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WHY CAN'T MEXICAN FIGHTERS JUST GET ALONG? 
By Michael Herron
This article is my interpretation of several recent high-profile fights involving Mexican fighters, such as last week's lightweight fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz. I must disclose that I am not Mexican, so maybe my point of view is completely wrong, but from the outside looking in, this is what I see.
Growing up in the era where the phrase "Black on Black Crime" was popularized, I find it interesting to translate this concept to the boxing ring. In boxing, I've noticed that black fighters generally support each other and hail each others accomplishments. For instance, take semi-retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. Floyd gets a lot of hate from fans and media but other African American fighters have nothing but good things to say about him (with the exception of Zab Judah, who hates on everybody). Most recently we saw Chad Dawson choked up with appreciation following his fight with Antonio Tarver because Mayweather said he was the best pound-for-pound boxer. I use Mayweather as an example because he is the most popular and divisive black fighter in the sport besides Bernard Hopkins, yet a majority of contemporary black fighters admire, respect, and acknowledge him as the best.
Mexican fighters are a different story. They seem to can’t stand each other and hate to give each other credit. I know that’s a bold statement but I'm referring to the most popular trio of recent years, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez. Part of the disdain is simply competition which the fans love; the boxing world benefits from the fact that they have a genuine rivalry, no doubt about it. But the fuel behind the rivalry is where the "internal racism" shows. It is not each others’ talent or skills that they focus on, but from where each guy is from, how they were raised, and their social class. Morales has stated that his biggest problem with Barrera is he is not "Mexican" enough. He asserts that he had to struggle growing up rough while Barrera is from a privileged class. Though this is more classism than racism it is still a cause of internal strife.
In regards to Juan Manuel Marquez, Barrera, who was defeated by him, only reluctantly had anything positive to say about his character, skills, and abilities. Many fans agree Marquez may be the best in the world, but Barrera, Morales and many other contemporary Mexican fighters have not yet joined that parade.
Last night in HBO’s pre-fight interview with Juan Manuel Marquez, he literally bragged that he was 100% Mexican while Juan Diaz was only 50% Mexican and 50% American. As a result of Diaz only being 50% Mexican (according to Marquez anyway), Marquez asserted that it would be impossible for Diaz to beat him. Can you imagine if a Black and White fighter met and things like this were being said? Just think of the ruckus caused when Bernard Hopkins in reference to Joe Calzaghe stated "I'll never let a white boy beat me." Then again no need to use your imagination; match-ups like the 1980’s Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney heavyweight title fight illustrate the effects of race in boxing.
Fernando Vargas, an American Olympian, was someone who played the race card for all its worth by portraying himself as a “real” Mexican. I know that Aztec Warrior Culture and Mexican Pride is a beautiful thing, but in his bout against Oscar De La Hoya, the whole promotion centered on his belief that De La Hoya was somehow less Mexican. De La Hoya was vilified as a Mexican wannabe, a fake, a pretender, and it translated into a form of hatred. It’s something that you just do not see, to this degree, with other nationalities in the sport.
Antonio Margarito is another example, though he was born in America, he chooses to only speak Spanish and claims only Tijuana, Mexico as his hometown. He also has taken the Mexican fighting style to the point where he would walk through hell fire against any opponent rather than adjust his style or fight defensive. Like Fernando Vargas, he also wanted to fight and expose De La Hoya as a fake Mexican, not just for the money, but for Mexican Pride. Here's the irony: speaking English in America potentially increases your fan base (it was always cited as a reason why Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez were not as popular here as they could have been), yet Margarito refuses to habla ingles, and has historically complained that he could not get big fights. Of course this was resolved after his fight with Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto, but Cotto does his best to speak English. Margarito’s logic in my opinion is that speaking English would make him appear less Mexican. He makes less money, but it seems like he refuses to appear less Mexican.
Mexican Pride may have a degree of internal racism running through it, to the point that Mexican fighters try to out-Mexican each other. Not since Julio Cesar Chavez has there been a Mexican Champion of unity, embraced and revered by all Mexicans. I'd like to see it get back to that. But then again, I could be totally off in this observation; perhaps the readers can provide a further analysis.
By Michael Herron
This article is my interpretation of several recent high-profile fights involving Mexican fighters, such as last week's lightweight fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz. I must disclose that I am not Mexican, so maybe my point of view is completely wrong, but from the outside looking in, this is what I see.
Growing up in the era where the phrase "Black on Black Crime" was popularized, I find it interesting to translate this concept to the boxing ring. In boxing, I've noticed that black fighters generally support each other and hail each others accomplishments. For instance, take semi-retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. Floyd gets a lot of hate from fans and media but other African American fighters have nothing but good things to say about him (with the exception of Zab Judah, who hates on everybody). Most recently we saw Chad Dawson choked up with appreciation following his fight with Antonio Tarver because Mayweather said he was the best pound-for-pound boxer. I use Mayweather as an example because he is the most popular and divisive black fighter in the sport besides Bernard Hopkins, yet a majority of contemporary black fighters admire, respect, and acknowledge him as the best.
Mexican fighters are a different story. They seem to can’t stand each other and hate to give each other credit. I know that’s a bold statement but I'm referring to the most popular trio of recent years, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez. Part of the disdain is simply competition which the fans love; the boxing world benefits from the fact that they have a genuine rivalry, no doubt about it. But the fuel behind the rivalry is where the "internal racism" shows. It is not each others’ talent or skills that they focus on, but from where each guy is from, how they were raised, and their social class. Morales has stated that his biggest problem with Barrera is he is not "Mexican" enough. He asserts that he had to struggle growing up rough while Barrera is from a privileged class. Though this is more classism than racism it is still a cause of internal strife.
In regards to Juan Manuel Marquez, Barrera, who was defeated by him, only reluctantly had anything positive to say about his character, skills, and abilities. Many fans agree Marquez may be the best in the world, but Barrera, Morales and many other contemporary Mexican fighters have not yet joined that parade.
Last night in HBO’s pre-fight interview with Juan Manuel Marquez, he literally bragged that he was 100% Mexican while Juan Diaz was only 50% Mexican and 50% American. As a result of Diaz only being 50% Mexican (according to Marquez anyway), Marquez asserted that it would be impossible for Diaz to beat him. Can you imagine if a Black and White fighter met and things like this were being said? Just think of the ruckus caused when Bernard Hopkins in reference to Joe Calzaghe stated "I'll never let a white boy beat me." Then again no need to use your imagination; match-ups like the 1980’s Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney heavyweight title fight illustrate the effects of race in boxing.
Fernando Vargas, an American Olympian, was someone who played the race card for all its worth by portraying himself as a “real” Mexican. I know that Aztec Warrior Culture and Mexican Pride is a beautiful thing, but in his bout against Oscar De La Hoya, the whole promotion centered on his belief that De La Hoya was somehow less Mexican. De La Hoya was vilified as a Mexican wannabe, a fake, a pretender, and it translated into a form of hatred. It’s something that you just do not see, to this degree, with other nationalities in the sport.
Antonio Margarito is another example, though he was born in America, he chooses to only speak Spanish and claims only Tijuana, Mexico as his hometown. He also has taken the Mexican fighting style to the point where he would walk through hell fire against any opponent rather than adjust his style or fight defensive. Like Fernando Vargas, he also wanted to fight and expose De La Hoya as a fake Mexican, not just for the money, but for Mexican Pride. Here's the irony: speaking English in America potentially increases your fan base (it was always cited as a reason why Roberto Duran and Julio Cesar Chavez were not as popular here as they could have been), yet Margarito refuses to habla ingles, and has historically complained that he could not get big fights. Of course this was resolved after his fight with Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto, but Cotto does his best to speak English. Margarito’s logic in my opinion is that speaking English would make him appear less Mexican. He makes less money, but it seems like he refuses to appear less Mexican.
Mexican Pride may have a degree of internal racism running through it, to the point that Mexican fighters try to out-Mexican each other. Not since Julio Cesar Chavez has there been a Mexican Champion of unity, embraced and revered by all Mexicans. I'd like to see it get back to that. But then again, I could be totally off in this observation; perhaps the readers can provide a further analysis.
**** that was funny man seeing holmes drop kick him off the top of a car
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