During the weeks before the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao match, as millions waited in anticipation of what was hyped up to be the biggest boxing match in history, the National Domestic Violence Hotline reported an 80 percent increase in donations.

The match made over 500 million dollars, and Mayweather is set to walk away with more than 200 million and the prestige of winning such a high profile bout. But after fans left MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, Mayweather should have been in jail, not the limelight.

Mayweather is well known for flaunting his wealth, but his history of abuse was not as notorious before this match, even though seven domestic abuse cases have been filed against him. The most recent conviction involved him hitting his ex-girlfriend in front of their children, but multiple other charges have been leveled against him.

Hashtags such as #BoycottMayweather and #NoMayPac trended on Twitter while the match was going on. Breakthrough, a human rights campaign, encouraged the public to do “literally anything else” other than watch the match. ESPN’s Sarah Spain took it a step further, suggesting that people donate the $100 that it would cost to watch the match to a domestic abuse help center.

“I don’t watch sports at all, but I still saw so much backlash against Mayweather on Twitter,” sophomore Radhika Rahlan said.

Mayweather should be serving time, or at the very least, should have been charged for more crimes than he has been right now. A study conducted by the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes found that 80 percent of the general public is convicted of their charges, while the conviction rate for athletes is only 38 percent. It is Mayweather’s 48-0 record that is keeping him out of jail – the money that he brings in is because of the hordes of people that idolize him because of his boxing skills, while ignoring his despicable personality.

Mayweather does not deserve the millions that he has made from this match. However, the National Domestic Violence Hotline reported a 15 percent increase in calls around the time of the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao match. “What we think is important is the awareness that is created,” NDVH’s Cameka Crawford said. Calling out perpetrators of domestic violence, especially those who are prevalent in the media, initiates an essential conversation that can lead to victims of domestic abuse, like the women Mayweather has beaten, finally getting the help they need.

By Sandhya Sivakumar