For a few months, we've heard the back and forth "feud" between UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey and Boxing Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Sparked by some "genius" marketers, internet tomfoolery--and the fact that Mayweather has been labelled as a cocky wifebeater--Rousey and Mayweather have exchanged barbs about each other's status in the world, their drawing power, their reading abilities, and so on. But, I've got something to say.
Can we not continue this charade? Can we not push for this "match" any longer? I've got a couple reasons why.
First, Ronda Rousey is a sideshow. Excuse my possible sexism, but it's true. As talented as she is, many MMA fans and the like flock to her because she's an attractive woman who kicks ass. This, as I discussed with fellow SpeedontheBeat.com contributor Amanda Jay, furthers the "bad-ass bitch" stereotype, the one where women have to kick ass and take names to be considered "cool." This is problematic because it fosters a mentality in women and young girls, I've been told and have seen, that they must be ass-kicking automatons to be considered "powerful" and those who can't do this--or, in Rousey's case, those who can't beat Rousey--are considered weaklings and not worth the blurbs they get after their 35-second defeats.
Again, Rousey is good at what she does. It's just a problematic approach to take in real life.
Second, both of these personas are blowhards. They talk a lot of crap to each other. But, what happens if Ronda and Floyd do have this match? If Mayweather wins, as a black man who has a history of violence, it becomes "oh that n-word beat that poor, defenseless white woman," which opens a giant can of worms on several platforms. Specifically, we further the "buck" stereotype of the angry black man beating the white woman. Now, Mayweather is someone who's done some messed-up things--especially with regards to domestic violence. But, if he wins, that violence against a woman gets turned up 1000% because of the racial connotations.
If Ronda wins, people may doubt her validity. Additionally, they may wonder whether or not Mayweather took a dive. Furthermore, if Rousey wins, what does that say about the entire boxing community? Yes, boxing and MMA are two completely different beasts. But, it'll be a black eye to the sport (pun intended) if she makes Floyd submit in three minutes.
Third, men's welterweight boxing and women's bantamweight MMA are, as mentioned, completely different beasts. This isn't The Battle of the Sexes, because at least Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs played the same friggin' sport! It's like if we took CM Punk, right when he left WWE, tossed him into a championship match with Chris Weidman two weeks later, and expected them to have a classic bout. So, for this match to occur, both Rousey and Mayweather would become sideshow attractions more fitted for the world of professional wrestling, a world that we all know that Dana White loathes (even though he's, obviously, been heavily influenced by it).
So, in short, I beg Ronda Rousey, Floyd Mayweather, and all the internet MMA community/internet boxing community folks who want to see this happen: shut all the way the fuck up.
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