KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight on Saturday night is a moment many people have been waiting for years to see. But many domestic violence shelters are boycotting the fight due to Mayweather’s history of domestic violence.
Many of those shelters are also asking people to donate to their shelters instead of paying the money to watch the fight. But millions of people are still watching, in fact, people at McFadden’s in the Power and Light District paid $100 to get in to watch the fight. McFaddens says they can hold 404 people, and on Saturday night they were at full capacity.
“I think Mayweather might win, but I kind of want Pacquiao to win,” says Casandra Ridgeway, who was watching at McFaddens.
“Fight of the century,” says Thaddeus Wakeman, who was also watching.
“We like martial arts so it’s just right up our alley…can’t miss a big one,” Lisa Thelen adds.
“I want to see Pacquiao whoop that…you know,” says Jeremiah Coleman.
“They’re both welterweight champions so I’m very interested in seeing them fight each other…seeing who’s the best welterweight and best fighter of our generation,” says Wakeman.
The controversy about Floyd Mayweather’s history of domestic abuse isn’t stopping them from watching, but they certainly have an opinion on the matter.
“He’s not the greatest person in the world, I do not like Floyd Mayweather, I think he’s a piece of crap,” adds Coleman, “I want to see him get his nose broken.”
“I can’t support somebody who routinely has a decade plus history of beating women,” Wakeman says.
Many domestic violence shelters across the country were hoping to set an example by boycotting the fight because of Mayweather’s violent past.
Vicki Kraft, the President and CEO of Newhouse, a local domestic violence shelter, gave FOX 4 this statement about the fight:
“Newhouse opposes domestic violence and we believe that all abusers should be held accountable for their actions. When domestic abuse is a factor in a high profile national news story, we applaud the voices who speak in support of victims and against violence to women and children.”
But millions of people celebrate Mayweather for what he can do in the boxing ring:
“I don’t think any of that enters into a person’s career or what they love to do,” says Thelen.
Most people here say they want Pacquiao to win, and not just for his fighting style in the ring.
“I like him as a person, and I like him as a boxer. He gives a lot of money to charitable organizations that I can identify with,” says Wakeman.