Mayweather, Mosley, and the Death of Journalism

Argghhhh!!!!! Arghhhhh!!!!!!

Anyone remember the David Lynch cartoon in the 80's called the world's angriest dog. Well, that's how I feel today.

Look, I know in the 24/7 blogger universe everyone wants a scoop. But seriously. Why can't so-called journalists do a little fact checking before they write.

Today I've been paying attention to the Mayweather signing watch. And my goodness I have never seen so many semi-respected sports columnists write so much nonsense in my life. 

It started with Lance Pugmire of the once great Los Angeles Times blogging that he had just talked with a frustrated Richard Schaefer who admitted he didn't have a signed contract from Mayweather. Then he said he called Mosley's attorney Judd Burstein and that the fight had now been signed.

In between when Pugmire talked to Schaefer—Shaefer supposedly talked to Mayweather major domo Al Heyman who said the contract was being faxed. 

Of course that begs the question why couldn't Schaefer wait the five or 10 minutes until the fax came to say it was actually in his office. 

Better yet, why couldn't Heyman scan the contract and e-mail the darn thing. Seriously, what century are we living in here?

It's an hour later and after several articles saying the signing has happened with even ESPN entering the fray—NOT ONE—NOT ONE article has contained the words "Richard Schaefer has a signed contract in his office."

Read for yourself. This is the latest from ESPN.

Burstein said he received the news on Wednesday afternoon from Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who had been told by Al Haymon, a Mayweather adviser. Burstein said he then spoke to Haymon.

"Al Haymon's word is gold to me. He told me personally," Burstein said. "We spoke and he said Floyd signed. It was a short but happy conversation. Shane is excited. We all know it's going to be a great fight."

Here's the link if you don't believe me.

Only Burstein being quoted that Al Heyman's word is good enough for him.

Really. In a boxing world where just a year ago Burstein and Mosley played a hoax on the entire media world with a bogus press release announcing his upcoming fight with Manny Pacquiao. 

You remember the Mosley-Pacquiao fight, don't you. It was amazing, incredible fight.

Look, I already know I'm gonna get a lot of hate mail from the Mayweather fans who say I'm just "hating" on this fight. I'm really not.

I'm hating on a boxing writing community who seems willing to lap up any ridiculous, silly scrap of information in an effort to claim they knew it first.

The great thing to me about boxing is that two warriors settle it in the ring. Mano a mano. 

In the ring, rather than in the press. 

Hopefully this year fans will get some of the fights they really want. But if we're going to get those fights we need to stop being played with by clowns like Burstein, Heyman and Schaefer.

And boxing writers need to call them on the garbage they put out instead of running with it and claiming they got a scoop.