Bob Arum Tells Floyd Mayweather, Schaefer: "Go To Hell!"
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Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: An Alternate Scenario
By Brandon Desmond - Paying close attention to the developing negotiations between Boxing’s two best and brightest superstars, I was surprised to learn that the principle terms to the contract were agreed upon so quickly. Early in the negotiation process, the purse split, the gloves, the ring size, the contract weight (all points that I expected would be contentious) were agreed upon. I, like many boxing fans and media, expected a long, up-hill battle to get this fight made. When it looked like all there was to settle on was the venue of the fight, it seemed like it went too easy. I don’t know about anyone else, but the quickness with which it appeared to be shaping up almost took some of the luster off of the fight!
I can’t help but remember negotiations for Pacquiao vs. Hatton, where Hatton demanded a 50/50 split, finally forcing Pacman to acquiesce by threatening to walk away from the fight. Of course, that fight did extremely well on Pay-Per-View, and we all know what the outcome was. But to me, there was never any real hype leading up to that fight.. Aside from the tiff that almost wrecked it altogether, there was really no reason for Hatton and Pacquiao to fight each other, except for that whole “Proving who is best at 140” idea. There was very little trash talk from either camp leading up to the event, and in fact, the fighters had nothing but respect for one another. All that being said, again, Pacman vs. Hatton did very well on PPV, although it was far from a record breaker. The promotion relied on the expectation that it would be a great fight because you had two face-first brawlers coming at each other in there.
Cut to December, 2009. Of course everything is being agreed on! Negotiations running smoothly, everyone’s getting what they want and not asking too much. It looks like we’re getting the fight earlier than originally projected (March 13th as opposed to some time in May). And even though an arduous negotiation was expected, it seemed to all make sense. This would be the most hyped and anticipated fight since Leonard vs. Hearns I, and potentially the biggest money fight since Mayweather vs. De La Hoya, possibly shattering the records set by that event. Pacman and Floyd would both have to be complete ‘tards to screw this up! Right? WHOA, wait a minute! Mayweather is threatening to walk away from the fight if Manny Pacquiao doesn’t agree to Olympic-style drug testing. No pro boxing match (that this writer is aware of) has ever had Olympic-style drug testing in it’s contract. This would seem to make more sense if Pacquiao had, at some point in the past, tested positive or was suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. But he has not. In fact, until this point in the negotiations for THIS fight, accusations of that kind were limited to whispers from guys like Paulie Malignaggi and Floyd Mayweather Sr. (whose fighter, Hatton, was erased in 2 rounds by Pacquiao). Aside from the fact that Pacquiao has never tested positive for any banned substance before or after a fight. A lot of people in the media, and a lot of boxing fans including myself are getting a wafting whiff of something fishy going on. But I don’t necessarily think this has anything to do with the accusations of Pacquiao taking PEDs. I think the fishiness has a lot to do with the hype of the fight.
Here’s my theory. At some point, everyone agreed to the terms of the contract, and everyone all but signed it. But before the announcement of the fight, the promoters (Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions) probably thought the event could use a little more hype and a little more anticipation. Think about this. Isn’t this whole drug testing fiasco making you lick your lips even more for this fight? Don’t you wish it would just get done already? Right now, isn’t everyone that cares about this (outside the fighters’ camps) wondering if this fight will ever happen? I think both fighters are clean, and I think both fighters and their respective handlers know this. With the proposed date of March 13 steadily approaching, the promotion teams don’t have the usual 4-6 months to build the hype needed for an ultra-mega fight such as this one. So they needed to do something unconventional to ‘invent’ some extra hype and anticipation. People, I think we’re being strung along.
I have to admit, this is pure speculation. And it really does hurt me to think that there are people out there who are buying into the suspicion toward Pacquiao, who has always proven himself to be an absolutely clean, hard-working, god-fearing pugilist. But if what I’m suggesting is true, we boxing fans have nothing to worry about. Not only will Mayweather vs. Pacquiao happen, but it will break Pay-Per-View and attendance records, and I have an inkling that the action in the ring the night of March 13th will absolutely live up to the hype we are currently being dragged through. And here is one final prediction: Both fighters will pass all drug tests administered before and after the fight.
By Brandon Desmond - Paying close attention to the developing negotiations between Boxing’s two best and brightest superstars, I was surprised to learn that the principle terms to the contract were agreed upon so quickly. Early in the negotiation process, the purse split, the gloves, the ring size, the contract weight (all points that I expected would be contentious) were agreed upon. I, like many boxing fans and media, expected a long, up-hill battle to get this fight made. When it looked like all there was to settle on was the venue of the fight, it seemed like it went too easy. I don’t know about anyone else, but the quickness with which it appeared to be shaping up almost took some of the luster off of the fight!
I can’t help but remember negotiations for Pacquiao vs. Hatton, where Hatton demanded a 50/50 split, finally forcing Pacman to acquiesce by threatening to walk away from the fight. Of course, that fight did extremely well on Pay-Per-View, and we all know what the outcome was. But to me, there was never any real hype leading up to that fight.. Aside from the tiff that almost wrecked it altogether, there was really no reason for Hatton and Pacquiao to fight each other, except for that whole “Proving who is best at 140” idea. There was very little trash talk from either camp leading up to the event, and in fact, the fighters had nothing but respect for one another. All that being said, again, Pacman vs. Hatton did very well on PPV, although it was far from a record breaker. The promotion relied on the expectation that it would be a great fight because you had two face-first brawlers coming at each other in there.
Cut to December, 2009. Of course everything is being agreed on! Negotiations running smoothly, everyone’s getting what they want and not asking too much. It looks like we’re getting the fight earlier than originally projected (March 13th as opposed to some time in May). And even though an arduous negotiation was expected, it seemed to all make sense. This would be the most hyped and anticipated fight since Leonard vs. Hearns I, and potentially the biggest money fight since Mayweather vs. De La Hoya, possibly shattering the records set by that event. Pacman and Floyd would both have to be complete ‘tards to screw this up! Right? WHOA, wait a minute! Mayweather is threatening to walk away from the fight if Manny Pacquiao doesn’t agree to Olympic-style drug testing. No pro boxing match (that this writer is aware of) has ever had Olympic-style drug testing in it’s contract. This would seem to make more sense if Pacquiao had, at some point in the past, tested positive or was suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs. But he has not. In fact, until this point in the negotiations for THIS fight, accusations of that kind were limited to whispers from guys like Paulie Malignaggi and Floyd Mayweather Sr. (whose fighter, Hatton, was erased in 2 rounds by Pacquiao). Aside from the fact that Pacquiao has never tested positive for any banned substance before or after a fight. A lot of people in the media, and a lot of boxing fans including myself are getting a wafting whiff of something fishy going on. But I don’t necessarily think this has anything to do with the accusations of Pacquiao taking PEDs. I think the fishiness has a lot to do with the hype of the fight.
Here’s my theory. At some point, everyone agreed to the terms of the contract, and everyone all but signed it. But before the announcement of the fight, the promoters (Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions) probably thought the event could use a little more hype and a little more anticipation. Think about this. Isn’t this whole drug testing fiasco making you lick your lips even more for this fight? Don’t you wish it would just get done already? Right now, isn’t everyone that cares about this (outside the fighters’ camps) wondering if this fight will ever happen? I think both fighters are clean, and I think both fighters and their respective handlers know this. With the proposed date of March 13 steadily approaching, the promotion teams don’t have the usual 4-6 months to build the hype needed for an ultra-mega fight such as this one. So they needed to do something unconventional to ‘invent’ some extra hype and anticipation. People, I think we’re being strung along.
I have to admit, this is pure speculation. And it really does hurt me to think that there are people out there who are buying into the suspicion toward Pacquiao, who has always proven himself to be an absolutely clean, hard-working, god-fearing pugilist. But if what I’m suggesting is true, we boxing fans have nothing to worry about. Not only will Mayweather vs. Pacquiao happen, but it will break Pay-Per-View and attendance records, and I have an inkling that the action in the ring the night of March 13th will absolutely live up to the hype we are currently being dragged through. And here is one final prediction: Both fighters will pass all drug tests administered before and after the fight.
‘Be Man Enough, Own Up to Your Words,’ Pacquiao Tells Mayweathers, Golden Boy Execs
SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES (Dec. 29)—Boxing’s pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao became more incensed at Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Sr. and executives of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) for twisting facts and coming up with false statements that intended to cover up the mess that they created even as they put the blame on the Filipino and his team for the snag of talks to make the projected biggest fight in history from happening.
“I can’t believe these guys can lie without batting an eyelash and they would even make it appear that I am the culprit for the delay of the fight and saying that I don’t want it to happen,” said Pacquiao in Tagalog, as he released part of the information that he has been keeping—proof that Mayweather Jr. directly accused him of performance enhancement drugs (PED) use.
“Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words,” said Pacquiao, as he recalled information that pointed out to Mayweather Jr. categorically stating that “the Philippines has the best (performance) enhancement drugs,” supporting what his father, Mayweather Sr. and his uncle Jeff Mayweather, have openly claimed in past interviews. They all claimed that Pacquiao was into some kind of “roids” (steroids) or has used other banned substances..
“It’s all over the internet. (Link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/676796581a1c2a9e/ listeners’ discretion is advised due to foul and harsh language). They all went on record and there is no denying as to who is lying or not,” added Pacquiao, who thinks he is becoming a victim of black propaganda with the intention of systematically besmirching, tarnishing and destroying his legacy as one of the best fighters of all time. In the audio recording, Mayweather linked him to drug use by maliciously stating that the Philippines is a producer of the best PEDs. “For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are producers of the best performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished, the sooner, the better, whether it be in the courts or in the ring.”
The now-famous Mayweather versus “RA, the Rugged Man” radio interview in October said it all about how Mayweather accused Pacquiao and the whole Filipino nation. Mayweather exploded at the 15:18 minute mark of the 21-minute interview. This transpired even before Pacquiao was to fight Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
Pacquiao reserved and kept other proof of defamatory statements made by other individuals, who will be charged later on in court. His legal team is readying materials in order to file a lawsuit soon. A lawsuit will be filed whether or not his fight with Mayweather will push through on March 13, 2010 in Las Vegas.
The Mayweather camp and Golden Boy Promotions, have required Pacquiao to undergo a new set of drug testing procedures other than those already required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“I want to put this on the record again, that I will abide by the NSAC requirements like in all of the fights in boxing history, including all of my fights,” said Pacquiao, who vehemently denied claims that he was against drug testing.
“In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) use. I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons. That should stop these clowns from asking for other drug testing procedures other than the ones already required by the NSAC.”
On Monday, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions issued a joint statement in order to set the record straight. “They claimed that I threatened to walk away from the largest fight in history. That's their first lie! Last week, I told Floyd Jr. to shut his big, pretty mouth and that we should fight so that the world will get to see who is the best fighter in the planet,” said Pacquiao.
The Mayweather-GBP release also stated: “Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything. But the reality seems to be that for whatever reason Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to prior to and during competition.”
“Again, all we need to see are the other recorded transcripts of what they said in websites and blogs. It is a pity that Oscar “Golden Boy” Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions should have been supporting me, too, because his company has a promotional stake in my career. They all say they got my back, but yes, they stab me, too, when I turn my back,” said Pacquiao.
SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES (Dec. 29)—Boxing’s pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao became more incensed at Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Sr. and executives of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) for twisting facts and coming up with false statements that intended to cover up the mess that they created even as they put the blame on the Filipino and his team for the snag of talks to make the projected biggest fight in history from happening.
“I can’t believe these guys can lie without batting an eyelash and they would even make it appear that I am the culprit for the delay of the fight and saying that I don’t want it to happen,” said Pacquiao in Tagalog, as he released part of the information that he has been keeping—proof that Mayweather Jr. directly accused him of performance enhancement drugs (PED) use.
“Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words,” said Pacquiao, as he recalled information that pointed out to Mayweather Jr. categorically stating that “the Philippines has the best (performance) enhancement drugs,” supporting what his father, Mayweather Sr. and his uncle Jeff Mayweather, have openly claimed in past interviews. They all claimed that Pacquiao was into some kind of “roids” (steroids) or has used other banned substances..
“It’s all over the internet. (Link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/676796581a1c2a9e/ listeners’ discretion is advised due to foul and harsh language). They all went on record and there is no denying as to who is lying or not,” added Pacquiao, who thinks he is becoming a victim of black propaganda with the intention of systematically besmirching, tarnishing and destroying his legacy as one of the best fighters of all time. In the audio recording, Mayweather linked him to drug use by maliciously stating that the Philippines is a producer of the best PEDs. “For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are producers of the best performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished, the sooner, the better, whether it be in the courts or in the ring.”
The now-famous Mayweather versus “RA, the Rugged Man” radio interview in October said it all about how Mayweather accused Pacquiao and the whole Filipino nation. Mayweather exploded at the 15:18 minute mark of the 21-minute interview. This transpired even before Pacquiao was to fight Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
Pacquiao reserved and kept other proof of defamatory statements made by other individuals, who will be charged later on in court. His legal team is readying materials in order to file a lawsuit soon. A lawsuit will be filed whether or not his fight with Mayweather will push through on March 13, 2010 in Las Vegas.
The Mayweather camp and Golden Boy Promotions, have required Pacquiao to undergo a new set of drug testing procedures other than those already required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“I want to put this on the record again, that I will abide by the NSAC requirements like in all of the fights in boxing history, including all of my fights,” said Pacquiao, who vehemently denied claims that he was against drug testing.
“In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) use. I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons. That should stop these clowns from asking for other drug testing procedures other than the ones already required by the NSAC.”
On Monday, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions issued a joint statement in order to set the record straight. “They claimed that I threatened to walk away from the largest fight in history. That's their first lie! Last week, I told Floyd Jr. to shut his big, pretty mouth and that we should fight so that the world will get to see who is the best fighter in the planet,” said Pacquiao.
The Mayweather-GBP release also stated: “Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything. But the reality seems to be that for whatever reason Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to prior to and during competition.”
“Again, all we need to see are the other recorded transcripts of what they said in websites and blogs. It is a pity that Oscar “Golden Boy” Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions should have been supporting me, too, because his company has a promotional stake in my career. They all say they got my back, but yes, they stab me, too, when I turn my back,” said Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao: This is a Test
By Michael Herron - The most highly anticipated match-up in recent memory is on the verge of collapse due to Team Mayweather’s insistence and Team Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to Olympic style drug testing which include blood and urine analysis. Both camps are standing firm on the matter but the ripple effects have cast a cloud over the boxing world.
The term that has garnered all the attention and has thus become the focus of the negotiation is “random,” as in random dates and times for the procedure to be conducted. According to Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe, “random is random. The whole purpose of doing something random is for surprise. We’re not backing off.” The surprise however, for boxing fans around the world, is that Manny Pacquiao has flat out refused to submit to random testing instead preferring to know exactly what date and times the test will be conducted. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum has routinely iterated that Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing 30 days before the fight and immediately afterwards. This proposition however has been rejected by the Mayweather camp as it conveniently removes the concept of “random..”
Arum’s initial explanation that the test will weaken his fighter or that Pacquiao is afraid of needles and is superstitious about giving blood has been met with well deserved criticism but the most legit argument offered however is that the Nevada State Athletic Commission does not require blood tests. With a governing body on board stating blood tests are not required Team Pacquiao may have indeed found a sure fire way out of this bloody situation. A much more difficult governing body however is that of public opinion that historically does not look kindly at athletes who refuse drug testing. Can Pacquiao find a way out of this needling situation as well?
Boxing as a sport has not been mainstream (at least in the United States) since the era’s of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Since then boxing has been regulated to premium cable networks and pay-per-view outlets. The sport has truly been supported by the hardcore fans whose enthusiasm simply spills over to the general public as a big fight approaches. With relatively little media coverage in the U.S. boxing has gone under the radar when it comes to the intense drug testing and steroid contention that mainstream sports receive. Baseball, football, cycling, and Olympic athletes in particular have come under heavy fire with steroid allegations, convictions, and even cover-ups. As a matter of fact steroid use in mainstream sports has become so rampant that many in sports media have dubbed this the steroid era.
In the case of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, it is asserted that urine based testing alone, as required by the Nevada Commission does not and can not detect all banned supplements. When asked his opinion, Victor Conte, former head of BALCO, and obvious expert on the subject has given his take on the “blood test” crisis, “In my opinion, blood testing for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is more important for detecting possible blood doping or use of EPO than it is for human growth hormone…"Traditional testing in boxing, it’s basically worthless other than the detection of some types of stimulant, before and after a fight….“To just say, I’ll be tested on this date, there’s all sorts of things you can do with announced testing, you can’t do with unannounced testing." Though Conte is a convicted steroid distributor his opinion on this topic certainly carries weight.
As the general public hear the facts and listen to both sides of the argument enough information has been provided by various media outlets for nearly anyone following the “blood ” crisis to develop an opinion, and right now Pacquiao’s light is not looking to bright. Pacquiao, in response to being asked to submit to random drug testing, has gone on the defensive by refusing to test, call off the fight, and also threatening to sue Golden Boy Promotions, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and his father Floyd Mayweather, Sr. for libel, defamation and slander. This approach, ironically, is not that different from athletes associated with Victor Conte; Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, and even welterweight champion Shane Mosley for example, all sought to sue Conte for defamation when in reality they were all trying to protect their own hide.
To Pacquiao and Mayweather’s credit neither fighter has ever tested positive for banned supplements but the general public, as a result of this episode, has now been educated and figuratively inducted into the world of athletic doping. We now know that there are indeed supplements that can not be detected by urinalysis alone; we also know that athletes can routinely avoid detection if they know when test will be conducted. Pacquiao, in my opinion, needs to understand these facts and not subject himself to doubt. Yes it is true that the Nevada Commission does not require random blood test but once an athlete is publicly asked to submit to drug testing on an international stage there really is no choice but to say yes. Manny Pacquiao this is a test and right now you are failing.
By Michael Herron - The most highly anticipated match-up in recent memory is on the verge of collapse due to Team Mayweather’s insistence and Team Pacquiao’s refusal to submit to Olympic style drug testing which include blood and urine analysis. Both camps are standing firm on the matter but the ripple effects have cast a cloud over the boxing world.
The term that has garnered all the attention and has thus become the focus of the negotiation is “random,” as in random dates and times for the procedure to be conducted. According to Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe, “random is random. The whole purpose of doing something random is for surprise. We’re not backing off.” The surprise however, for boxing fans around the world, is that Manny Pacquiao has flat out refused to submit to random testing instead preferring to know exactly what date and times the test will be conducted. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum has routinely iterated that Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing 30 days before the fight and immediately afterwards. This proposition however has been rejected by the Mayweather camp as it conveniently removes the concept of “random..”
Arum’s initial explanation that the test will weaken his fighter or that Pacquiao is afraid of needles and is superstitious about giving blood has been met with well deserved criticism but the most legit argument offered however is that the Nevada State Athletic Commission does not require blood tests. With a governing body on board stating blood tests are not required Team Pacquiao may have indeed found a sure fire way out of this bloody situation. A much more difficult governing body however is that of public opinion that historically does not look kindly at athletes who refuse drug testing. Can Pacquiao find a way out of this needling situation as well?
Boxing as a sport has not been mainstream (at least in the United States) since the era’s of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Since then boxing has been regulated to premium cable networks and pay-per-view outlets. The sport has truly been supported by the hardcore fans whose enthusiasm simply spills over to the general public as a big fight approaches. With relatively little media coverage in the U.S. boxing has gone under the radar when it comes to the intense drug testing and steroid contention that mainstream sports receive. Baseball, football, cycling, and Olympic athletes in particular have come under heavy fire with steroid allegations, convictions, and even cover-ups. As a matter of fact steroid use in mainstream sports has become so rampant that many in sports media have dubbed this the steroid era.
In the case of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, it is asserted that urine based testing alone, as required by the Nevada Commission does not and can not detect all banned supplements. When asked his opinion, Victor Conte, former head of BALCO, and obvious expert on the subject has given his take on the “blood test” crisis, “In my opinion, blood testing for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is more important for detecting possible blood doping or use of EPO than it is for human growth hormone…"Traditional testing in boxing, it’s basically worthless other than the detection of some types of stimulant, before and after a fight….“To just say, I’ll be tested on this date, there’s all sorts of things you can do with announced testing, you can’t do with unannounced testing." Though Conte is a convicted steroid distributor his opinion on this topic certainly carries weight.
As the general public hear the facts and listen to both sides of the argument enough information has been provided by various media outlets for nearly anyone following the “blood ” crisis to develop an opinion, and right now Pacquiao’s light is not looking to bright. Pacquiao, in response to being asked to submit to random drug testing, has gone on the defensive by refusing to test, call off the fight, and also threatening to sue Golden Boy Promotions, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and his father Floyd Mayweather, Sr. for libel, defamation and slander. This approach, ironically, is not that different from athletes associated with Victor Conte; Marion Jones, Barry Bonds, and even welterweight champion Shane Mosley for example, all sought to sue Conte for defamation when in reality they were all trying to protect their own hide.
To Pacquiao and Mayweather’s credit neither fighter has ever tested positive for banned supplements but the general public, as a result of this episode, has now been educated and figuratively inducted into the world of athletic doping. We now know that there are indeed supplements that can not be detected by urinalysis alone; we also know that athletes can routinely avoid detection if they know when test will be conducted. Pacquiao, in my opinion, needs to understand these facts and not subject himself to doubt. Yes it is true that the Nevada Commission does not require random blood test but once an athlete is publicly asked to submit to drug testing on an international stage there really is no choice but to say yes. Manny Pacquiao this is a test and right now you are failing.
Pacquiao: “I will abide by the NSAC requirements like in all of the fights in boxing
Boxing’s pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao became more incensed at Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Sr. and executives of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) for twisting facts and coming up with false statements that intended to cover up the mess that they created even as they put the blame on the Filipino and his team for the snag of talks to make the projected biggest fight in history from happening.
“I can’t believe these guys can lie without batting an eyelash and they would even make it appear that I am the culprit for the delay of the fight and saying that I don’t want it to happen,” said Pacquiao in Tagalog, as he released part of the information that he has been keeping—proof that Mayweather Jr. directly accused him of performance enhancement drugs (PED) use..
“Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words,” said Pacquiao, as he recalled information that pointed out to Mayweather Jr. categorically stating that “the Philippines has the best (performance) enhancement drugs,” supporting what his father, Mayweather Sr. and his uncle Jeff Mayweather, have openly claimed in past interviews. They all claimed that Pacquiao was into some kind of “roids” (steroids) or has used other banned substances.
“It’s all over the internet. (Link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/676796581a1c2a9e/ listeners’ discretion is advised due to foul and harsh language). They all went on record and there is no denying as to who is lying or not,” added Pacquiao, who thinks he is becoming a victim of black propaganda with the intention of systematically besmirching, tarnishing and destroying his legacy as one of the best fighters of all time. In the audio recording, Mayweather linked him to drug use by maliciously stating that the Philippines is a producer of the best PEDs. “For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are producers of the best performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished, the sooner, the better, whether it be in the courts or in the ring.”
The now-famous Mayweather versus “RA, the Rugged Man” radio interview in October said it all about how Mayweather accused Pacquiao and the whole Filipino nation. Mayweather exploded at the 15:18 minute mark of the 21-minute interview. This transpired even before Pacquiao was to fight Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
Pacquiao reserved and kept other proof of defamatory statements made by other individuals, who will be charged later on in court. His legal team is readying materials in order to file a lawsuit soon. A lawsuit will be filed whether or not his fight with Mayweather will push through on March 13, 2010 in Las Vegas.
The Mayweather camp and Golden Boy Promotions, have required Pacquiao to undergo a new set of drug testing procedures other than those already required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“I want to put this on the record again, that I will abide by the NSAC requirements like in all of the fights in boxing history, including all of my fights,” said Pacquiao, who vehemently denied claims that he was against drug testing.
“In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) use. I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons. That should stop these clowns from asking for other drug testing procedures other than the ones already required by the NSAC.”
On Monday, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions issued a joint statement in order to set the record straight. “They claimed that I threatened to walk away from the largest fight in history. That’s their first lie! Last week, I told Floyd Jr. to shut his big, pretty mouth and that we should fight so that the world will get to see who is the best fighter in the planet,” said Pacquiao.
The Mayweather-GBP release also stated: “Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything. But the reality seems to be that for whatever reason Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to prior to and during competition.”
“Again, all we need to see are the other recorded transcripts of what they said in websites and blogs. It is a pity that Oscar “Golden Boy” Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions should have been supporting me, too, because his company has a promotional stake in my career. They all say they got my back, but yes, they stab me, too, when I turn my back,” said Pacquiao.
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Boxing’s pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao became more incensed at Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Sr. and executives of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) for twisting facts and coming up with false statements that intended to cover up the mess that they created even as they put the blame on the Filipino and his team for the snag of talks to make the projected biggest fight in history from happening.
“I can’t believe these guys can lie without batting an eyelash and they would even make it appear that I am the culprit for the delay of the fight and saying that I don’t want it to happen,” said Pacquiao in Tagalog, as he released part of the information that he has been keeping—proof that Mayweather Jr. directly accused him of performance enhancement drugs (PED) use..
“Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words,” said Pacquiao, as he recalled information that pointed out to Mayweather Jr. categorically stating that “the Philippines has the best (performance) enhancement drugs,” supporting what his father, Mayweather Sr. and his uncle Jeff Mayweather, have openly claimed in past interviews. They all claimed that Pacquiao was into some kind of “roids” (steroids) or has used other banned substances.
“It’s all over the internet. (Link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/676796581a1c2a9e/ listeners’ discretion is advised due to foul and harsh language). They all went on record and there is no denying as to who is lying or not,” added Pacquiao, who thinks he is becoming a victim of black propaganda with the intention of systematically besmirching, tarnishing and destroying his legacy as one of the best fighters of all time. In the audio recording, Mayweather linked him to drug use by maliciously stating that the Philippines is a producer of the best PEDs. “For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are producers of the best performance enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished, the sooner, the better, whether it be in the courts or in the ring.”
The now-famous Mayweather versus “RA, the Rugged Man” radio interview in October said it all about how Mayweather accused Pacquiao and the whole Filipino nation. Mayweather exploded at the 15:18 minute mark of the 21-minute interview. This transpired even before Pacquiao was to fight Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
Pacquiao reserved and kept other proof of defamatory statements made by other individuals, who will be charged later on in court. His legal team is readying materials in order to file a lawsuit soon. A lawsuit will be filed whether or not his fight with Mayweather will push through on March 13, 2010 in Las Vegas.
The Mayweather camp and Golden Boy Promotions, have required Pacquiao to undergo a new set of drug testing procedures other than those already required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
“I want to put this on the record again, that I will abide by the NSAC requirements like in all of the fights in boxing history, including all of my fights,” said Pacquiao, who vehemently denied claims that he was against drug testing.
“In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) use. I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons. That should stop these clowns from asking for other drug testing procedures other than the ones already required by the NSAC.”
On Monday, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions issued a joint statement in order to set the record straight. “They claimed that I threatened to walk away from the largest fight in history. That’s their first lie! Last week, I told Floyd Jr. to shut his big, pretty mouth and that we should fight so that the world will get to see who is the best fighter in the planet,” said Pacquiao.
The Mayweather-GBP release also stated: “Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything. But the reality seems to be that for whatever reason Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to prior to and during competition.”
“Again, all we need to see are the other recorded transcripts of what they said in websites and blogs. It is a pity that Oscar “Golden Boy” Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions should have been supporting me, too, because his company has a promotional stake in my career. They all say they got my back, but yes, they stab me, too, when I turn my back,” said Pacquiao.
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Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, or Malignaggi, Watch Your Tongue
By Lorne Scoggins: Let’s try this on for size: Manny Pacquiao vs. Paulie Malignaggi. How does that work for you? Do those words make your heart speed up just a little? No? What about the thought of Pacquiao shooting one of those blinding, “out of nowhere” uppercuts at the precise moment that the Magic Man sticks out his tongue? Now that could be interesting to see.
How about: “Mayweather vs. Matthew Hatton? This would be another display of Mayweather’s brilliance, no doubt. I’m talking about his brilliant ability to choose fighters that he can dominate to such an extent that to the casual boxing fan he appears to be unbeatable.
Are these the fights that the boxing world has to look forward to?
We know that Pacquiao is an offensive genius. We know that Mayweather is one of the most brilliant defensive fighters to ever “grace” the sport with his presence. But I have two words for both of these potential match-ups, and I think fans of the sweet science will back me up here. Who cares?
No disrespect to Malignaggi, or Matthew Hatton, but neither one of them has a chance against either of their aforementioned opponents. Forgive me for being Captain Obvious again.
Both matches are utterly ridiculous, but they could happen. Why? Because Pacquiao wants one more fight to retire on and Mayweather needs to continue to awe his fans, (all three of them), with his poetically brilliant displays of supreme boxing athleticism against… whoever he’s absolutely certain he can beat without breaking a sweat. He refers to this as a “level playing field”.
Pacquiao has already sealed his legacy. He has very little left to prove. He can retire now and forever be known as one of the greatest of all time. He’s a true champion in every sense of the word; one who has never side-stepped a challenge. He’s fought brutal wars with the best that boxing has had to offer. There’s really only one viable opponent left for Manny Pacquiao and that is Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has become so protective of his undefeated record that he has increasingly resorted to fighting less capable opponents. However, he certainly has gall. It takes a lot of gall to force an old Lightweight to jump up to the Jr. Welterweight level and not have the decency or professionalism to come in at the agreed upon catch-weight. (Recall the scene of Juan Manuel Marquez gazing at the scale as Floyd flashed that big, white smile despite being two pounds overweight.) Hey, what’s $600,000 to Money Mayweather anyway?
My point is this; Mayweather still has a lot left to prove if he ever wants to be known as one of the all time greats. Does he have the ability and skill to be known as one of the all time greats? Absolutely! But there’s something he needs to do first. He needs to fight Manny Pacquiao, win or lose. After all, there’s no shame in losing to Manny Pacquiao. He loves to boast about his gambling habits. Well, this is a gamble he needs to take. I’m not going to get into all of the nonsense about Olympic style drug testing or steroids.
Let’s announce the fight the world wants to see. Imagine getting up in the morning and checking your favorite boxing site and finding this: “The Fight is Made! Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather is a Done Deal!” Now wouldn’t that put a smile on your face?
But alas, with each passing moment it appears more likely we’ll see this: “Pacquiao vs. Malignaggi set for March 13”. If that happens to be the case, one word of advice for The Magic Man; please keep your tongue in your mouth, Paulie.
-Lorne Scoggins
By Lorne Scoggins: Let’s try this on for size: Manny Pacquiao vs. Paulie Malignaggi. How does that work for you? Do those words make your heart speed up just a little? No? What about the thought of Pacquiao shooting one of those blinding, “out of nowhere” uppercuts at the precise moment that the Magic Man sticks out his tongue? Now that could be interesting to see.
How about: “Mayweather vs. Matthew Hatton? This would be another display of Mayweather’s brilliance, no doubt. I’m talking about his brilliant ability to choose fighters that he can dominate to such an extent that to the casual boxing fan he appears to be unbeatable.
Are these the fights that the boxing world has to look forward to?
We know that Pacquiao is an offensive genius. We know that Mayweather is one of the most brilliant defensive fighters to ever “grace” the sport with his presence. But I have two words for both of these potential match-ups, and I think fans of the sweet science will back me up here. Who cares?
No disrespect to Malignaggi, or Matthew Hatton, but neither one of them has a chance against either of their aforementioned opponents. Forgive me for being Captain Obvious again.
Both matches are utterly ridiculous, but they could happen. Why? Because Pacquiao wants one more fight to retire on and Mayweather needs to continue to awe his fans, (all three of them), with his poetically brilliant displays of supreme boxing athleticism against… whoever he’s absolutely certain he can beat without breaking a sweat. He refers to this as a “level playing field”.
Pacquiao has already sealed his legacy. He has very little left to prove. He can retire now and forever be known as one of the greatest of all time. He’s a true champion in every sense of the word; one who has never side-stepped a challenge. He’s fought brutal wars with the best that boxing has had to offer. There’s really only one viable opponent left for Manny Pacquiao and that is Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has become so protective of his undefeated record that he has increasingly resorted to fighting less capable opponents. However, he certainly has gall. It takes a lot of gall to force an old Lightweight to jump up to the Jr. Welterweight level and not have the decency or professionalism to come in at the agreed upon catch-weight. (Recall the scene of Juan Manuel Marquez gazing at the scale as Floyd flashed that big, white smile despite being two pounds overweight.) Hey, what’s $600,000 to Money Mayweather anyway?
My point is this; Mayweather still has a lot left to prove if he ever wants to be known as one of the all time greats. Does he have the ability and skill to be known as one of the all time greats? Absolutely! But there’s something he needs to do first. He needs to fight Manny Pacquiao, win or lose. After all, there’s no shame in losing to Manny Pacquiao. He loves to boast about his gambling habits. Well, this is a gamble he needs to take. I’m not going to get into all of the nonsense about Olympic style drug testing or steroids.
Let’s announce the fight the world wants to see. Imagine getting up in the morning and checking your favorite boxing site and finding this: “The Fight is Made! Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather is a Done Deal!” Now wouldn’t that put a smile on your face?
But alas, with each passing moment it appears more likely we’ll see this: “Pacquiao vs. Malignaggi set for March 13”. If that happens to be the case, one word of advice for The Magic Man; please keep your tongue in your mouth, Paulie.
-Lorne Scoggins
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: The Official “It’s On!” Is Coming
By Frank Car: Look for the official “It’s On” to be coming today, tomorrow or very soon. There has never been much of a doubt in my mind at all that this will go through. The whole “fight is dead” plainly put, is propaganda garbage, used as a “threat tool” in the negotiations. There have been some ways which they are contemplating handling the seemingly last issue of blood tests and it’s almost there.
Pacquiao recently released his own statement saying he would still do the three blood tests, one at the beginning press conference in January, one 30 days before the bout and one directly after the bout, with random unlimited urine tests. However Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter said he would let Mayweather present experts to share their opinion to the Nevada commission on a January 19th meeting with them and let them decide what is to be done. The latter sounds okay.
Arum told the L.A. Times “We’ll allow Golden Boy [Mayweathers interests] to present experts to the commission to explain why additional testing is required, and we’ll explain our position. Then we’ll let the Nevada commission decide. If Nevada says we need to do more testing, we’ll do more, but if they don’t, we won’t.
“If the commission says both fighters have to give blood as they’re walking into the ring, we’ll do it. But I want the commission saying it, not some outside group with an agenda. If they say no to this, that shows they don’t want the fight,” said Arum.
The thing with that is, the Nevada State Athletic Commission might simply say “No we don’t require additional blood tests,” simply because they, at this time, don’t. It’s not required in the rules. And Mayweather’s reasons would be to change it this time around would be because they think Pacquiao could be taking some illegal enhancements just because the way he has been winning? If they had some sort of proof or something that might hold up but without it I’m not sure where your ability to overturn a commission is. The experts might be able to provide reasons as to why blood testing is the most effective way of drug testing, and if the commission excepts this, then they should basically have to change their rules and do it every time, to everyone.
I really don’t see why Pacquiao is being troublesome on a blood test, but that is another issue. He has said it weakens him mentally, and that is possible, but as for factually physically.. not so likely, in fact impossible is more the word. However certain things to certain people can have an effect on them mentally. It would be almost the opposite of a placebo pill that is suppose to cure your ailments but really does nothing except effect you mentally in making you think you took something that will make you feel better. Pacquiao may think drawing his blood weakens him and thus could effect him. Or there are other suggestions as to why he doesn’t want to take them but once again that is another issue.
One of the more likely ways this would not go through is if the May 1st date was to open up some how. Which is currently off because Pacquiao has to begin campaigning on March 25th for the May 10th election regarding his political aspirations in the Philippines. However, that is unlikely as well.
But hey atleast if doesn’t go through we get to see, what is it? Pacquiao vs Malignaggi .. hah-hah, hah-HAH, AH HAH-HAH-HAH. Oooh. Thank you for that.
The promoters would probably sneak up to their boxers and take their blood while they were sleeping or “accidentally” cut them with their pens twice a week if it ment getting this deal done. Unless they really had something to hide which is what many will think if it doesn’t go through. Some say why should Pacquiao have to take a blood test just because Mayweather has allegedly accused him of doping, the Sr that is. Which perhaps makes a point. But Mayweather is agreeing to outlandish demands of say a 10 million dollar penalty for each pound over 147, so having to take a Olympic-style test isn’t that outlandish. A simple “Yes, I have nothing to hide” would have sufficed. Anyways that is a whole nother topic.
Once again look for the official “we’ve agreed to terms” and/or “contracts have been finalized” to be coming today, tomorrow, or later this week. There is a possibility they will wait till after New Years to give those statements but the first press conference in New York is in early January so they don’t have much time until contracts would probably need to be completely finalized. Also from January 1st, March 13th is almost exactly 10 weeks away so you’ve got to get to training as well (mid January at the latest). It doesn’t take much to figure out Mayweather vs Pacquiao will happen, nor is it fact, but I’ll put a 95 on it… make that 97.
I’d like to think they will get this done and on because it’s what the fans really want to see… but living it reality for a second, they’ll get it done for the money to be had. And there is no way they would throw away all that over some blood tests. If they do, they should draw some blood from themselves, in a dark room, involving a sharp object and their wrists.
It’s game on, have no illusions.
By Frank Car: Look for the official “It’s On” to be coming today, tomorrow or very soon. There has never been much of a doubt in my mind at all that this will go through. The whole “fight is dead” plainly put, is propaganda garbage, used as a “threat tool” in the negotiations. There have been some ways which they are contemplating handling the seemingly last issue of blood tests and it’s almost there.
Pacquiao recently released his own statement saying he would still do the three blood tests, one at the beginning press conference in January, one 30 days before the bout and one directly after the bout, with random unlimited urine tests. However Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter said he would let Mayweather present experts to share their opinion to the Nevada commission on a January 19th meeting with them and let them decide what is to be done. The latter sounds okay.
Arum told the L.A. Times “We’ll allow Golden Boy [Mayweathers interests] to present experts to the commission to explain why additional testing is required, and we’ll explain our position. Then we’ll let the Nevada commission decide. If Nevada says we need to do more testing, we’ll do more, but if they don’t, we won’t.
“If the commission says both fighters have to give blood as they’re walking into the ring, we’ll do it. But I want the commission saying it, not some outside group with an agenda. If they say no to this, that shows they don’t want the fight,” said Arum.
The thing with that is, the Nevada State Athletic Commission might simply say “No we don’t require additional blood tests,” simply because they, at this time, don’t. It’s not required in the rules. And Mayweather’s reasons would be to change it this time around would be because they think Pacquiao could be taking some illegal enhancements just because the way he has been winning? If they had some sort of proof or something that might hold up but without it I’m not sure where your ability to overturn a commission is. The experts might be able to provide reasons as to why blood testing is the most effective way of drug testing, and if the commission excepts this, then they should basically have to change their rules and do it every time, to everyone.
I really don’t see why Pacquiao is being troublesome on a blood test, but that is another issue. He has said it weakens him mentally, and that is possible, but as for factually physically.. not so likely, in fact impossible is more the word. However certain things to certain people can have an effect on them mentally. It would be almost the opposite of a placebo pill that is suppose to cure your ailments but really does nothing except effect you mentally in making you think you took something that will make you feel better. Pacquiao may think drawing his blood weakens him and thus could effect him. Or there are other suggestions as to why he doesn’t want to take them but once again that is another issue.
One of the more likely ways this would not go through is if the May 1st date was to open up some how. Which is currently off because Pacquiao has to begin campaigning on March 25th for the May 10th election regarding his political aspirations in the Philippines. However, that is unlikely as well.
But hey atleast if doesn’t go through we get to see, what is it? Pacquiao vs Malignaggi .. hah-hah, hah-HAH, AH HAH-HAH-HAH. Oooh. Thank you for that.
The promoters would probably sneak up to their boxers and take their blood while they were sleeping or “accidentally” cut them with their pens twice a week if it ment getting this deal done. Unless they really had something to hide which is what many will think if it doesn’t go through. Some say why should Pacquiao have to take a blood test just because Mayweather has allegedly accused him of doping, the Sr that is. Which perhaps makes a point. But Mayweather is agreeing to outlandish demands of say a 10 million dollar penalty for each pound over 147, so having to take a Olympic-style test isn’t that outlandish. A simple “Yes, I have nothing to hide” would have sufficed. Anyways that is a whole nother topic.
Once again look for the official “we’ve agreed to terms” and/or “contracts have been finalized” to be coming today, tomorrow, or later this week. There is a possibility they will wait till after New Years to give those statements but the first press conference in New York is in early January so they don’t have much time until contracts would probably need to be completely finalized. Also from January 1st, March 13th is almost exactly 10 weeks away so you’ve got to get to training as well (mid January at the latest). It doesn’t take much to figure out Mayweather vs Pacquiao will happen, nor is it fact, but I’ll put a 95 on it… make that 97.
I’d like to think they will get this done and on because it’s what the fans really want to see… but living it reality for a second, they’ll get it done for the money to be had. And there is no way they would throw away all that over some blood tests. If they do, they should draw some blood from themselves, in a dark room, involving a sharp object and their wrists.
It’s game on, have no illusions.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: An Absolute Disgrace
By Adam Laiolo: Before i start, I love both fighters for their own individual reasons. I love Manny Pacquiao’s explosiveness and Floyd Mayweather’s defensive genius and I believe both their records are among the best in the sport. But after negotiations begun, it was clear that things were going far too smoothly. The date, the purse, the venue even the gloves was easily sorted out. Mayweather then released what he thought was an ace up his sleeve in the drug tests, which has since turned out to be one of the worst decisions he has made.
I do believe Mayweather would fight Pacquiao and vice versa no problem, but Floyd is either trying mind games or a bluff and neither do the sport any good. The fact that the greatest fight in current boxing cannot be made, or possibly will not be made, is an absolute disgrace. In any other sport in Europe or the U.S., would this stuff happen? Of course not, but in boxing we have self serving promoters and fighters who can manipulate situations and us the public with ease.
The UFC must be laughing their backsides off at the state of affairs boxing is in when we cant even get our two best fighters to share a ring. It was all too good to be true, i still hope the fight happens, whether your a pacman fan or a pretty boy Mayweather fan, this fight has to be made. Everything from 135 to 147 points to a pound for pound showdown between these two, and the blame isn’t solely on one side. Whilst Floyd is being slightly sly asking for Olympic drug tests, Pacman is doing himself no favours by refusing.
I don’t doubt for a second Pacquiao is clean, but to refuse the tests can put even the whitest white in grey. We know Manny has his thing about blood taking, but surely there’s a way around it? I don’t believe for a second that there is no way blood tests, quantities and dates cannot, be arranged to suit both fighters. It seems to me, promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer are the two main culprits for the lack of progress. Arum is a very successful yet stubborn and one eyed man, Schaefer is exactly the same.
To not resolve this crisis and save the biggest and best fight is boxing would be a travesty and whilst I wouldn’t recommend boycotting pay-per-views for either fighter, I would suggest taking a step back and looking at the way boxing is run on the whole. I am no promoter or expert, but i know that if the two best fighters in a sport cannot sit down and come to an agreement to fight for 30 million dollars plus each, then there is something very wrong with our sport. Self interest is one of the worst traits in boxing, why not just for once, think of us, the fans. We pay the money, we read the news, we support the fighters, we fill the forums and the arenas. For once, give US what we want
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By Adam Laiolo: Before i start, I love both fighters for their own individual reasons. I love Manny Pacquiao’s explosiveness and Floyd Mayweather’s defensive genius and I believe both their records are among the best in the sport. But after negotiations begun, it was clear that things were going far too smoothly. The date, the purse, the venue even the gloves was easily sorted out. Mayweather then released what he thought was an ace up his sleeve in the drug tests, which has since turned out to be one of the worst decisions he has made.
I do believe Mayweather would fight Pacquiao and vice versa no problem, but Floyd is either trying mind games or a bluff and neither do the sport any good. The fact that the greatest fight in current boxing cannot be made, or possibly will not be made, is an absolute disgrace. In any other sport in Europe or the U.S., would this stuff happen? Of course not, but in boxing we have self serving promoters and fighters who can manipulate situations and us the public with ease.
The UFC must be laughing their backsides off at the state of affairs boxing is in when we cant even get our two best fighters to share a ring. It was all too good to be true, i still hope the fight happens, whether your a pacman fan or a pretty boy Mayweather fan, this fight has to be made. Everything from 135 to 147 points to a pound for pound showdown between these two, and the blame isn’t solely on one side. Whilst Floyd is being slightly sly asking for Olympic drug tests, Pacman is doing himself no favours by refusing.
I don’t doubt for a second Pacquiao is clean, but to refuse the tests can put even the whitest white in grey. We know Manny has his thing about blood taking, but surely there’s a way around it? I don’t believe for a second that there is no way blood tests, quantities and dates cannot, be arranged to suit both fighters. It seems to me, promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer are the two main culprits for the lack of progress. Arum is a very successful yet stubborn and one eyed man, Schaefer is exactly the same.
To not resolve this crisis and save the biggest and best fight is boxing would be a travesty and whilst I wouldn’t recommend boycotting pay-per-views for either fighter, I would suggest taking a step back and looking at the way boxing is run on the whole. I am no promoter or expert, but i know that if the two best fighters in a sport cannot sit down and come to an agreement to fight for 30 million dollars plus each, then there is something very wrong with our sport. Self interest is one of the worst traits in boxing, why not just for once, think of us, the fans. We pay the money, we read the news, we support the fighters, we fill the forums and the arenas. For once, give US what we want
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ROY JONES JR SIDES WITH PACQUIAO: "I WOULDN'T TAKE ANY EXTRA TESTS
By G. Leon
GL: Are you aware of the ongoing crisis surrounding the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? "Most definitely." GL: Do you have an opinion on it? "You could see Pacquiao's side, why should he change for Floyd? A fight don't start in the ring, it starts when the negotiation starts. If these are the rules, we're going to stick by the standard rules. On the other hand, I understand he's saying something been going on, but the problem with that is, if you're going to check him why didn't you check Marquez? Why didn't you make anybody else do it? It's kind of strange to call him out on this and nobody else."
GL: Do you see anything in Pacquiao that would lead you to feel suspicious?
RJ: "No. The kid is strong, he came up in weight and brought his stregth. Nowadays the testing is good enough, they got it to where you can't even take over the counter products. I can testify to that. The testing is very good right now and there's nothing he could really do that they can't find. Why make Pacquiao take the test and not anybody else?"
GL: Would you have made such a concession for John Ruiz or any of your other big fights?
RJ: "Hell naw. Why change the rules on me? Because I'm coming up in weight means I'm doing steroids? They're giving you a test for that anyway. It would be something that would aggravate me because then after I beat you, I was on something, don't play with me. Either you want to fight or you don't want to fight.
By G. Leon
GL: Are you aware of the ongoing crisis surrounding the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? "Most definitely." GL: Do you have an opinion on it? "You could see Pacquiao's side, why should he change for Floyd? A fight don't start in the ring, it starts when the negotiation starts. If these are the rules, we're going to stick by the standard rules. On the other hand, I understand he's saying something been going on, but the problem with that is, if you're going to check him why didn't you check Marquez? Why didn't you make anybody else do it? It's kind of strange to call him out on this and nobody else."
GL: Do you see anything in Pacquiao that would lead you to feel suspicious?
RJ: "No. The kid is strong, he came up in weight and brought his stregth. Nowadays the testing is good enough, they got it to where you can't even take over the counter products. I can testify to that. The testing is very good right now and there's nothing he could really do that they can't find. Why make Pacquiao take the test and not anybody else?"
GL: Would you have made such a concession for John Ruiz or any of your other big fights?
RJ: "Hell naw. Why change the rules on me? Because I'm coming up in weight means I'm doing steroids? They're giving you a test for that anyway. It would be something that would aggravate me because then after I beat you, I was on something, don't play with me. Either you want to fight or you don't want to fight.
Key to super fight could be '24/7' testing
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
With the proposed March 13 Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super fight hanging in the balance as the camps continued to slug it out over drug-testing protocol Monday, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said he was open to talking to his fighter again about the timing of the prefight blood test.
Top Rank's Arum had set a Monday deadline to finalize a deal.
When HBO televised "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7," it aired footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his prefight medical exam. The blood test was conducted approximately 14 days before the fight; it punches holes in Pacquiao's argument that giving blood inside 30 days of a fight negatively impacts his performance.
Also Monday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would oversee the fight because it is due to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, set in motion plans to randomly test the urine of both fighters regardless of whether the fight takes place.
Throughout negotiations over the drug testing -- the final point the sides need to agree on -- Pacquiao has said he would submit to unlimited random urine tests. However, he refused Mayweather's demand to have random blood testing. Instead, Pacquiao agreed to take three tests, one during the week of the kickoff news conference in early January, one random test to be conducted no later than 30 days before the fight, and a final test in his dressing room after the fight. Mayweather would be subject to the same testing.
However, Pacquiao's past actions might help Arum convince him to tighten the window for the final random blood test.
When HBO televised "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7" -- the four-part series that followed the buildup to Pacquiao's second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton to win the junior welterweight title in Las Vegas last May -- it aired footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his prefight medical exam in Los Angeles.
The blood test was conducted approximately 14 days before the fight; it punches holes in Pacquiao's argument that giving blood inside 30 days of a fight negatively impacts his performance.
Arum was intrigued by the "24/7" scenario. He told Reuters on Monday that he was ready to move away from Mayweather and announce a new opponent on Tuesday for Pacquiao, but that was before the "24/7" scenario was brought to his attention.
"I will transmit it [word of Pacquiao's '24/7' test] to Manny once [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and [the Mayweather camp] makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with," Arum told ESPN.com from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny" to tighten the testing window.
Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, which is promoting Mayweather for the fight, was also made aware of the "24/7" footage, telling ESPN.com, "I need to discuss it with Team Mayweather. We need to find out what it means if you cut off testing 14 days before the fight. I want to talk to [Mayweather advisers] Al Haymon and Leonard [Ellerbe]."
Although talks had broken down on Sunday, the camps were at least talking again on Monday afternoon after they learned of the "24/7" scenario.
"It's a very good point to point out that Manny was tested so close to the [Hatton] fight," Arum said. "I'm not going to suggest anything to him though, until I hear from the other guys. They have to say, 'This is what Manny did. Here is what we propose.' Then I will bring it to Manny and say, 'Manny, look, you took this test however many days before the fight and it didn't affect you. Hey, you knocked him out in two rounds.'
"What will Manny do? I assume he will listen to me, but I can't promise anything. But I want [Mayweather's camp] to make a formal proposal that this is the outside date for the blood testing based on Manny's prior test in '24/7' and then I will move mountains."
Prior to discussing the "24/7" scenario, the camps were looking at alternative March fights. Both camps had reached out to former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi. Arum was also prepared to have Pacquiao challenge for a title in a record-extending eighth weight class against Yuri Foreman, a Top Rank junior middleweight who won a belt on the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto undercard on Nov. 14.
"We'll ask the MGM which fight they want [Pacquiao's or Mayweather's] and the MGM will then pick the fight and alienate one of the fighters forever," Arum said. "We have another date [of March 20] that we can go on outside of the MGM and we will do that if we have to. If HBO takes sides, which they're free to do, we have discussed alternatives."
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, the Nevada commission held its final meeting of 2009. At the conclusion of the 25-minute meeting, chairwoman Pat Lundvall closed by invoking the commission's right to conduct random urine tests on Pacquiao and Mayweather.
"The Nevada administrative code obligates any unarmed combatant to submit to tests if they're directed to do so by a member of the commission for prohibited substances," Lundvall said at the public meeting. "And it was in 2007 that we amended our regulations to ensure we were following the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. ... That is the list we adhere to for the purposes of the testing that is conducted through the athletic commission. We determined that those provisions applied not only immediately before and after a fight, but also to random testing during training, and that any member of the commission can request such a random test."
Lundvall asked commission executive director Keith Kizer to employ the commission's random testing procedure and "request a urine sample from Floyd Mayweather as well as Manny Pacquiao. They're both licensees and they are subject to these kinds of exams whether the proposed fight goes forward or not.
"Random testing is the best way to evaluate the compliance with our rules and regulations against prohibited substances and the primary reason for that is that an athlete doesn't have time to cycle out or flush out any prohibited substances, and therefore random testing is the best thing to employ, which is why I thought it was a good idea for Keith to inform these fighters that we would like to have a sample and move forward with our random testing."
Commissioner Bill Brady added that he supported the request to ensure the safety of the fighters as well as to "reassure the public worldwide that when anyone fights in Nevada that they can count on those fights being fair, above board and on a level playing field. I think it's important that the public knows the commission takes their responsibility seriously."
Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.
"That at least starts the ball rolling," Kizer said.
Mayweather lives in Las Vegas, so that should not be an issue. But even with Pacquiao in the Philippines, Kizer said the commission has labs it works with worldwide.
Kizer said the results would likely be back within a week of the test.
"That's fine, no problem at all," Arum said when told of Nevada's ruling. "We are absolutely in favor of it. That's what they should be doing. That's what they do in other sports. I see no reason why they shouldn't do it here. We support it 100 percent. I really applaud the way the Nevada commission has acted.
"I will check with Mayweather," Schaefer said, reacting to Nevada's request. "Right now, I need to focus on getting the fight done."
By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
With the proposed March 13 Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super fight hanging in the balance as the camps continued to slug it out over drug-testing protocol Monday, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said he was open to talking to his fighter again about the timing of the prefight blood test.
Top Rank's Arum had set a Monday deadline to finalize a deal.
When HBO televised "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7," it aired footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his prefight medical exam. The blood test was conducted approximately 14 days before the fight; it punches holes in Pacquiao's argument that giving blood inside 30 days of a fight negatively impacts his performance.
Also Monday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would oversee the fight because it is due to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, set in motion plans to randomly test the urine of both fighters regardless of whether the fight takes place.
Throughout negotiations over the drug testing -- the final point the sides need to agree on -- Pacquiao has said he would submit to unlimited random urine tests. However, he refused Mayweather's demand to have random blood testing. Instead, Pacquiao agreed to take three tests, one during the week of the kickoff news conference in early January, one random test to be conducted no later than 30 days before the fight, and a final test in his dressing room after the fight. Mayweather would be subject to the same testing.
However, Pacquiao's past actions might help Arum convince him to tighten the window for the final random blood test.
When HBO televised "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7" -- the four-part series that followed the buildup to Pacquiao's second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton to win the junior welterweight title in Las Vegas last May -- it aired footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his prefight medical exam in Los Angeles.
The blood test was conducted approximately 14 days before the fight; it punches holes in Pacquiao's argument that giving blood inside 30 days of a fight negatively impacts his performance.
Arum was intrigued by the "24/7" scenario. He told Reuters on Monday that he was ready to move away from Mayweather and announce a new opponent on Tuesday for Pacquiao, but that was before the "24/7" scenario was brought to his attention.
"I will transmit it [word of Pacquiao's '24/7' test] to Manny once [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and [the Mayweather camp] makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with," Arum told ESPN.com from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny" to tighten the testing window.
Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, which is promoting Mayweather for the fight, was also made aware of the "24/7" footage, telling ESPN.com, "I need to discuss it with Team Mayweather. We need to find out what it means if you cut off testing 14 days before the fight. I want to talk to [Mayweather advisers] Al Haymon and Leonard [Ellerbe]."
Although talks had broken down on Sunday, the camps were at least talking again on Monday afternoon after they learned of the "24/7" scenario.
"It's a very good point to point out that Manny was tested so close to the [Hatton] fight," Arum said. "I'm not going to suggest anything to him though, until I hear from the other guys. They have to say, 'This is what Manny did. Here is what we propose.' Then I will bring it to Manny and say, 'Manny, look, you took this test however many days before the fight and it didn't affect you. Hey, you knocked him out in two rounds.'
"What will Manny do? I assume he will listen to me, but I can't promise anything. But I want [Mayweather's camp] to make a formal proposal that this is the outside date for the blood testing based on Manny's prior test in '24/7' and then I will move mountains."
Prior to discussing the "24/7" scenario, the camps were looking at alternative March fights. Both camps had reached out to former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi. Arum was also prepared to have Pacquiao challenge for a title in a record-extending eighth weight class against Yuri Foreman, a Top Rank junior middleweight who won a belt on the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto undercard on Nov. 14.
"We'll ask the MGM which fight they want [Pacquiao's or Mayweather's] and the MGM will then pick the fight and alienate one of the fighters forever," Arum said. "We have another date [of March 20] that we can go on outside of the MGM and we will do that if we have to. If HBO takes sides, which they're free to do, we have discussed alternatives."
Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, the Nevada commission held its final meeting of 2009. At the conclusion of the 25-minute meeting, chairwoman Pat Lundvall closed by invoking the commission's right to conduct random urine tests on Pacquiao and Mayweather.
"The Nevada administrative code obligates any unarmed combatant to submit to tests if they're directed to do so by a member of the commission for prohibited substances," Lundvall said at the public meeting. "And it was in 2007 that we amended our regulations to ensure we were following the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. ... That is the list we adhere to for the purposes of the testing that is conducted through the athletic commission. We determined that those provisions applied not only immediately before and after a fight, but also to random testing during training, and that any member of the commission can request such a random test."
Lundvall asked commission executive director Keith Kizer to employ the commission's random testing procedure and "request a urine sample from Floyd Mayweather as well as Manny Pacquiao. They're both licensees and they are subject to these kinds of exams whether the proposed fight goes forward or not.
"Random testing is the best way to evaluate the compliance with our rules and regulations against prohibited substances and the primary reason for that is that an athlete doesn't have time to cycle out or flush out any prohibited substances, and therefore random testing is the best thing to employ, which is why I thought it was a good idea for Keith to inform these fighters that we would like to have a sample and move forward with our random testing."
Commissioner Bill Brady added that he supported the request to ensure the safety of the fighters as well as to "reassure the public worldwide that when anyone fights in Nevada that they can count on those fights being fair, above board and on a level playing field. I think it's important that the public knows the commission takes their responsibility seriously."
Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.
"That at least starts the ball rolling," Kizer said.
Mayweather lives in Las Vegas, so that should not be an issue. But even with Pacquiao in the Philippines, Kizer said the commission has labs it works with worldwide.
Kizer said the results would likely be back within a week of the test.
"That's fine, no problem at all," Arum said when told of Nevada's ruling. "We are absolutely in favor of it. That's what they should be doing. That's what they do in other sports. I see no reason why they shouldn't do it here. We support it 100 percent. I really applaud the way the Nevada commission has acted.
"I will check with Mayweather," Schaefer said, reacting to Nevada's request. "Right now, I need to focus on getting the fight done."
Technically, the blood test was taken 23 days before the Hatton fight. It was dated April 8th. I think 2 weeks is a fair compromise for both sides.
Take the tests and shut everyone up seems to be the only realistic way to come to an agreement.
I wonder though, because Manny is obvioiusly bothered by all of this, especially when Floyd dragged his country into the mix...he's going to likely be angry, or if not angry than at least extremely motivated...
I personally am on the fence as whether the emotion will help him, or hurt him in this fight.
Take the tests and shut everyone up seems to be the only realistic way to come to an agreement.
I wonder though, because Manny is obvioiusly bothered by all of this, especially when Floyd dragged his country into the mix...he's going to likely be angry, or if not angry than at least extremely motivated...
I personally am on the fence as whether the emotion will help him, or hurt him in this fight.
The blood test should be @ the press conference, 14 days before the fight, and right after the fight.
WE WILL know the final word tonight / tomorrow morning.
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/12/29/yuri-foreman-resurfaces-as-potential-manny-pacquiao-rival/
WE WILL know the final word tonight / tomorrow morning.
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/12/29/yuri-foreman-resurfaces-as-potential-manny-pacquiao-rival/
PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER OFF! CERTAINLY FOR MARCH 13
By G. Leon
Boxingtalk.com has been informed that the mega-fight between pound for pound kingpins Manny Pacquiao and Floy Mayweather Jr is dead in the water and will not take place on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Vegas as was originally planned. Pacquiao's lawsuit appears to have put the final nail in the coffin and fans should expect a formal announcement to follow shortly! Richard Schaefer, Bob Arum and Leonard Ellerbe were all unavailable for immediate comment. Boxingtalk.com also believes that Pacquiao will keep the March 13 date for a potential fight with junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman or junior welterweight contender Paulie Malignaggi. Remember where you heard it first! (10:19 PM EST)
By G. Leon
Boxingtalk.com has been informed that the mega-fight between pound for pound kingpins Manny Pacquiao and Floy Mayweather Jr is dead in the water and will not take place on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Vegas as was originally planned. Pacquiao's lawsuit appears to have put the final nail in the coffin and fans should expect a formal announcement to follow shortly! Richard Schaefer, Bob Arum and Leonard Ellerbe were all unavailable for immediate comment. Boxingtalk.com also believes that Pacquiao will keep the March 13 date for a potential fight with junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman or junior welterweight contender Paulie Malignaggi. Remember where you heard it first! (10:19 PM EST)
PACQUIAO-MAYWEATHER: WHAT'S RIGHT, WHAT'S WRONG AND HOW DO WE FIX IT?
By Greg Rowe
A view from the Mayweather side
How would you like to make a potential 40 million dollars in one night… Can anyone imagine that? Say it with me, “40 million dollars in one night.” Doesn’t that figure sound too good to be true? That isn’t the case for Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, should their superfight actually happen. What would you do for over 40 million dollars? How about what wouldn’t you do for 40 million dollars?
That leads us to the current status of this whirlwind of this and that’s that is the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. Each fighter is a multi-million dollar man: one is a self-admitted braggart and a brash and flashy superstar, while the other is a self-named “one of us” and a “hero of the people” type of superstar (if that is even a possibility). Regardless of these labels, both are acting like prima donnas and divas, rather then fighters. Whether you like Mayweather or not, he is what he advertises. Pacquiao, on the other hand, says he is as far away from Mayweather as is physically possible, and yet here we are with Manny acting as if he was born by the Virgin Mary herself, with a silver spoon in his mouth, while lying in a manger in a crib made of wood and straw, being attended to by the Three Wise Men.
What is making me angry is that every media outlet or writer is acting as if Mayweather is the only diva here or guy asking for something above and beyond. There are a few “facts” that need to be brought up and talked about in opposition to the opinions and hypothetical issues that seem to make up 90% of what I have read over the past two weeks. One question to be answered is: Which fighter agreed to the fight first? The answer is: The Mayweather camp, according to numerous news outlets including ESPN, USA Today and Yahoo Sports. Another question is: Which fighter or side has agreed to all the stipulations that have come along with making this fight? The answer: Again, the Mayweather camp. Which side has been the only side complaining about taking this fight off the table or killing it? The answer, my friends: Not the Mayweather camp. All I have heard is that Bob Arum wants to kill the fight over allegations not made by Mayweather himself, but by his father or possibly other members of his camp. Other fighters have accused Manny of using illegal substances over the past few weeks, including the guy that Team Pacman is thinking about fighting instead of Mayweather, who would be Paulie Malinaggi. This makes a whole lot of sense and is not laughable at all, right? Let’s try not to overlook the fact that Pacquiao isn’t willing to fight Mayweather, who hasn’t directly accused him of using drugs, but he is willing to fight the guy who, on more than one occasion, has accused Manny of juicing. Can somebody please explain that logic to me? From where I sit, that tells me that Manny doesn’t want to bite off more than he can chew, and is looking for another fight against a big name that he knows isn’t as big a risk as fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. That must just be me, my logic.
Another thing that makes me go into fits of tearful laughter while rolling on the floor is the fact that I have not once heard anyone acknowledge that while Pacquiao would have to subject himself to this Olympic-style drug testing, SO WOULD MAYWEATHER!!! Why or how is Floyd looking to get an advantage over Manny if he is subjected to the same tests? It is baffling!!!! Manny claims that the Olympic-style testing would weaken him, but says nothing of how it would also “weaken” Mayweather in the same manner. If Manny has nothing to hide, as he and his team have claimed numerous times, why won’t he man up and stop acting like a spoiled diva millionaire and trying to sue Team Mayweather, take the tests and prove them wrong!! What would be more satisfying, taking Floyd to court or taking the tests and laughing in his team’s face when they come out clean? I mean really? Seriously Manny? What is going to satisfy the public and their views on performance enhancing drugs?
How are you going to gain more from this situation? Gain more fans? By taking Mayweather to court? You look like a J-O-K-E. I read an article about Bob Arum saying Floyd wakes up with a new demand every day after each nightmare. That is HILARIOUS!!! The only one I see doing this is Team Pacquiao, and it is about time someone in the media has the balls to stand up and say, “This isn’t right. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” I would love to be alone in a room with Bob Arum and spill all that sits in my head out on his table, because I guarantee that he would come out of that room thinking we went 12 rounds. I don’t buy his BS media tactics – I never have and I never will.
What are my reasons for my anti-Arum campaign? This is the same guy that – while promoting Mayweather – said that Floyd was “the greatest fighter I have seen since Ali, and no one puts it together like Floyd Mayweather JR.” Yet those are now the same words being echoed by him about Manny Pacquiao. Not to mention, Mayweather is scared and his skills are garbage, right? Why hasn’t anybody brought up the 10-million-dollars-per-pound-or-fraction-over-147-pounds stipulation that Mayweather and his camp agreed to? That stipulation isn’t over the top or unheard of, is it? Of course, that fact is overlooked as a minute detail in pro-Pacquiao arguments and opinions. Nobody considers that stipulation “harassment” of Mayweather, do they? Yet, asking Pacquiao to prove that he is clean apparently is harassment. Did Mayweather hesitate or complain when he signed his name to that stipulation? Again, no, he didn’t. It is extremely laughable how much Bob Arum is able to use his Jedi mind tricks on the public, and trick them into thinking Floyd Mayweather doesn’t want this fight and is being unreasonable. Floyd is the only one to agree to fight and has never tried to call the fight off.
On Sunday, Shane Mosley, a fighter who has admitted to using PED’s, said that he felt there is something about Manny that is “Questionable.” Hold up, wait a minute: A known steroid user is saying that there is something fishy about this guy? Apparently that doesn’t speak volumes? I find Mosley’s insight as possibly the most useful and credible source of this issue over the past two weeks for the simple fact that if anyone would know, it would be Shane. I read an article the other day that stated that Al Hayman, who promotes both Mayweather and Andre Berto, was pushing for Manny Pacquiao to be tested, but not a known user like Shane Mosley, who will fight Berto in January. It is much easier for a guy that hasn’t been caught to continue using as opposed to a guy that has been caught trying to get it over again. Mosley isn’t a stupid person and there is no way he puts himself in a situation like that again – to suggest so would be an insult to Shane’s intelligence – something I don’t think he would take too kindly to. I am in no way accusing Manny of doping, and he has never failed a test. The problem is that the issue is open for speculation and the fact that Pacquiao is acting shady about taking certain tests makes this an even stickier mess. I have no idea why it is acceptable for Manny to make “unreasonable” demands, but not for Floyd.
I understand completely that the Nevadsa Athletic Commission does not require the types of tests that GBP is asking Manny to take, but this may be a step in the right direction as far as the overall well being of our sport. I feel that with the times changing, more and more unexpected athletes are being busted for PED’s, and so boxing, of all sports – a sport in which you use your fists as weapons to beat and destroy your fellow man – should require stricter drug testing then a sport such as baseball should. Just because someone is said to be clean, does not mean they really are. Take, for example, the 2003 Major League Baseball tests of Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz – all stars in their own right – who failed drug tests some six plus years ago, and have just recently been leaked as having tested positive. It happens, and to suggest otherwise is ignorant. Sometimes the integrity of the sport is compromised for the money, which is unfortunate, but it does happen, has happened, and will continue to happen as long as there is no nationally regulated Boxing commission.
Issues like the ones surrounding Mayweather-Pacquiao could be resolved in a more professional manner should there be a national standard. Talks over the past week to get Senator John McCain involved may not be such a bad idea because, as I previously suggested, this may be a step in the right direction for a sport that has needed it almost since conception. It would be helpful for everybody involved if a commission were able to come to an agreement on how things would be done from state to state on a regular basis. Boxing could not only avoid fighters cheating to get an edge, but could make sure the money went to the proper places, as well as make sure the medical tests given to fighters were straight across the board. Should a boxer fail any part of the medical exam (no matter who they were) they wouldn’t be able to fight. Another advantage to a commission would be the number of unfortunate and unexpected deaths in the sport. As far as the sporting side, I would recommend someone such as Teddy Atlas to oversee this part of the commission. I feel deep down that there isn’t a person who cares more for this sport or its intentions then Teddy, thus giving him the respect needed to carry such a burden. Maybe with this in place issues such as the ones surrounding this mega-fight could be avoided.
It doesn’t matter if you are a Floyd Mayweather supporter or a Manny Pacquiao supporter, because right is right, and wrong is wrong. Both sides have diva-like demands. The problem is that only one has accepted the demands, while the other seems to want to continue to jerk our chains and make it seem as if the other is the one deceiving us. Don’t be fooled my friends, that isn’t the case. Smoke and mirrors by the top ranks is all this media stunt is – promoters trying to get leverage to try and get the upper hand for bragging rights. As of this week, the Mayweather side has even released the Olympic Drug testing stipulation, and still Manny and his followers seem to lack the drive, the want, or the guts to get this thing done. This isn’t made up, these aren’t opinions, these are facts that can be found almost anywhere – online, TV, the internet, or anywhere print is available. Floyd is ready – Manny is not. For what reason? Only Manny truly knows, but let’s not let that reason or reasons deceive us from the reality that is this mega-fight.
ESPN reported something I almost forgot about, while filming Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 Manny was shown taking a random blood test approximately 14 days [Editor's note: it is now confirmed the test was 24 days before the bout] before the fight which take out all credibility he has by saying that having blood drawn from him inside of 30 days before a fight drains him. So it has to be something else. There is another reason he doesn’t want strict testing and I believe that stricter drug testing might end up proving what that reason is.
One man is ready and waiting while the other searches for reason after reason to drag it out. Maybe the only way Manny and his people can get a victory and money out of a fight with Mayweather is in Court.
Like it or not, this needs to be said and I have said it. Climb aboard if you want and if you choose not to that’s fine just understand that when the smoke clears and all that is Mayweather-Pacquiao settles, that all will become clear, and I hope you are smart and capable enough of knowing right from wrong: What is fair and what isn’t fair. If blame is to be set on anyone, let it be on both parties involved not just one.
But hey what did we expect to happen when we got together two divas, who happen to flash their voice with 8oz leather gloves 40 million dollars?
40 million excuses.
By Greg Rowe
A view from the Mayweather side
How would you like to make a potential 40 million dollars in one night… Can anyone imagine that? Say it with me, “40 million dollars in one night.” Doesn’t that figure sound too good to be true? That isn’t the case for Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, should their superfight actually happen. What would you do for over 40 million dollars? How about what wouldn’t you do for 40 million dollars?
That leads us to the current status of this whirlwind of this and that’s that is the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. Each fighter is a multi-million dollar man: one is a self-admitted braggart and a brash and flashy superstar, while the other is a self-named “one of us” and a “hero of the people” type of superstar (if that is even a possibility). Regardless of these labels, both are acting like prima donnas and divas, rather then fighters. Whether you like Mayweather or not, he is what he advertises. Pacquiao, on the other hand, says he is as far away from Mayweather as is physically possible, and yet here we are with Manny acting as if he was born by the Virgin Mary herself, with a silver spoon in his mouth, while lying in a manger in a crib made of wood and straw, being attended to by the Three Wise Men.
What is making me angry is that every media outlet or writer is acting as if Mayweather is the only diva here or guy asking for something above and beyond. There are a few “facts” that need to be brought up and talked about in opposition to the opinions and hypothetical issues that seem to make up 90% of what I have read over the past two weeks. One question to be answered is: Which fighter agreed to the fight first? The answer is: The Mayweather camp, according to numerous news outlets including ESPN, USA Today and Yahoo Sports. Another question is: Which fighter or side has agreed to all the stipulations that have come along with making this fight? The answer: Again, the Mayweather camp. Which side has been the only side complaining about taking this fight off the table or killing it? The answer, my friends: Not the Mayweather camp. All I have heard is that Bob Arum wants to kill the fight over allegations not made by Mayweather himself, but by his father or possibly other members of his camp. Other fighters have accused Manny of using illegal substances over the past few weeks, including the guy that Team Pacman is thinking about fighting instead of Mayweather, who would be Paulie Malinaggi. This makes a whole lot of sense and is not laughable at all, right? Let’s try not to overlook the fact that Pacquiao isn’t willing to fight Mayweather, who hasn’t directly accused him of using drugs, but he is willing to fight the guy who, on more than one occasion, has accused Manny of juicing. Can somebody please explain that logic to me? From where I sit, that tells me that Manny doesn’t want to bite off more than he can chew, and is looking for another fight against a big name that he knows isn’t as big a risk as fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. That must just be me, my logic.
Another thing that makes me go into fits of tearful laughter while rolling on the floor is the fact that I have not once heard anyone acknowledge that while Pacquiao would have to subject himself to this Olympic-style drug testing, SO WOULD MAYWEATHER!!! Why or how is Floyd looking to get an advantage over Manny if he is subjected to the same tests? It is baffling!!!! Manny claims that the Olympic-style testing would weaken him, but says nothing of how it would also “weaken” Mayweather in the same manner. If Manny has nothing to hide, as he and his team have claimed numerous times, why won’t he man up and stop acting like a spoiled diva millionaire and trying to sue Team Mayweather, take the tests and prove them wrong!! What would be more satisfying, taking Floyd to court or taking the tests and laughing in his team’s face when they come out clean? I mean really? Seriously Manny? What is going to satisfy the public and their views on performance enhancing drugs?
How are you going to gain more from this situation? Gain more fans? By taking Mayweather to court? You look like a J-O-K-E. I read an article about Bob Arum saying Floyd wakes up with a new demand every day after each nightmare. That is HILARIOUS!!! The only one I see doing this is Team Pacquiao, and it is about time someone in the media has the balls to stand up and say, “This isn’t right. You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” I would love to be alone in a room with Bob Arum and spill all that sits in my head out on his table, because I guarantee that he would come out of that room thinking we went 12 rounds. I don’t buy his BS media tactics – I never have and I never will.
What are my reasons for my anti-Arum campaign? This is the same guy that – while promoting Mayweather – said that Floyd was “the greatest fighter I have seen since Ali, and no one puts it together like Floyd Mayweather JR.” Yet those are now the same words being echoed by him about Manny Pacquiao. Not to mention, Mayweather is scared and his skills are garbage, right? Why hasn’t anybody brought up the 10-million-dollars-per-pound-or-fraction-over-147-pounds stipulation that Mayweather and his camp agreed to? That stipulation isn’t over the top or unheard of, is it? Of course, that fact is overlooked as a minute detail in pro-Pacquiao arguments and opinions. Nobody considers that stipulation “harassment” of Mayweather, do they? Yet, asking Pacquiao to prove that he is clean apparently is harassment. Did Mayweather hesitate or complain when he signed his name to that stipulation? Again, no, he didn’t. It is extremely laughable how much Bob Arum is able to use his Jedi mind tricks on the public, and trick them into thinking Floyd Mayweather doesn’t want this fight and is being unreasonable. Floyd is the only one to agree to fight and has never tried to call the fight off.
On Sunday, Shane Mosley, a fighter who has admitted to using PED’s, said that he felt there is something about Manny that is “Questionable.” Hold up, wait a minute: A known steroid user is saying that there is something fishy about this guy? Apparently that doesn’t speak volumes? I find Mosley’s insight as possibly the most useful and credible source of this issue over the past two weeks for the simple fact that if anyone would know, it would be Shane. I read an article the other day that stated that Al Hayman, who promotes both Mayweather and Andre Berto, was pushing for Manny Pacquiao to be tested, but not a known user like Shane Mosley, who will fight Berto in January. It is much easier for a guy that hasn’t been caught to continue using as opposed to a guy that has been caught trying to get it over again. Mosley isn’t a stupid person and there is no way he puts himself in a situation like that again – to suggest so would be an insult to Shane’s intelligence – something I don’t think he would take too kindly to. I am in no way accusing Manny of doping, and he has never failed a test. The problem is that the issue is open for speculation and the fact that Pacquiao is acting shady about taking certain tests makes this an even stickier mess. I have no idea why it is acceptable for Manny to make “unreasonable” demands, but not for Floyd.
I understand completely that the Nevadsa Athletic Commission does not require the types of tests that GBP is asking Manny to take, but this may be a step in the right direction as far as the overall well being of our sport. I feel that with the times changing, more and more unexpected athletes are being busted for PED’s, and so boxing, of all sports – a sport in which you use your fists as weapons to beat and destroy your fellow man – should require stricter drug testing then a sport such as baseball should. Just because someone is said to be clean, does not mean they really are. Take, for example, the 2003 Major League Baseball tests of Sammy Sosa, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz – all stars in their own right – who failed drug tests some six plus years ago, and have just recently been leaked as having tested positive. It happens, and to suggest otherwise is ignorant. Sometimes the integrity of the sport is compromised for the money, which is unfortunate, but it does happen, has happened, and will continue to happen as long as there is no nationally regulated Boxing commission.
Issues like the ones surrounding Mayweather-Pacquiao could be resolved in a more professional manner should there be a national standard. Talks over the past week to get Senator John McCain involved may not be such a bad idea because, as I previously suggested, this may be a step in the right direction for a sport that has needed it almost since conception. It would be helpful for everybody involved if a commission were able to come to an agreement on how things would be done from state to state on a regular basis. Boxing could not only avoid fighters cheating to get an edge, but could make sure the money went to the proper places, as well as make sure the medical tests given to fighters were straight across the board. Should a boxer fail any part of the medical exam (no matter who they were) they wouldn’t be able to fight. Another advantage to a commission would be the number of unfortunate and unexpected deaths in the sport. As far as the sporting side, I would recommend someone such as Teddy Atlas to oversee this part of the commission. I feel deep down that there isn’t a person who cares more for this sport or its intentions then Teddy, thus giving him the respect needed to carry such a burden. Maybe with this in place issues such as the ones surrounding this mega-fight could be avoided.
It doesn’t matter if you are a Floyd Mayweather supporter or a Manny Pacquiao supporter, because right is right, and wrong is wrong. Both sides have diva-like demands. The problem is that only one has accepted the demands, while the other seems to want to continue to jerk our chains and make it seem as if the other is the one deceiving us. Don’t be fooled my friends, that isn’t the case. Smoke and mirrors by the top ranks is all this media stunt is – promoters trying to get leverage to try and get the upper hand for bragging rights. As of this week, the Mayweather side has even released the Olympic Drug testing stipulation, and still Manny and his followers seem to lack the drive, the want, or the guts to get this thing done. This isn’t made up, these aren’t opinions, these are facts that can be found almost anywhere – online, TV, the internet, or anywhere print is available. Floyd is ready – Manny is not. For what reason? Only Manny truly knows, but let’s not let that reason or reasons deceive us from the reality that is this mega-fight.
ESPN reported something I almost forgot about, while filming Pacquiao-Hatton 24/7 Manny was shown taking a random blood test approximately 14 days [Editor's note: it is now confirmed the test was 24 days before the bout] before the fight which take out all credibility he has by saying that having blood drawn from him inside of 30 days before a fight drains him. So it has to be something else. There is another reason he doesn’t want strict testing and I believe that stricter drug testing might end up proving what that reason is.
One man is ready and waiting while the other searches for reason after reason to drag it out. Maybe the only way Manny and his people can get a victory and money out of a fight with Mayweather is in Court.
Like it or not, this needs to be said and I have said it. Climb aboard if you want and if you choose not to that’s fine just understand that when the smoke clears and all that is Mayweather-Pacquiao settles, that all will become clear, and I hope you are smart and capable enough of knowing right from wrong: What is fair and what isn’t fair. If blame is to be set on anyone, let it be on both parties involved not just one.
But hey what did we expect to happen when we got together two divas, who happen to flash their voice with 8oz leather gloves 40 million dollars?
40 million excuses.
Manny Pacquiao Files Federal Defamation Lawsuit Against Mayweathers, Oscar de la Hoya
On December 30, 2009, pound-for-pound boxing champion Manny Pacquiao filed a lawsuit in Nevada federal court against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions, LLC, and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar de la Hoya, and Richard Schaefer for making false and defamatory statements accusing Pacquiao of taking performance-enhancing drugs. The complaint is attached. The lawsuit claims the Mayweathers, de la Hoya, and Schaefer knew that Pacquiao has never taken performance-enhancing drugs, knew their statements were false, but made them anyway out of "ill-will, spite, malice, revenge, and envy."
Pacquiao has retained Daniel Petrocelli of the Los Angeles-based law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP. About the filing of the complaint, Petrocelli stated: "Manny Pacquiao's achievements come from God-given talent and an indefatigable work ethic -- not steroids. He cannot and will not allow others to deliberately misrepresent his years of hard work and tarnish his reputation."
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Las Vegas, Nevada, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defendants' wrongful conduct.
On December 30, 2009, pound-for-pound boxing champion Manny Pacquiao filed a lawsuit in Nevada federal court against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Floyd Mayweather, Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions, LLC, and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar de la Hoya, and Richard Schaefer for making false and defamatory statements accusing Pacquiao of taking performance-enhancing drugs. The complaint is attached. The lawsuit claims the Mayweathers, de la Hoya, and Schaefer knew that Pacquiao has never taken performance-enhancing drugs, knew their statements were false, but made them anyway out of "ill-will, spite, malice, revenge, and envy."
Pacquiao has retained Daniel Petrocelli of the Los Angeles-based law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP. About the filing of the complaint, Petrocelli stated: "Manny Pacquiao's achievements come from God-given talent and an indefatigable work ethic -- not steroids. He cannot and will not allow others to deliberately misrepresent his years of hard work and tarnish his reputation."
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Las Vegas, Nevada, and seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defendants' wrongful conduct.
Pacquiao sues both Mayweathers
There's a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but it's not in the ring -- at least not yet. Instead, it's in court.
Pacquiao filed suit in U.S. District Court in Nevada on Wednesday against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, alleging that they made false and defamatory statements accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
It could be the final blow that will kill the negotiations for their proposed March 13 HBO PPV super fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a bout many believe would be the richest fight in boxing history if it takes place.
But it has hung in the balance for days as the sides have been hung up on one item -- the drug testing protocol to be used for the bout.
Mayweather has insisted on random urine and blood testing for both fighters. Pacquiao, who has agreed to random unlimited urine testing, has balked at random blood testing, saying he would only take three blood tests: One in early January around the time of the kickoff news conference, one randomly up to 30 days before the fight and one in the dressing room after the fight.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission only requires urine testing.
While Todd duBoef, the president of Pacquiao promoter Top Rank, and Golden Boy executive Bruce Binkow, representing Mayweather, continue to hold talks to try to find common ground, Pacquiao filed suit.
"Manny Pacquiao's achievements come from God-given talent and an indefatigable work ethic -- not steroids," said Pacquiao's Los Angles attorney, Daniel Petrocelli. "He cannot and will not allow others to deliberately misrepresent his years of hard work and tarnish his reputation.
"We had no choice but to file this lawsuit. He's had an unblemished reputation. You cannot accuse an athlete of cheating. It's the worst possible thing you can do to an athlete. They knew he didn't take any performance-enhancing drugs and they made these statements anyway. There was no choice but to bring a lawsuit to protect his reputation."
Petrocelli said they would seek damages "in the tens of millions."
Petrocelli represented Top Rank a few years ago when it sued Golden Boy over Pacquiao's promotional contract after Pacquiao had signed with both companies. The lawsuit led to a cold war between boxing's two most powerful American promoters, but was eventually settled through mediation, paving the way for the firms to co-promote several major fights.
Also Wednesday, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.com that he didn't think the fight would happen and he was making plans to match Pacquiao with junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman on March 20 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, so Pacquiao could go for a title in a record eighth weight division.
"In my opinion the fight has no chance of happening and we should go and do other things and revisit it later in the year," Arum said from his vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "That is what I would suggest. That may not be how it works out. I don't know. It's a damn shame, but it's out of my hands. When I think of having to share a dais with those sleazebags, Oscar and Schaefer, after what they've been saying about Manny, it turns my stomach."
Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy, told ESPN.com, "As it relates to lawsuits, we never have a comment. We will refer it to our attorneys. That's all I have to say about the lawsuit."
He did say, however, lawsuit or not, he still hoped to finalize the fight.
"The fact is Floyd Mayweather is ready, willing and able to fight Manny Pacquiao," Schaefer said. "Bruce Binkow has told me that conversations are ongoing with Todd duBoef from Top Rank to find a solution to get this fight done, and just because there is a lawsuit, Todd has not represented to Bruce that they should stop talking."
Said Petrocelli, "Whether or not the fight is made, this lawsuit was an absolute necessity. [Pacquiao] could not leave unanswered the malicious statements to the public that he's been taking performance-enhancing drugs. These were irresponsible, reckless, false statements and he needs to address this."
Pacquiao said a few days ago that he planned to file a lawsuit, saying in a statement, "Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., [Mayweather] Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard."
Mayweather Sr., in particular, has been vocal in his assertions that Pacquiao is using PEDs, pointing to the fact that Pacquiao, who began his professional career at 106 pounds, has won seven titles in a record seven weight classes while retaining his speed and power. He won his seventh title in November by knocking out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round.
The lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.com, alleges that since September, the Mayweathers, De La Hoya and Schaefer have publicly stated that Pacquiao uses PEDs.
Pacquiao denies he has ever used any banned substance and has passed urine tests.
"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it," Pacquiao said in a statement. "I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years."
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.
There's a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but it's not in the ring -- at least not yet. Instead, it's in court.
Pacquiao filed suit in U.S. District Court in Nevada on Wednesday against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, alleging that they made false and defamatory statements accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
It could be the final blow that will kill the negotiations for their proposed March 13 HBO PPV super fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a bout many believe would be the richest fight in boxing history if it takes place.
But it has hung in the balance for days as the sides have been hung up on one item -- the drug testing protocol to be used for the bout.
Mayweather has insisted on random urine and blood testing for both fighters. Pacquiao, who has agreed to random unlimited urine testing, has balked at random blood testing, saying he would only take three blood tests: One in early January around the time of the kickoff news conference, one randomly up to 30 days before the fight and one in the dressing room after the fight.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission only requires urine testing.
While Todd duBoef, the president of Pacquiao promoter Top Rank, and Golden Boy executive Bruce Binkow, representing Mayweather, continue to hold talks to try to find common ground, Pacquiao filed suit.
"Manny Pacquiao's achievements come from God-given talent and an indefatigable work ethic -- not steroids," said Pacquiao's Los Angles attorney, Daniel Petrocelli. "He cannot and will not allow others to deliberately misrepresent his years of hard work and tarnish his reputation.
"We had no choice but to file this lawsuit. He's had an unblemished reputation. You cannot accuse an athlete of cheating. It's the worst possible thing you can do to an athlete. They knew he didn't take any performance-enhancing drugs and they made these statements anyway. There was no choice but to bring a lawsuit to protect his reputation."
Petrocelli said they would seek damages "in the tens of millions."
Petrocelli represented Top Rank a few years ago when it sued Golden Boy over Pacquiao's promotional contract after Pacquiao had signed with both companies. The lawsuit led to a cold war between boxing's two most powerful American promoters, but was eventually settled through mediation, paving the way for the firms to co-promote several major fights.
Also Wednesday, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.com that he didn't think the fight would happen and he was making plans to match Pacquiao with junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman on March 20 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, so Pacquiao could go for a title in a record eighth weight division.
"In my opinion the fight has no chance of happening and we should go and do other things and revisit it later in the year," Arum said from his vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "That is what I would suggest. That may not be how it works out. I don't know. It's a damn shame, but it's out of my hands. When I think of having to share a dais with those sleazebags, Oscar and Schaefer, after what they've been saying about Manny, it turns my stomach."
Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy, told ESPN.com, "As it relates to lawsuits, we never have a comment. We will refer it to our attorneys. That's all I have to say about the lawsuit."
He did say, however, lawsuit or not, he still hoped to finalize the fight.
"The fact is Floyd Mayweather is ready, willing and able to fight Manny Pacquiao," Schaefer said. "Bruce Binkow has told me that conversations are ongoing with Todd duBoef from Top Rank to find a solution to get this fight done, and just because there is a lawsuit, Todd has not represented to Bruce that they should stop talking."
Said Petrocelli, "Whether or not the fight is made, this lawsuit was an absolute necessity. [Pacquiao] could not leave unanswered the malicious statements to the public that he's been taking performance-enhancing drugs. These were irresponsible, reckless, false statements and he needs to address this."
Pacquiao said a few days ago that he planned to file a lawsuit, saying in a statement, "Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., [Mayweather] Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard."
Mayweather Sr., in particular, has been vocal in his assertions that Pacquiao is using PEDs, pointing to the fact that Pacquiao, who began his professional career at 106 pounds, has won seven titles in a record seven weight classes while retaining his speed and power. He won his seventh title in November by knocking out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round.
The lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN.com, alleges that since September, the Mayweathers, De La Hoya and Schaefer have publicly stated that Pacquiao uses PEDs.
Pacquiao denies he has ever used any banned substance and has passed urine tests.
"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it," Pacquiao said in a statement. "I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years."
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.