By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, on Friday said Floyd Mayweather's camp "wants Olympic-style drug testing" for the March 13 matchup between the sports' two best boxers -- something Roach said he has "no problem" with in an interview with Elie Seckbach of FanHouse.
Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, said Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) also would welcome such a procedure when reached Saturday in the Philippines, where he is with the seven-division world champion.
"Our reaction is, 'So what?' We know Manny doesn't take any illegal drugs or anything. And none of this is getting under Manny's skin or anything," said Koncz.
"I'm here with Manny, and to him, it's like a joke. It's a laughing matter," said Koncz. "It's something foolish anyway. Why would we be concerned? We know he doesn't do any of that s**t."
Leonard Ellerbe, manager of Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs), confirmed their side's desire for the random procedure for both fighters.
"This will be implemented. It is going to be done," Ellerbe told Michigan's Grand Rapids Press, the hometown newspaper of Mayweather, now a Las Vegas resident.
"Floyd's got nothing to do with this," said Ellerbe. "It's our job to protect him and give him the best chance to be successful."
The notion first surfaced back on Sept. 15, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. told The Grand Rapids Press, "I think they're pushing Pacquiao too much -- even if he's got 'roids in his body."
"In my honest opinion, I believe that he's on some type of supplements," said Mayweather Sr. in a video on the newspaper's Web site.
"I don't think that he can beat Little Floyd with steroids in him or not," said Mayweather Sr. "He don't have that kind of talent or that kind of skill -- whatever he has in him."
Roach and Pacquiao, respectively, were then informed of Floyd Sr.'s implications for the first time by FanHouse.
"Steroids? Where in the hell did that come from?" asked Roach, referring to Pacquiao's second-round victory over Ricky Hatton, who was trained by Floyd Sr. at the time.
"You know, these guys, they had to come up with a reason why they lose," said Roach. "They lost because [Floyd Sr.] sucks as a trainer and I had the better fighter."
Pacquiao seemed equally perplexed.
"You know what? I don't even know what a steroid is," said Pacquiao. "I've never done that. Maybe all of them -- they're using the steroids, and not me."
Two months later, Koncz is saying the same thing.
"If the commission decides to do any testing then maybe they'll find something in Floyd, because they certainly won't find anything in Manny," said Koncz.
"Maybe Floyd should go to church a little more," said Koncz. "Then, maybe Floyd would find out where Manny gets his source of strength and power from."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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