Support Boxing Pensions
By Mike Natalino
In the recent months that I have spent covering the practice of the sweet science, I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with some extremely interesting and influential people of the industry. When speaking with other journalists that cover different sectors, a constant complaint is the lack of intriguing stories. These individuals are extremely deep, and refuse to publish just for sake of publishing. Now that is not to speak for all of those involved with media. I find the lack of colorful stories reported by the majority of today’s media to be nothing less than despicable. For myself, I have more than enough work to keep up with that provides phenomenal depth. That is why my attraction to this fraternity runs so deep….there is never a lack of quality to a boxer’s story.
Although I can’t deny that my new found career is bringing me a vast amount of enjoyment, I don’t want to steer attention away from the one of the distinctive reasons why I embarked on this journey, which was a quest for pensions to be provided for retired fighters. This was reiterated when I attended a fight card in Long Island and was blessed by the presence of Emile Griffin. At first, the thought of interacting and shaking hands with the six-time middleweight champ alone sent me in to cardiac arrest! But after sparking a conversation with Emile and his adopted son, Louis, I began to find out one of the true downsides of this sport. A man like Emile Griffith left every ounce of himself in the squared circle every time he stepped inside. How can a man with so much respect for his audience, who dazzled them every fight, be left hung out to dry? Emile is just one case of the many retired boxers that has been left financially distraught. I do not seek pity for such individuals. My wish is to expose their situations to this same audience whom they dazzled almost every time they stepped in the ring, along with the individuals who earned off their broken down bodies without providing these men with a plan for a decent retirement.
I am very aware of the rebuttal to a majority of these stories: These men spent large sums of their capital on lavish possessions and a gala nightlife. The fact that these men performed gladiator acts of courage should not be leveraged as a scapegoat. They are still responsible for their own actions whether or not they were the result of self indulgence or bad managerial decisions. But let’s put this in to perspective. If a person looses their life earnings through making poor decisions, personal or business, there is still the light at the end of the tunnel with their pensions and/or social security. I understand that fighters are eligible for social security at the same age as the regular public. But let me be frank. With the repercussions and damage that this sport takes on one’s mind and body, unfortunately, a majority of these men are not able to perform in the work force as a regular citizen may. For this reason, I feel that they should at least be entitled to social security at an earlier age. And the bigger picture…how is there not a pension at the end of this rainbow to provide these fighters with a prideful retirement? This is just another example of how our system continues to malfunction until someone’s voice is heard. Well, I hope to be that voice. Although I am sure there have been past proprietors for this cause, I ask that you now combine your enthusiasm with mine, so that together, we can make a mark on how this issue should be handled. I have an abundance of stories that will shed light on this problem, and will not allow people to turn their backs anymore. Whether it is intervention from the government, or assistance from the top earners in this business, we need to even out the playing field.
As my journey continues covering this sport, I continue to see many of the same political tactics represented in our government; the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class gets squeezed. This sport, which has been a gate opener for many ethnicities, happens to be one of the toughest ways to earn a living. What happens outside of our fraternity, in the world of politics, we have little control over. Let’s not follow this pattern of mediocrity within our sport, but instead, become innovators who create a new pattern. As I look in to the abyss, and see the next generation coming up, I see that we are going to be blessed with the presence of a new breed of talent that will set its presence and write a new chapter in American boxing history. I ask of those who are now the promoters and managers of these apprentices to nourish them. We are much more educated now, so let’s give these young men an enlightened road to look forward to, along with the comfort of knowing that their future is in good hands.To help with this mission, please submit a comment in the guestbook demonstrating your support.Thank you,Mike
By Mike Natalino
In the recent months that I have spent covering the practice of the sweet science, I have had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with some extremely interesting and influential people of the industry. When speaking with other journalists that cover different sectors, a constant complaint is the lack of intriguing stories. These individuals are extremely deep, and refuse to publish just for sake of publishing. Now that is not to speak for all of those involved with media. I find the lack of colorful stories reported by the majority of today’s media to be nothing less than despicable. For myself, I have more than enough work to keep up with that provides phenomenal depth. That is why my attraction to this fraternity runs so deep….there is never a lack of quality to a boxer’s story.
Although I can’t deny that my new found career is bringing me a vast amount of enjoyment, I don’t want to steer attention away from the one of the distinctive reasons why I embarked on this journey, which was a quest for pensions to be provided for retired fighters. This was reiterated when I attended a fight card in Long Island and was blessed by the presence of Emile Griffin. At first, the thought of interacting and shaking hands with the six-time middleweight champ alone sent me in to cardiac arrest! But after sparking a conversation with Emile and his adopted son, Louis, I began to find out one of the true downsides of this sport. A man like Emile Griffith left every ounce of himself in the squared circle every time he stepped inside. How can a man with so much respect for his audience, who dazzled them every fight, be left hung out to dry? Emile is just one case of the many retired boxers that has been left financially distraught. I do not seek pity for such individuals. My wish is to expose their situations to this same audience whom they dazzled almost every time they stepped in the ring, along with the individuals who earned off their broken down bodies without providing these men with a plan for a decent retirement.
I am very aware of the rebuttal to a majority of these stories: These men spent large sums of their capital on lavish possessions and a gala nightlife. The fact that these men performed gladiator acts of courage should not be leveraged as a scapegoat. They are still responsible for their own actions whether or not they were the result of self indulgence or bad managerial decisions. But let’s put this in to perspective. If a person looses their life earnings through making poor decisions, personal or business, there is still the light at the end of the tunnel with their pensions and/or social security. I understand that fighters are eligible for social security at the same age as the regular public. But let me be frank. With the repercussions and damage that this sport takes on one’s mind and body, unfortunately, a majority of these men are not able to perform in the work force as a regular citizen may. For this reason, I feel that they should at least be entitled to social security at an earlier age. And the bigger picture…how is there not a pension at the end of this rainbow to provide these fighters with a prideful retirement? This is just another example of how our system continues to malfunction until someone’s voice is heard. Well, I hope to be that voice. Although I am sure there have been past proprietors for this cause, I ask that you now combine your enthusiasm with mine, so that together, we can make a mark on how this issue should be handled. I have an abundance of stories that will shed light on this problem, and will not allow people to turn their backs anymore. Whether it is intervention from the government, or assistance from the top earners in this business, we need to even out the playing field.
As my journey continues covering this sport, I continue to see many of the same political tactics represented in our government; the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the middle class gets squeezed. This sport, which has been a gate opener for many ethnicities, happens to be one of the toughest ways to earn a living. What happens outside of our fraternity, in the world of politics, we have little control over. Let’s not follow this pattern of mediocrity within our sport, but instead, become innovators who create a new pattern. As I look in to the abyss, and see the next generation coming up, I see that we are going to be blessed with the presence of a new breed of talent that will set its presence and write a new chapter in American boxing history. I ask of those who are now the promoters and managers of these apprentices to nourish them. We are much more educated now, so let’s give these young men an enlightened road to look forward to, along with the comfort of knowing that their future is in good hands.To help with this mission, please submit a comment in the guestbook demonstrating your support.Thank you,Mike
"Copyright 2013. Mike's Night at the Fight. All rights reserved.