KELLY

Didn't get to watch the Floyd Mayweather Jr-Ricky Hatton fight a few days ago, but the title holder (Mayweather) won by a technical knockout in the 10th round.

Now, Mayweather Jr. is a fantastic boxer. Unbelievable hand speed and fitness level that I can only dream about. In fact, the more I think about the footage of his training methods, I'm surprised he didn't do away with Hatton earlier in the fight. But with that future hall-of-fame career comes his hall-of-shame braggadocio. Mayweather is, quite simply, an arrogant fellow. He's the type of man who will tell you how much his watch costs, how much his pinky ring values and who made his customised platinum chain with a diamond-studded pendant that says 'Philthy Rich'.

Knock him out

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

I dislike people who are like that. I wanted Hatton to knock him out just to shut him up for at least five minutes. Brash talk and unnecessary flair don't intimidate, it only irritates. I suppose I should have been rooting for Mayweather (a black man) but I prefer to cheer for the humble sportsmen, whatever their race. There's nothing wrong with thinking and declaring that you're the best. Mohammed Ali was mouthy too. But there's a way Mayweather and other black sports stars of today do it that annoys me greatly.

I accept many of these guys grew up in neighbourhoods I would not last 10 minutes in; places so tough they make Baghdad look like Disney World. As a result, once they make the 'big time', they go about getting all the things they dreamed of as a child; the cars, the bling, the mansions and all that. They'll say they're just livin' the dream, baby.

True as that might be, not all sportsmen of a different race grew up in luxury either. Some of these guys came up working on their family's farms, toiling hard, praying for rain to make the crops grow so they could eat. However, buying a Bentley or enough platinum to start their own jewellery store is not on their agenda. What the 'brothas' need to realise is some people are nice to them just because they play sports; that's it! There is no real respect for them as human beings and grown men.

If you're the best, people will see that. There's no need to promo yourself every five minutes. Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan are two of the greatest in their chosen sports but they never flaunt it like Mayweather. At the end of the day, Mayweather will be recorded as one of the greatest boxers and, sadly, one of the biggest loudmouths of all time.

Spar with me at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com