] a woman in the face after she asked him to leave her daughter’s 16th birthday party,” the newspaper said.
He is due back in court Aug. 13.
14. Boxers Behaving Badly update, part two: Alex Hilton, a retired Canadian middleweight, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years of probation after pleading guilty to charges of mischief and breaking and entering, according to The Canadian Press.
The 45-year-old, who has a criminal history, broke into a hotel and damaged a door frame.
He retired years ago with a record of 37-11 (23 KOs).
15. Boxers Behaving Badly update, part three: Tony Salam, a Nigerian boxer who fights out of the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to three-to-six years in prison for sexual assault, according to the Morning Star newspaper.
The 26-year-old is 9-1 (5 KOs).
16. Boxers Behaving Badly update, part four: Levon Warner, a 41-year-old former heavyweight who was 6-5-2 with one knockout, has been found guilty of first-degree murder for his role in the 2008 shooting death of a Philadelphia police officer, according to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Two other people were involved. One was shot to death by police. The other, like Warner, was found guilty.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
17. Boxers Behaving Badly, part three: Julio Cesar Matthews, an undefeated but 40-year-old cruiserweight, was arrested and charged with conspiracy and possessing heroin with intent to deliver, according to the Reading (Pa.) Eagle.
He is being held in federal custody, effectively ending a career that saw him win all 10 of his bouts, five by way of knockout.
18. Boxers Behaving Badly update, part five: Grant Brown, a 32-year-old from Australia who retired undefeated (8-0, 3 knockouts) after a brief career, has had a jail sentence overturned, according to that country’s ABC News.
Brown had been sentenced to at least 18 months for scoring a knockout over a 70-year-old man. The judge, however, suspended the sentence, saying that Brown was not on his antidepressant medication when the attack happened.
19. Boxers Behaving Badly, part four: Fijian fighter Zulfijar Joy Ali has been arrested and charged with cultivating an illicit drug after police discovered what they think are 139 marijuana plants near his home, according to the Fiji Times.
Ali, 31, is 30-11-6 with one no contest and 25 wins by way of knockout.
20. And on this week’s episode of “Weeds,” Nancy Botwin travels to Fiji, where…
David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. His weekly column, “Fighting Words,” appears every Monday on BoxingScene.com. He may be reached for questions and comments at fightingwords1@gmail.com