Raptors star Chris Bosh says he loves his infant daughter and will “take care of my responsibilities” amid reports his former girlfriend is seeking child support and sole custody of the four-month-old.
“All I can say is I’m willing to take care of my responsibilities like I’ve been doing in the past and in the future and have respect for everyone,” Bosh told reporters yesterday.
“I love my daughter, I love myself and I respect her mother.”
Bosh, who celebrated his 25th birthday yesterday, said he has visited his daughter since her birth in November. But he wouldn’t discuss what role he plans on having in the child’s life.
“I hope everybody respects my wishes to keep it quiet,” he said.
The Toronto Star reported yesterday that Bosh is facing a lawsuit in Maryland from Allison Mathis, who says she lived with him until Bosh ended their relationship while she was seven months pregnant.
Mathis alleges Bosh —who is making $14.4 million US this season —stopped supporting her financially and tried to have her removed from their home.
According to the court papers, Mathis claims the couple had planned on getting married and chose to have a child together, with Bosh reportedly paying for a fertility drug to hasten the process.
Citing the court documents, the report says Bosh, upon returning from last summer’s Beijing Olympics after helping the U.S. win gold, told Mathis he wanted to “move on” from their relationship.
The former Georgia Tech star says he has nothing to prove to those people who know him best.
“People closest to me don’t call it into question,” he said. “They know the situation, they know what it is, that’s all that really matters.”
