By Danny Rose
WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. could face some resistance during an upcoming promotional visit to Australia later this month - over the boxer's past legal troubles related to domestic violence.
Mayweather is currently involved in a lawsuit with former fiancé "Ms. Jackson," who claims verbal and physical abuse, and the boxer spent two months in jail back in 2012 over a domestic violence charge involving his former girlfriend.
Family violence campaigners are calling on Australians to not support his speaking and nightclub appearances, saying Mayweather represents everything the group is fighting against.
The Abbott government should also bar Mayweather's entry to the country on character grounds, says Domestic Violence Victoria CEO Fiona McCormack.
"At a time when public concern around the epidemic of violence against women in Australia has never been higher - a decision to allow someone into the country with such a history of violence against women, and who publicly defends that behaviour, would send a powerful message that we can ignore or trivialise violence against women," Ms McCormack told AAP on Wednesday.
"Men who choose to use violence against women do so because they believe that they have an entitlement, or right, to behave that way.
"When we glorify their achievements, it reinforces the stance that it is okay to abuse and control women".
Victoria's premier, who this week launched a Royal Commission into domestic violence, was also less than welcoming when asked about the boxer's impending visit.
"I certainly won't be attending," Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Wednesday.
"I think my views, and the view of my government, on family violence are well understood."
Mr Andrews said Mayweather's visa was a matter for the Commonwealth.
He is due to make dinner and nightclub appearances in Sydney and Melbourne on January 29 and 30.
