By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
The hypocrisy of Boxing Banker Richie Rich Schaefer, who only does the bidding of Floyd Mayweather and adviser Al Haymon anyway, has come back to haunt him and the Mayweather camp like my uncle, Jacob Marley ,came back to haunt that miser Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol.”
When it looked like Zab Judah would fight BALCO graduate Sugar Shane Mosley, who has sworn under oath in federal court that he took illegal steroids before a fight with Oscar de la Hoya but was unaware of their illegality, the Judah camp called for drug testing for Shane above and beyond what the Nevada commission requires.
Schaefer’s resounding answer was: No way, Jose!
Here’s part of the Associated Press report on the controversy in 2008:
“One of Judah's managers, Michael Shinefield, said he sent an e-mail two weeks ago to Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Mosley, calling for blood testing for both fighters. Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said he has not responded to that e-mail, but that Mosley will agree to any tests required by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"The Nevada commission requires urine testing of fighters immediately after bouts, but does not require blood tests. Drug experts differ over whether blood tests are more effective than urine tests at detecting some performance-enhancing drugs.
"We only do urine tests. Our inspectors collect urine from the fighters on fight night. Our inspectors aren't qualified or licensed to draw blood," Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said in a telephone interview. "If they want to do any other type of test, that's up to them, they're free to do that."
Last year, Mosley acknowledged using steroids before a bout against Oscar De La Hoya in 2003, but said the use was unintentional. Mosley testified in 2003 before the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative grand jury. He never has tested positive for drugs, and has not been charged in the BALCO case.”
The Judah-Mosley bout never took place in Las Vegas but Schaefer’s insistence that the Nevada commission testing was sufficient for admitted steroid user Mosley speaks volumes.
I guess what was sufficient for Mosley is not sufficient for Pacquiao.
(Internet poster "McLovin" may have inspired this column so here's his mention. I know better than to mess with "McLovjn" and his Hawaiian driver's license.)
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Friday, 25 December 2009
Pacquiao suing Mayweathers, Golden Boy for defamation over steroids insinuations -- Examiner
By Colin Seymour, Examiner.com
Put in the position of having to prove he’s not on steroids if he wants his March 13 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. to take place, Manny Pacquiao announced late Thursday that he’s suing Mayweather and his handlers for defamation of character.
The announcement, which I received via email from Pacquiao’s Los Angeles-based spokesman Winchell Campos, came on the heels of several days of public sparring over what provisions for blood tests would prevail in the contract for the March 13 bout.
There were reports that Pacquiao is superstitious about extractions of his blood, which only served to exacerbate rumors, spread principally by the Mayweathers, that steroids have been a key to Pacquiao’s abrupt move from 130 pounds to 145 pounds in the past 18 months and his astonishing success at higher weights in victories over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. That’s the sort of falsehood that led to the suit, Pacquiao said.
Although Top Rank head Bob Arum issued a release earlier this week saying that Pacquiao was amenable to blood tests during the ramp-up to the fight, he was not willing to adhere to the Olympic-style random testing that Mayweather and Golden Boy were proposing.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao presumably has been stewing in the Philippines, and he erupted Friday by announcing he’s taking legal action by asking Arum “to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible, because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world.”
In his statement released from Sarangani, Philippines, Pacquiao said his character and person have been questioned, maligned, damaged and tarnished by baseless and false accusations.
“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. “I have no idea what steroids look like, and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”
The steroids talk seemed to increase after Pacquiao’s two-round demolition of Hatton last May. Although I joked about the issue, my stance has been that the higher weight is more natural for Pacquiao, and that I doubt he’s using steroids. Plenty of observers disagree, and how is Pacquiao supposed to argue with them?
According to Campos’ release, Pacquiao is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission whenever, wherever he fights, adding “he just finds it funny and stupid to change a system that has been set for decades now. Pacquiao undergoes drug testing and other medical examinations before and after every fight over the past 15 years and has never failed any of these tests.
“Enough is enough,” Pacquiao stated in Tagalog. “These people, Mayweather Sr., 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.”
Source: examiner.com
Put in the position of having to prove he’s not on steroids if he wants his March 13 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. to take place, Manny Pacquiao announced late Thursday that he’s suing Mayweather and his handlers for defamation of character.
The announcement, which I received via email from Pacquiao’s Los Angeles-based spokesman Winchell Campos, came on the heels of several days of public sparring over what provisions for blood tests would prevail in the contract for the March 13 bout.
There were reports that Pacquiao is superstitious about extractions of his blood, which only served to exacerbate rumors, spread principally by the Mayweathers, that steroids have been a key to Pacquiao’s abrupt move from 130 pounds to 145 pounds in the past 18 months and his astonishing success at higher weights in victories over Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. That’s the sort of falsehood that led to the suit, Pacquiao said.
Although Top Rank head Bob Arum issued a release earlier this week saying that Pacquiao was amenable to blood tests during the ramp-up to the fight, he was not willing to adhere to the Olympic-style random testing that Mayweather and Golden Boy were proposing.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao presumably has been stewing in the Philippines, and he erupted Friday by announcing he’s taking legal action by asking Arum “to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible, because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world.”
In his statement released from Sarangani, Philippines, Pacquiao said his character and person have been questioned, maligned, damaged and tarnished by baseless and false accusations.
“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. “I have no idea what steroids look like, and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”
The steroids talk seemed to increase after Pacquiao’s two-round demolition of Hatton last May. Although I joked about the issue, my stance has been that the higher weight is more natural for Pacquiao, and that I doubt he’s using steroids. Plenty of observers disagree, and how is Pacquiao supposed to argue with them?
According to Campos’ release, Pacquiao is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission whenever, wherever he fights, adding “he just finds it funny and stupid to change a system that has been set for decades now. Pacquiao undergoes drug testing and other medical examinations before and after every fight over the past 15 years and has never failed any of these tests.
“Enough is enough,” Pacquiao stated in Tagalog. “These people, Mayweather Sr., 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.”
Source: examiner.com
Megafight in peril over drug tests; Manny mulls Paulie -- New York Post
By GEORGE WILLIS, New York Post
Bob Arum told The Post yesterday that, as far as he's concerned, the proposed megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao "is not going to happen" because of an impasse over drug-testing procedures.
And, the Top Rank promoter is moving forward to find another opponent for Pacquiao.
Arum said he has extended an offer to Lou DiBella, the promoter for Paulie Malignaggi, to have the junior welterweight from Brooklyn replace Mayweather as Pacquiao's opponent on March 13 in Las Vegas.
"We've made an offer to Lou and we'll keep that March 13 date," Arum said.
Malignaggi, a former IBF junior welterweight champ who is coming off an impressive victory over Juan Diaz, said he is happy to be mentioned as a possible opponent, but the boxing fan in him hopes Mayweather and Pacquiao can work things out.
"At the end of the day, these guys have to come up with an agreement," Malignaggi said. "It's cool to have my name in the mix, but to leave that much money on the table doesn't make sense."
The Mayweather-Pacquiao bout could be the richest in boxing history, with each fighter earning $30 million to $40 million. But the bout is in jeopardy.
Mayweather has insisted Pacquiao agree to drug testing administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which administers random blood and urine tests for Olympic sports. Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, has offered an alternative plan under which the drug tests would be administered by an agency that works with the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Pacquiao would give as many urine samples as requested, and undergo three blood tests, one in January when the fight is announced, another no less than 30 days before the bout and one immediately following the bout. The Mayweather camp has rejected Arum's plan.
Arum said his problem with the USADA overseeing the drug testing is that it's too intrusive.
"Their idea of random testing is if Manny is in his apartment in Los Angeles with 20 Filipinos sleeping at midnight, they can knock on the door and take a blood test or a urine sample," Arum said. "That's crazy. It's harassment."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was told the USADA could administer as many as 14 urine tests and seven blood tests in an eight-week period leading up the bout.
Arum came up with his alternate plan after speaking with representatives of the New York Giants, who raved about the agencies that administer drug testing in the NFL.
"We have nothing to hide," Arum said. "If you want to add some blood testing that's absolutely useless, we'll do a little blood testing. We can do urine tests and saliva tests. But let's do it with an agency that is used to handling professional athletes."
The Mayweather camp doesn't like the idea of scheduled testing.
"How are you going to dictate timing-wise when the tests are being done?" said Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser. "That's the whole idea behind random testing. If somebody is doing something they shouldn't be doing, if they know when the test is coming, they could study and pass the test."
Pacquiao, a champion in seven weight classes, has passed all the urine drug tests for his championship bouts in Las Vegas. Yet the Mayweather camp requested blood tests after Floyd Mayweather Sr. charged that Pacquiao, who climbed four weight classes over the last two years, was on performance-enhancing drugs.
Malignaggi said he is among those "suspicious" of Pacquiao, but he would not demand any drug testing procedures other than those already in place by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"At the end of the day, we're here to make money," Malignaggi said. "I'd like to believe he's not on something, so I'd be OK to do the regular testing the commission does. But if I was going to make $40 million, you could test me 15 times a day."
george.willis@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
Bob Arum told The Post yesterday that, as far as he's concerned, the proposed megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao "is not going to happen" because of an impasse over drug-testing procedures.
And, the Top Rank promoter is moving forward to find another opponent for Pacquiao.
Arum said he has extended an offer to Lou DiBella, the promoter for Paulie Malignaggi, to have the junior welterweight from Brooklyn replace Mayweather as Pacquiao's opponent on March 13 in Las Vegas.
"We've made an offer to Lou and we'll keep that March 13 date," Arum said.
Malignaggi, a former IBF junior welterweight champ who is coming off an impressive victory over Juan Diaz, said he is happy to be mentioned as a possible opponent, but the boxing fan in him hopes Mayweather and Pacquiao can work things out.
"At the end of the day, these guys have to come up with an agreement," Malignaggi said. "It's cool to have my name in the mix, but to leave that much money on the table doesn't make sense."
The Mayweather-Pacquiao bout could be the richest in boxing history, with each fighter earning $30 million to $40 million. But the bout is in jeopardy.
Mayweather has insisted Pacquiao agree to drug testing administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which administers random blood and urine tests for Olympic sports. Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, has offered an alternative plan under which the drug tests would be administered by an agency that works with the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Pacquiao would give as many urine samples as requested, and undergo three blood tests, one in January when the fight is announced, another no less than 30 days before the bout and one immediately following the bout. The Mayweather camp has rejected Arum's plan.
Arum said his problem with the USADA overseeing the drug testing is that it's too intrusive.
"Their idea of random testing is if Manny is in his apartment in Los Angeles with 20 Filipinos sleeping at midnight, they can knock on the door and take a blood test or a urine sample," Arum said. "That's crazy. It's harassment."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, was told the USADA could administer as many as 14 urine tests and seven blood tests in an eight-week period leading up the bout.
Arum came up with his alternate plan after speaking with representatives of the New York Giants, who raved about the agencies that administer drug testing in the NFL.
"We have nothing to hide," Arum said. "If you want to add some blood testing that's absolutely useless, we'll do a little blood testing. We can do urine tests and saliva tests. But let's do it with an agency that is used to handling professional athletes."
The Mayweather camp doesn't like the idea of scheduled testing.
"How are you going to dictate timing-wise when the tests are being done?" said Leonard Ellerbe, a Mayweather adviser. "That's the whole idea behind random testing. If somebody is doing something they shouldn't be doing, if they know when the test is coming, they could study and pass the test."
Pacquiao, a champion in seven weight classes, has passed all the urine drug tests for his championship bouts in Las Vegas. Yet the Mayweather camp requested blood tests after Floyd Mayweather Sr. charged that Pacquiao, who climbed four weight classes over the last two years, was on performance-enhancing drugs.
Malignaggi said he is among those "suspicious" of Pacquiao, but he would not demand any drug testing procedures other than those already in place by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
"At the end of the day, we're here to make money," Malignaggi said. "I'd like to believe he's not on something, so I'd be OK to do the regular testing the commission does. But if I was going to make $40 million, you could test me 15 times a day."
george.willis@nypost.com
Source: nypost.com
ARUM DELIGHTED THAT PACQUIAO IS STANDING UP LIKE A CHAMPION OUTSIDE THE RING -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wholeheartedly supports pound-for-king Manny Pacquiao’s decision to sue Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather Sr and his son, undefeated former pound-for-pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr for libel, slander and defamation.
In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Arum said “I am so delighted that he’s standing up outside the ring like a man just like he does in the ring.”
Arum who has been livid over the demands of the Mayweather camp and the allegations made against Pacquiao said "We are not going to accede to this drug testing by this organization of idiots that handle the drug testing for the amateur kids." Arum had suggested during the impasse that the agency that does the drug-tests for professional sports such as the NBA, the NFL and Major League Baseball be allowed to handle the tests but that was turned down by Schaefer and Mayweather.
Pacquiao had earlier indicated to us that he didn’t wish to dignify the statements made by Mayweather Sr and Schaefer and give them the publicity and attention they were looking for. However, in a statement attributed to him, Pacquiao now says enough is enough and that his character and person have been questioned, maligned, damaged and tarnished by baseless and false accusations and he has instructed Arum and his own lawyers to file a lawsuit against those who have accused him of taking performance-enhancing drugs without a shred of evidence.
The founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, eminent lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud said “I’ve been waiting for them (Pacquiao and Arum) to do that. They have all the right to do that and they will win that case. They cannot deny the statements in which they have accused Pacquiao without any evidence. They are caught. No way for them to get out of that.”
Salud said “now they have to prove their accusations and cannot force him to undergo any test to prove his innocence under any specific system because of the presumption of innocence.” Salud added that in court Pacquiao “can prove that by way of the drug tests conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which they can present as evidence, that he has been tested so many times and found to be clean of any drugs.”
In a statement issued Christmas morning in the Philippines, Pacquiao was quoted as saying “enough is enough. These people think it’s 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.”
“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world.”
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports learned that all options would be studied by the top-notch lawyers to be retained by Arum and Pacquiao and that libel, slander and defamation suits are expected to be filed against those who made the statements on TV and in several newspapers and internet sites.
Pacquiao was named “Fighter of the Year” by the prestigious Sports Illustrated, was also chosen “Fighter of the Year” twice before and is a cinch to win the award for 2009. He was the first Filipino boxer to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. He has won every conceivable award in the sport and has been acknowledged as the “Hero of Asia” for his achievements in the ring, his humility, his generous assistance to the poor and his concern for his countrymen as well as his help in promoting the careers of other promising Filipino boxers and the unsubstantiated allegations made against him have incensed millions of his countrymen to whom he is a national hero.
Mayweather Sr, in an interview prior to his son’s fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas told Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN that Pacquiao was on some performance-enhancing drug, started the effort to undermine the character of the pound-for-pound king who has been credited for virtually saving the sport of boxing and to question his achievements in the ring.
This week, Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions indicated that Mayweather won’t fight Pacquiao unless he took an Olympic-style drug-testing program handled by the US Anti Doping Agency or USADA. Pacquiao and Arum agreed to be tested one day before the kickoff press conference, 30 days before the fight and immediately after the fight in the dressing room stressing that if he was taking drugs it would surely come out. But Mayweathers handlers insisted on having it their way and Arum, as a way of saving the fight, agreed to have Pacquiao tested by the agency that tests NBA, NFL and MBL players but that too was turned down prompting Arum, Pacquiao, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza to claim that Mayweather was looking for a way out because he was scared of Pacquiao who was ready to give him, as Ariza said, “the beating of his life.”
Pacquiao, in his statement reiterated what he’s said before, “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, supported by Arum, Roach and Ariza stated “I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”
In a direct challenge to Mayweather Jr Pacquiao said “don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz confirmed to us that Pacquiao, has been contemplating on filing a case against Mayweather Sr. even before the start of his Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Angel Cotto. He said then that he “ did not sue because he did not want to get distracted during that time” because as Pacquiao himself said he was preparing for one of the toughest fights of his career.
The statement which was initially released on philboxing.com quoted Pacquiao as saying “Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don’t even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back. You and your cohorts have accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, I say, the burden of proof should now come from you, not me,” said Pacquiao, the only seven-time, seven-weight division champion in the history of the boxing.
Koncz told us that Pacquiao is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission and in fact supports the effort to keep all athletic disciplines free of drugs because athletes are role models for the youth. It was noted that Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer has often maintained that Pacquiao has been tested before and after every fight in Las Vegas and had been found free of any performance enhancing drugs or steroids.
Pacquiao’s statement concluded “These people think they are doing the sport a great service. They are not To Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon, too.”
Source: philboxing.com
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wholeheartedly supports pound-for-king Manny Pacquiao’s decision to sue Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather Sr and his son, undefeated former pound-for-pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr for libel, slander and defamation.
In an overseas telephone conversation with www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Arum said “I am so delighted that he’s standing up outside the ring like a man just like he does in the ring.”
Arum who has been livid over the demands of the Mayweather camp and the allegations made against Pacquiao said "We are not going to accede to this drug testing by this organization of idiots that handle the drug testing for the amateur kids." Arum had suggested during the impasse that the agency that does the drug-tests for professional sports such as the NBA, the NFL and Major League Baseball be allowed to handle the tests but that was turned down by Schaefer and Mayweather.
Pacquiao had earlier indicated to us that he didn’t wish to dignify the statements made by Mayweather Sr and Schaefer and give them the publicity and attention they were looking for. However, in a statement attributed to him, Pacquiao now says enough is enough and that his character and person have been questioned, maligned, damaged and tarnished by baseless and false accusations and he has instructed Arum and his own lawyers to file a lawsuit against those who have accused him of taking performance-enhancing drugs without a shred of evidence.
The founding secretary general of the World Boxing Council, eminent lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud said “I’ve been waiting for them (Pacquiao and Arum) to do that. They have all the right to do that and they will win that case. They cannot deny the statements in which they have accused Pacquiao without any evidence. They are caught. No way for them to get out of that.”
Salud said “now they have to prove their accusations and cannot force him to undergo any test to prove his innocence under any specific system because of the presumption of innocence.” Salud added that in court Pacquiao “can prove that by way of the drug tests conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which they can present as evidence, that he has been tested so many times and found to be clean of any drugs.”
In a statement issued Christmas morning in the Philippines, Pacquiao was quoted as saying “enough is enough. These people think it’s 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.”
“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world.”
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports learned that all options would be studied by the top-notch lawyers to be retained by Arum and Pacquiao and that libel, slander and defamation suits are expected to be filed against those who made the statements on TV and in several newspapers and internet sites.
Pacquiao was named “Fighter of the Year” by the prestigious Sports Illustrated, was also chosen “Fighter of the Year” twice before and is a cinch to win the award for 2009. He was the first Filipino boxer to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. He has won every conceivable award in the sport and has been acknowledged as the “Hero of Asia” for his achievements in the ring, his humility, his generous assistance to the poor and his concern for his countrymen as well as his help in promoting the careers of other promising Filipino boxers and the unsubstantiated allegations made against him have incensed millions of his countrymen to whom he is a national hero.
Mayweather Sr, in an interview prior to his son’s fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas told Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN that Pacquiao was on some performance-enhancing drug, started the effort to undermine the character of the pound-for-pound king who has been credited for virtually saving the sport of boxing and to question his achievements in the ring.
This week, Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions indicated that Mayweather won’t fight Pacquiao unless he took an Olympic-style drug-testing program handled by the US Anti Doping Agency or USADA. Pacquiao and Arum agreed to be tested one day before the kickoff press conference, 30 days before the fight and immediately after the fight in the dressing room stressing that if he was taking drugs it would surely come out. But Mayweathers handlers insisted on having it their way and Arum, as a way of saving the fight, agreed to have Pacquiao tested by the agency that tests NBA, NFL and MBL players but that too was turned down prompting Arum, Pacquiao, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza to claim that Mayweather was looking for a way out because he was scared of Pacquiao who was ready to give him, as Ariza said, “the beating of his life.”
Pacquiao, in his statement reiterated what he’s said before, “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, supported by Arum, Roach and Ariza stated “I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”
In a direct challenge to Mayweather Jr Pacquiao said “don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring.”
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz confirmed to us that Pacquiao, has been contemplating on filing a case against Mayweather Sr. even before the start of his Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Angel Cotto. He said then that he “ did not sue because he did not want to get distracted during that time” because as Pacquiao himself said he was preparing for one of the toughest fights of his career.
The statement which was initially released on philboxing.com quoted Pacquiao as saying “Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don’t even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back. You and your cohorts have accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, I say, the burden of proof should now come from you, not me,” said Pacquiao, the only seven-time, seven-weight division champion in the history of the boxing.
Koncz told us that Pacquiao is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission and in fact supports the effort to keep all athletic disciplines free of drugs because athletes are role models for the youth. It was noted that Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer has often maintained that Pacquiao has been tested before and after every fight in Las Vegas and had been found free of any performance enhancing drugs or steroids.
Pacquiao’s statement concluded “These people think they are doing the sport a great service. They are not To Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon, too.”
Source: philboxing.com
Promoter balked at blood testing for Mosley in 2008 -- USA Today
By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY
Just last year, Golden Boy Promotions was against blood testing when one of its fighters, Shane Mosley, was asked to submit to it for a fight in Las Vegas.
Mosley, who admitted to taking designer steroids in 2003 inadvertently before a fight with Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya, consented to any form of drug testing before facing Zab Judah but the promoter objected.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told AP at the time that he'd consent to whatever testing that was required by Nevada State Athletic Commission and nothing more. The NSAC tests urine before and after fights but not blood at random like the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
A proposed March 13 superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather has fallen through over Olympic-style drug testing. Mayweather wanted the Filipino to accept random blood testing by USADA. Pacquiao agreed to three tests, including two before their bout.
"Whatever tests they want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires," Schaefer said. "The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one."
Judah wanted testing immediately on Mosley as well as right before and after the bout. Judah was injured before the fight could take place and it was cancelled.
Mosley, who is facing Andre Berto on Jan. 30, is a potential future opponent for Pacquiao.
Source: usatoday.com
Just last year, Golden Boy Promotions was against blood testing when one of its fighters, Shane Mosley, was asked to submit to it for a fight in Las Vegas.
Mosley, who admitted to taking designer steroids in 2003 inadvertently before a fight with Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya, consented to any form of drug testing before facing Zab Judah but the promoter objected.
Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer told AP at the time that he'd consent to whatever testing that was required by Nevada State Athletic Commission and nothing more. The NSAC tests urine before and after fights but not blood at random like the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
A proposed March 13 superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather has fallen through over Olympic-style drug testing. Mayweather wanted the Filipino to accept random blood testing by USADA. Pacquiao agreed to three tests, including two before their bout.
"Whatever tests they want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires," Schaefer said. "The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one."
Judah wanted testing immediately on Mosley as well as right before and after the bout. Judah was injured before the fight could take place and it was cancelled.
Mosley, who is facing Andre Berto on Jan. 30, is a potential future opponent for Pacquiao.
Source: usatoday.com
Pacquiao now eyes case vs Mayweathers, Golden Boy -- ABS-CBN News
abs-cbnNEWS.com
MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao is not taking the insinuations sitting down.
After being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs by the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao now plans to file civil complaints against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions.
“Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., 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,” said Pacquiao in a report by PhilBoxing.com.
The 7-time world champion said his character has been damaged by false accusations, which is why he plans to file cases of libel, slander and defamation against his accusers.
“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,” said the reigning pound-for-pound king.
Pacquiao said he has had enough of the circus being played by the Mayweather camp, which he had tried to ignore. “I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard,” he said.
Mayweather, who is represented by Golden Boy Promotions, earlier demanded that he and Pacquiao should undergo Olympic-type of drug testing.
Pacquiao agreed to blood testing in January, a month before the bout and immediately after. He, however, thumbed down blood tests near the fight date.
Time to move on
Arum tried to settle the issue by proposing that the test be done by an independent drug testing agencies being used by the National Football League and National Basketball Association.
When the Mayweathers denied the proposal, Arum called a halt to the March 13 fight.
"It would be reasonable to have some organization to perform all the tests on both fighters. We're not against testing. We just don't want testing right up against the fight," Arum said in USA Today.
Arum said he is now working to arrange a fight between Pacquiao and Paulie Malignaggi on that date at a site to be determined on pay-per-view.
The Top Rank promoter added that Pacquiao is also interested in facing Shane Mosley, who is facing Andre Berto on January 30.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao is not taking the insinuations sitting down.
After being accused of using performance-enhancing drugs by the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao now plans to file civil complaints against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions.
“Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., 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,” said Pacquiao in a report by PhilBoxing.com.
The 7-time world champion said his character has been damaged by false accusations, which is why he plans to file cases of libel, slander and defamation against his accusers.
“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,” said the reigning pound-for-pound king.
Pacquiao said he has had enough of the circus being played by the Mayweather camp, which he had tried to ignore. “I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard,” he said.
Mayweather, who is represented by Golden Boy Promotions, earlier demanded that he and Pacquiao should undergo Olympic-type of drug testing.
Pacquiao agreed to blood testing in January, a month before the bout and immediately after. He, however, thumbed down blood tests near the fight date.
Time to move on
Arum tried to settle the issue by proposing that the test be done by an independent drug testing agencies being used by the National Football League and National Basketball Association.
When the Mayweathers denied the proposal, Arum called a halt to the March 13 fight.
"It would be reasonable to have some organization to perform all the tests on both fighters. We're not against testing. We just don't want testing right up against the fight," Arum said in USA Today.
Arum said he is now working to arrange a fight between Pacquiao and Paulie Malignaggi on that date at a site to be determined on pay-per-view.
The Top Rank promoter added that Pacquiao is also interested in facing Shane Mosley, who is facing Andre Berto on January 30.
Source: abs-cbnnews.com
Pacquiao to Sue Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions -- PhilBoxing
PhilBoxing.com
SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES (Dec. 25)—Saying that his character and person has been questioned, maligned, damaged and tarnished by baseless and false accusations, pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao and promoter Top Rank Inc. announced today the filing of a lawsuit within the next few days against the Mayweathers, Floyd Sr. and Jr., et al, and Golden Boy Promotions.
“Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., 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,” said Pacquiao in Tagalog while celebrating Christmas with his family here.
“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,” said Pacquiao.
Libel, slander and defamation suits are being readied against the accused to once and for all clear out Pacquiao’s good name and character.
This week, Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions came out with a press release threatening to put a stop to the projected biggest fight in boxing history between the two top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, by asking too many unrealistic and unprecedented items on the bargaining table, including that of an Olympic-style drug testing.
“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,” added the Filipino champion who just turned 31 a week ago. “I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”
“Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring,” said Pacquiao, who has been contemplating on filing a case against Mayweather Sr. even before the start of his Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Angel Cotto. “I did not sue because I did not want to get distracted during that time because I was preparing for one of the toughest fights in my career.”
“Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don’t even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back. You and your cohorts have accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, I say, the burden of proof should now come from you, not me,” said Pacquiao, the only seven-time, seven-weight division champion in the history of the sport.
Pacquiao said he is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission whenever, wherever he fights. He just finds it funny and stupid to change a system that has been set for decades now. Pacquiao undergoes drug testing and other medical examinations before and after every fight over the past 15 years and has never failed any of these tests.
“These people think they are doing the sport a great service. They are not,” added Pacquiao. “To Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon, too.”
Source: philboxing.com
SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES (Dec. 25)—Saying that his character and person has been questioned, maligned, damaged and tarnished by baseless and false accusations, pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao and promoter Top Rank Inc. announced today the filing of a lawsuit within the next few days against the Mayweathers, Floyd Sr. and Jr., et al, and Golden Boy Promotions.
“Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., 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,” said Pacquiao in Tagalog while celebrating Christmas with his family here.
“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,” said Pacquiao.
Libel, slander and defamation suits are being readied against the accused to once and for all clear out Pacquiao’s good name and character.
This week, Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions came out with a press release threatening to put a stop to the projected biggest fight in boxing history between the two top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, by asking too many unrealistic and unprecedented items on the bargaining table, including that of an Olympic-style drug testing.
“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,” added the Filipino champion who just turned 31 a week ago. “I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”
“Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring,” said Pacquiao, who has been contemplating on filing a case against Mayweather Sr. even before the start of his Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Angel Cotto. “I did not sue because I did not want to get distracted during that time because I was preparing for one of the toughest fights in my career.”
“Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don’t even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back. You and your cohorts have accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, I say, the burden of proof should now come from you, not me,” said Pacquiao, the only seven-time, seven-weight division champion in the history of the sport.
Pacquiao said he is not against any form of drug testing mandated by any state athletic sports commission whenever, wherever he fights. He just finds it funny and stupid to change a system that has been set for decades now. Pacquiao undergoes drug testing and other medical examinations before and after every fight over the past 15 years and has never failed any of these tests.
“These people think they are doing the sport a great service. They are not,” added Pacquiao. “To Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon, too.”
Source: philboxing.com
Pacquiao camp preparing lawsuit against Mayweather, Golden Boy Promotions -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
In what appears to be a hastily pulled together statement, Top Rank Promotions says that Manny Pacquiao is preparing to sue Floyd Mayweather Jr., his father and Golden Boy Promotions for remarks made by the boxer and people in his camp regarding Pacquiao's possible use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The statement read in part: "These people, Mayweather Sr., 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 instructed my promoter, Bob Arum head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible . . ."
Negotiations for a mega-fight between the boxers for March 13 have stalled on the issue of drug testing. Pacquiao isn't receptive to Team Mayweather's suggestion to adopt U.S. Anti-Doping Agency guidelines that will subject him to repeated blood tests in the days leading up to the fight. Mayweather said he wants assurance the bout is fought on a level playing field. Pacquiao would prefer urine testing done by either the Nevada State Athletic Commission or testers who preside over NFL and Major League Baseball programs.
Here's the complete statement from Top Rank and Pacquiao:
SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES (Dec. 25) Saying that his character and person has been questioned, maligned damaged and tarnished by baseless accusations, pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao and promoter Top Rank Inc. announced today the filing of a lawsuit within the next few days against the Mayweathers, Floyd Sr. and Jr., et al, and Golden Boy Promotions.
Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., 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, said Pacquiao in Tagalog while celebrating Christmas with his family here.
I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum head Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and have cheated my way to become the No. 1 boxer in the world, said Pacquiao.
Libel, slander and a defamation suit are being readied against the accused to once and for all clear out Pacquiao's good name and character.
-- Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
In what appears to be a hastily pulled together statement, Top Rank Promotions says that Manny Pacquiao is preparing to sue Floyd Mayweather Jr., his father and Golden Boy Promotions for remarks made by the boxer and people in his camp regarding Pacquiao's possible use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The statement read in part: "These people, Mayweather Sr., 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 instructed my promoter, Bob Arum head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible . . ."
Negotiations for a mega-fight between the boxers for March 13 have stalled on the issue of drug testing. Pacquiao isn't receptive to Team Mayweather's suggestion to adopt U.S. Anti-Doping Agency guidelines that will subject him to repeated blood tests in the days leading up to the fight. Mayweather said he wants assurance the bout is fought on a level playing field. Pacquiao would prefer urine testing done by either the Nevada State Athletic Commission or testers who preside over NFL and Major League Baseball programs.
Here's the complete statement from Top Rank and Pacquiao:
SARANGANI, PHILIPPINES (Dec. 25) Saying that his character and person has been questioned, maligned damaged and tarnished by baseless accusations, pound-for-pound boxing king Manny Pacquiao and promoter Top Rank Inc. announced today the filing of a lawsuit within the next few days against the Mayweathers, Floyd Sr. and Jr., et al, and Golden Boy Promotions.
Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., 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, said Pacquiao in Tagalog while celebrating Christmas with his family here.
I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum head Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and have cheated my way to become the No. 1 boxer in the world, said Pacquiao.
Libel, slander and a defamation suit are being readied against the accused to once and for all clear out Pacquiao's good name and character.
-- Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Money, not blood, will still lead to a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight -- 15Rounds.com
By Norm Frauenheim, 15Rounds.com
Chances of no trouble in negotiations for the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight were about as good as Santa landing on your roof Thursday night. It just wasn’t going to happen, although talks had gone so smoothly that I had begun to wonder whether my roof was big enough for a sleigh and team of reindeer.
Now that there has been an inevitable flap over Mayweather’s demands that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style drug-testing, both parties and the public can sweep aside naive assumptions that any of this was going to be easy. Will the fight happen? I think so.
Record-setting money figures to keep everybody at the table for as long as it takes, even if that means a date beyond the original, March 13. The money is real, unlike Mayweather’s suspicions about Pacquiao’s rise in weight, power and speed in the years since the welterweight was a reported 16-year-old making a pro debut at 107 pounds. I’m not sure how big Mayweather was at 16, but I’m guessing he wasn’t much heavier.
Random blood testing administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency is a said to be a demand, but the process is being interpreted as another example of Mayweather’s gamesmanship. Timing makes it hard to argue with the interpretation. Why now? Why wasn’t Mayweather’s demand issued before all of the other reported agreements, including a 50-50 split of the purse and the date?
The breaking point appears to be blood-testing within 30 days of the fight. No way, says Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach. Maybe this is cynical, but that point in Tuesday’s demand might be subject to negotiation, although any Mayweather attempt at gaming the lion’s share of the projected revenues only figures to further anger Arum, already enraged.
If it isn’t an attempt at a bigger share – which Mayweather had always said he deserved, then maybe it is just the first move of many in the inevitable mind games. If so, Mayweather has scored early. The burden of proof rests with Pacquiao, regardless of his spotless record of drug tests with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Fair or not, Pacquiao finds himself confronted by the sports version of the impossible question: Do you still beat your wife? Yes or no, you’re guilty.
In sports, it is the easiest smear to make these days. Ask Lance Armstrong. The world’s greatest cyclist has passed countless drug tests before and after his victories in the Tour de France, but that doesn’t eliminate the suspicions. He lives with them and I suspect Pacquiao also will have to.
Anybody at ringside for Pacquiao’s fights has heard the steroid whispered for the last few years. But they didn’t gain any traction until Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr. generated headlines in September by saying that he thought there was truth to the talk. After listening to Floyd Sr.’s poems and trash-talk, I often have wonder what kind of substances he has been using. That said, I also think there is a method to his madness and that method might be in play now.
It has put Pacquiao on the defensive. Already, there are jokes from the Mayweather corner about how he says that he doesn’t like needles. That didn’t keep him out of a tattoo parlor.
Pacquiao also has said that he fears he might be weakened if too much blood is drawn during the week before opening bell. I’ve seen blood drawn from Olympic swimmers. While watching the Australians train at altitude in an Olympic-sized pool at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff before the 2004 Athens games, they repeatedly had their earlobes pricked for some blood as a way to monitor them while training. It didn’t seem to weaken them.
Nevertheless, there also have been complaints. Asafa Powell, a Jamaican sprinter and a relay gold-medalist, griped about the number of tests he had to undergo in Beijing at the 2008 Games. It was a hassle, but Powell still went home with the gold.
At a training camp, the unannounced arrival of drug testers — with needles and test tubes in hand — is a distraction, no doubt. In a fight as big as Mayweather-Pacquiao, however, it would be just one of many.
It is inevitable that Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe says that Pacquiao has something to hide if he doesn’t agree to random blood tests during the month before the fight. Even under USADA guidelines, however, there are athletes who pass the tests and yet are still believed to be abusers.
Regardless of whether Pacquiao passes tests conducted by USADA or Santa, that question is now with him. He can’t win that one. But he can fight and, in the end, I think he will, because only the money is a verifiable substance.
Source: 15rounds.com
Chances of no trouble in negotiations for the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight were about as good as Santa landing on your roof Thursday night. It just wasn’t going to happen, although talks had gone so smoothly that I had begun to wonder whether my roof was big enough for a sleigh and team of reindeer.
Now that there has been an inevitable flap over Mayweather’s demands that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style drug-testing, both parties and the public can sweep aside naive assumptions that any of this was going to be easy. Will the fight happen? I think so.
Record-setting money figures to keep everybody at the table for as long as it takes, even if that means a date beyond the original, March 13. The money is real, unlike Mayweather’s suspicions about Pacquiao’s rise in weight, power and speed in the years since the welterweight was a reported 16-year-old making a pro debut at 107 pounds. I’m not sure how big Mayweather was at 16, but I’m guessing he wasn’t much heavier.
Random blood testing administered by the United States Anti-Doping Agency is a said to be a demand, but the process is being interpreted as another example of Mayweather’s gamesmanship. Timing makes it hard to argue with the interpretation. Why now? Why wasn’t Mayweather’s demand issued before all of the other reported agreements, including a 50-50 split of the purse and the date?
The breaking point appears to be blood-testing within 30 days of the fight. No way, says Pacquiao, his promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach. Maybe this is cynical, but that point in Tuesday’s demand might be subject to negotiation, although any Mayweather attempt at gaming the lion’s share of the projected revenues only figures to further anger Arum, already enraged.
If it isn’t an attempt at a bigger share – which Mayweather had always said he deserved, then maybe it is just the first move of many in the inevitable mind games. If so, Mayweather has scored early. The burden of proof rests with Pacquiao, regardless of his spotless record of drug tests with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Fair or not, Pacquiao finds himself confronted by the sports version of the impossible question: Do you still beat your wife? Yes or no, you’re guilty.
In sports, it is the easiest smear to make these days. Ask Lance Armstrong. The world’s greatest cyclist has passed countless drug tests before and after his victories in the Tour de France, but that doesn’t eliminate the suspicions. He lives with them and I suspect Pacquiao also will have to.
Anybody at ringside for Pacquiao’s fights has heard the steroid whispered for the last few years. But they didn’t gain any traction until Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr. generated headlines in September by saying that he thought there was truth to the talk. After listening to Floyd Sr.’s poems and trash-talk, I often have wonder what kind of substances he has been using. That said, I also think there is a method to his madness and that method might be in play now.
It has put Pacquiao on the defensive. Already, there are jokes from the Mayweather corner about how he says that he doesn’t like needles. That didn’t keep him out of a tattoo parlor.
Pacquiao also has said that he fears he might be weakened if too much blood is drawn during the week before opening bell. I’ve seen blood drawn from Olympic swimmers. While watching the Australians train at altitude in an Olympic-sized pool at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff before the 2004 Athens games, they repeatedly had their earlobes pricked for some blood as a way to monitor them while training. It didn’t seem to weaken them.
Nevertheless, there also have been complaints. Asafa Powell, a Jamaican sprinter and a relay gold-medalist, griped about the number of tests he had to undergo in Beijing at the 2008 Games. It was a hassle, but Powell still went home with the gold.
At a training camp, the unannounced arrival of drug testers — with needles and test tubes in hand — is a distraction, no doubt. In a fight as big as Mayweather-Pacquiao, however, it would be just one of many.
It is inevitable that Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe says that Pacquiao has something to hide if he doesn’t agree to random blood tests during the month before the fight. Even under USADA guidelines, however, there are athletes who pass the tests and yet are still believed to be abusers.
Regardless of whether Pacquiao passes tests conducted by USADA or Santa, that question is now with him. He can’t win that one. But he can fight and, in the end, I think he will, because only the money is a verifiable substance.
Source: 15rounds.com
Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather bout seemingly dead -- The Australian
The Australian
THE season of goodwill was not evident in the sport of boxing on Christmas Eve with the biggest bout in history threatened to implode.
Manny Pacquiao’s meeting with Floyd Mayweather Jr had seemed set for the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on March 13, until a disagreement over drug testing raised tensions between the camps.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said the bout was “dead”. But with a potential $US80 million ($90m) purse it is hard to believe that things will not be sorted out.
Negotiations were supposed to be confidential, but a press release was circulated on Wedneday from Mayweather’s team, saying that the bout would be in jeopardy unless Pacquiao agreed to drug testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which meant blood tests.
Soon after Pacquiao demolished Miguel Cotto last month, Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr, shared his belief that the Filipino’s incredible move up the weight divisions had been with the aid of unfair methods, despite a complete lack of evidence to back this up.
Pacquiao said he would have a blood test after the bout and 30 days before the bout, but would agree only to urine tests in the weeks leading up to the bout, as outlined by Nevada State rules. Yesterday, no one in Pacquiao’s team was backing down, saying that a blood test before the bout could weaken their man. “As far as I’m concerned, the fight is off,” Arum said.
Arum is Mayweather’s former promoter and there is no love lost between the pair. He was in favour of the bout being held at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where six times as many fans would have been able to watch, only for Mayweather to insist on Las Vegas, where he lives.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said that the drug testing is a front for Mayweather. “There is no reason to think my fighter is dirty,” Roach told the website 8CountNews. “We have passed every test ever given to us.”
Source: theaustralian.com.au
THE season of goodwill was not evident in the sport of boxing on Christmas Eve with the biggest bout in history threatened to implode.
Manny Pacquiao’s meeting with Floyd Mayweather Jr had seemed set for the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on March 13, until a disagreement over drug testing raised tensions between the camps.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said the bout was “dead”. But with a potential $US80 million ($90m) purse it is hard to believe that things will not be sorted out.
Negotiations were supposed to be confidential, but a press release was circulated on Wedneday from Mayweather’s team, saying that the bout would be in jeopardy unless Pacquiao agreed to drug testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which meant blood tests.
Soon after Pacquiao demolished Miguel Cotto last month, Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr, shared his belief that the Filipino’s incredible move up the weight divisions had been with the aid of unfair methods, despite a complete lack of evidence to back this up.
Pacquiao said he would have a blood test after the bout and 30 days before the bout, but would agree only to urine tests in the weeks leading up to the bout, as outlined by Nevada State rules. Yesterday, no one in Pacquiao’s team was backing down, saying that a blood test before the bout could weaken their man. “As far as I’m concerned, the fight is off,” Arum said.
Arum is Mayweather’s former promoter and there is no love lost between the pair. He was in favour of the bout being held at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where six times as many fans would have been able to watch, only for Mayweather to insist on Las Vegas, where he lives.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said that the drug testing is a front for Mayweather. “There is no reason to think my fighter is dirty,” Roach told the website 8CountNews. “We have passed every test ever given to us.”
Source: theaustralian.com.au
Nevada Commission Could Renew Mayweather-Paquiao -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The negotiations for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megabout slated for the MGM in Las Vegas, thought to be near death, may yet be revived, thanks to the potential involvement of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, told FanHouse moments ago.
Pacquaio's refusal to allow the United States Anti-Doping Agency to draw blood within a 30-day period of the bout's March 13 date was in direct disagreement with the demands of Mayweather's camp, which wants both fighters to be randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs.
As a result, Arum told FanHouse earlier on Thursday that the fight was off.
But Arum, apparently, has changed his mind.
"Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, has been authorized to offer the services of the Nevada Commission to step in and to do all of the prefight drug-testing if the two fighters agree," said Arum.
"So that is a real development, because we would certainly be willing to sit down and work out a protocol with them. The Nevada Commission would be perfect to handle this," said Arum. "The commission has suggested it, and we're very much in favor of it. We would love it. It's something that is a positive development."
In the event that the Mayweather-Pacquiao deal was off, Arum already had contacted junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) as a possible opponent for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs).
Lou DiBella, Malignaggi's promoter, confirmed that he and Malignaggi would discuss the offer over the weekend.
"Obviously, we're not going to conclude the deal with Malignaggi until Monday," said Arum. "So let's see what happens between now and over the weekend. Now that the Nevada Commission has stepped up, I think that it might very well solve the situation."
Arum said that he was informed "about an hour ago" about the interest of Kizer, whose organization never has used blood-testing for illegal drugs -- only urinalysis before and after fights.
Pacquiao wanted the USADA only to test him three times -- once in January, once on Feb. 13 or 30 days from the fight, and, once more in the locker room afterward.
"But if the Nevada Commission was doing it, then we would agree to do as many tests as they wanted to do -- urine and blood -- up to a certain date to be agreed upon," said Arum.
"The Nevada Commission will do it appropriately. That's terrific," said Arum. "In other words, we wouldn't limit it to a certain number of tests because we know that the Nevada Commission won't harass the fighters. "
Pacquiao has fought 11 times in Las Vegas, and has tested clean every time, said Kizer, who could not be reached for comment. Arum said that he would be willing to work out a protocol with Kizer based on trust.
"We would sit down with Mayweather's side and say, 'Here's what we're prepared to do with the Nevada Commission.' And then, the other side would sit down and say what they would be prepared to do," said Arum. "And then, the commission would then take it from there, and hold random urinalysis and random blood tests."
Arum said that he has not spoken about the new developments with Pacquiao, who already is celebrating Christmas in the Philippines.
But Arum believes that the seven-division champion would be willing to relent on his 30-day demand with the NSAC.
"I would think that they [the commission] may say they'll do it up to two weeks in front or up to 10 days in front of the fight or something like that," said Arum. "I think that if it's the Nevada Commission, we would have no hesitation because we've been regulated by the Nevada Commission, and they've had many of my fights and my fighters over many years."
Arum said that he is not sure how the side of Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) will react, but said that Golden Boy promotions' Richard Schaefer, negotiating on Mayweather's behalf, has been contacted.
"We would be willing to put this all in the hands of the Nevada Commission," said Arum. "We have complete trust in their integrity and their ability to deal with professional fighters. We have complete confidence."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
The negotiations for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megabout slated for the MGM in Las Vegas, thought to be near death, may yet be revived, thanks to the potential involvement of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, told FanHouse moments ago.
Pacquaio's refusal to allow the United States Anti-Doping Agency to draw blood within a 30-day period of the bout's March 13 date was in direct disagreement with the demands of Mayweather's camp, which wants both fighters to be randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs.
As a result, Arum told FanHouse earlier on Thursday that the fight was off.
But Arum, apparently, has changed his mind.
"Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, has been authorized to offer the services of the Nevada Commission to step in and to do all of the prefight drug-testing if the two fighters agree," said Arum.
"So that is a real development, because we would certainly be willing to sit down and work out a protocol with them. The Nevada Commission would be perfect to handle this," said Arum. "The commission has suggested it, and we're very much in favor of it. We would love it. It's something that is a positive development."
In the event that the Mayweather-Pacquiao deal was off, Arum already had contacted junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) as a possible opponent for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs).
Lou DiBella, Malignaggi's promoter, confirmed that he and Malignaggi would discuss the offer over the weekend.
"Obviously, we're not going to conclude the deal with Malignaggi until Monday," said Arum. "So let's see what happens between now and over the weekend. Now that the Nevada Commission has stepped up, I think that it might very well solve the situation."
Arum said that he was informed "about an hour ago" about the interest of Kizer, whose organization never has used blood-testing for illegal drugs -- only urinalysis before and after fights.
Pacquiao wanted the USADA only to test him three times -- once in January, once on Feb. 13 or 30 days from the fight, and, once more in the locker room afterward.
"But if the Nevada Commission was doing it, then we would agree to do as many tests as they wanted to do -- urine and blood -- up to a certain date to be agreed upon," said Arum.
"The Nevada Commission will do it appropriately. That's terrific," said Arum. "In other words, we wouldn't limit it to a certain number of tests because we know that the Nevada Commission won't harass the fighters. "
Pacquiao has fought 11 times in Las Vegas, and has tested clean every time, said Kizer, who could not be reached for comment. Arum said that he would be willing to work out a protocol with Kizer based on trust.
"We would sit down with Mayweather's side and say, 'Here's what we're prepared to do with the Nevada Commission.' And then, the other side would sit down and say what they would be prepared to do," said Arum. "And then, the commission would then take it from there, and hold random urinalysis and random blood tests."
Arum said that he has not spoken about the new developments with Pacquiao, who already is celebrating Christmas in the Philippines.
But Arum believes that the seven-division champion would be willing to relent on his 30-day demand with the NSAC.
"I would think that they [the commission] may say they'll do it up to two weeks in front or up to 10 days in front of the fight or something like that," said Arum. "I think that if it's the Nevada Commission, we would have no hesitation because we've been regulated by the Nevada Commission, and they've had many of my fights and my fighters over many years."
Arum said that he is not sure how the side of Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) will react, but said that Golden Boy promotions' Richard Schaefer, negotiating on Mayweather's behalf, has been contacted.
"We would be willing to put this all in the hands of the Nevada Commission," said Arum. "We have complete trust in their integrity and their ability to deal with professional fighters. We have complete confidence."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Arum says "goodbye" to Mayweather, looks ahead -- USA Today
By J. Michael Falgoust, USA TODAY
A stoppage already has been scored between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather without a single punch being thrown.
Rather than a spectacular ending to the most anticipated bout of 2010, the knockout occurred through verbal jabs at the negotiation table.
Thursday, Bob Arum of Top Rank which represents Pacquiao, called a halt to the March 13 welterweight megafight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He first said "the fight is off" to USA TODAY on Tuesday night but hoped to still settle the dispute by Thursday.
Instead, Arum said, Pacquiao likely will meet Paulie Malignaggi on that date at a site to be determined on pay-per-view. Malignaggi is promoted by Lou DiBella's DiBella Entertainment, who is expected to respond after the holidays.
Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs), a junior welterweight (140) for most his career, defeated Juan Diaz earlier this month. The Brooklyn native went the distance with Miguel Cotto in a 2006 slugfest and lost to former 140-pound king Ricky Hatton last year. His other loss was a disputed one to Diaz earlier this year.
At issue with Mayweather: Olympic-style drug testing. Pacquiao agreed to three blood tests from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which is above what's required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Mayweather and his representatives with Golden Boy Promotions, however, insisted on random testing.
"It would be reasonable to have some organization to perform all the tests on both fighters. We're not against testing. We just don't want testing right up against the fight," Arum said. "That's crazy. That doesn't make sense. Manny is Filipino. He comes from a different country where you put in writing what you do or won't do."
Pacquiao agreed to blood testing in January, a month before the bout and immediately after. The Nevada commission only analyzes urine.
Although negotiations began well, according to Arum, everything went south fast in what was projected to be the highest grossing fight of all time at the gate and pay-per-view. Both fighters would have earned $25 million each in base salary and a percentage of PPV revenues. The press tour was supposed to begin in early January in New York and Los Angeles.
Arum also said Pacquiao is interested in facing Shane Mosley, also promoted by Golden Boy, if he wins his Jan. 30 bout with Andre Berto. Regardless of belts, a bout with Mosley would be for the undisputed welterweight championship in terms of lineage. Pacquiao won a share of the crown by knocking out Cotto in November. Mosley won a share by knocking out Antonio Margarito 11 months ago.
"Manny would absolutely love to fight Mosley," Arum said. "Shane is a super, super young man. We're not going to start all this crazy nonsense with drug testing given Shane's background with that unfortunate incident."
Mosley was linked to Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative after its founder Victor Conte said the former No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter knowingly took designer steroids in 2003.
While Arum left the door open for revisiting a bout with Mayweather in the fall, he'll be the chief negotiator. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy who negotiated on Mayweather's behalf, maintained that Arum's bitterness towards Mayweather was the issue and that Arum should've sent another Top Rank official to work out a deal in his place.
Arum, who spoke glowingly of Schaefer as recently as a month ago, responded "he shouldn't be in negotiations either because Manny Pacquiao can't stand him. … I did say good things about him — before he sold his soul to Mayweather."
Arum, who promoted Mayweather for most of his career beginning in 1996 but had an acromonious split, is content with never facing the former welterweight champion if necessary.
"Life goes on. We're not going to let Manny get pushed around by Floyd. Floyd wants to play his games, let him play," Arum said. "This all has to do with Mayweather being Mayweather. He never wanted to fight Manny. He wanted a way out.
"Well, he's got his way out. Goodbye."
Source: usatoday.com
A stoppage already has been scored between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather without a single punch being thrown.
Rather than a spectacular ending to the most anticipated bout of 2010, the knockout occurred through verbal jabs at the negotiation table.
Thursday, Bob Arum of Top Rank which represents Pacquiao, called a halt to the March 13 welterweight megafight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He first said "the fight is off" to USA TODAY on Tuesday night but hoped to still settle the dispute by Thursday.
Instead, Arum said, Pacquiao likely will meet Paulie Malignaggi on that date at a site to be determined on pay-per-view. Malignaggi is promoted by Lou DiBella's DiBella Entertainment, who is expected to respond after the holidays.
Malignaggi (27-3, 5 KOs), a junior welterweight (140) for most his career, defeated Juan Diaz earlier this month. The Brooklyn native went the distance with Miguel Cotto in a 2006 slugfest and lost to former 140-pound king Ricky Hatton last year. His other loss was a disputed one to Diaz earlier this year.
At issue with Mayweather: Olympic-style drug testing. Pacquiao agreed to three blood tests from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which is above what's required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Mayweather and his representatives with Golden Boy Promotions, however, insisted on random testing.
"It would be reasonable to have some organization to perform all the tests on both fighters. We're not against testing. We just don't want testing right up against the fight," Arum said. "That's crazy. That doesn't make sense. Manny is Filipino. He comes from a different country where you put in writing what you do or won't do."
Pacquiao agreed to blood testing in January, a month before the bout and immediately after. The Nevada commission only analyzes urine.
Although negotiations began well, according to Arum, everything went south fast in what was projected to be the highest grossing fight of all time at the gate and pay-per-view. Both fighters would have earned $25 million each in base salary and a percentage of PPV revenues. The press tour was supposed to begin in early January in New York and Los Angeles.
Arum also said Pacquiao is interested in facing Shane Mosley, also promoted by Golden Boy, if he wins his Jan. 30 bout with Andre Berto. Regardless of belts, a bout with Mosley would be for the undisputed welterweight championship in terms of lineage. Pacquiao won a share of the crown by knocking out Cotto in November. Mosley won a share by knocking out Antonio Margarito 11 months ago.
"Manny would absolutely love to fight Mosley," Arum said. "Shane is a super, super young man. We're not going to start all this crazy nonsense with drug testing given Shane's background with that unfortunate incident."
Mosley was linked to Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative after its founder Victor Conte said the former No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter knowingly took designer steroids in 2003.
While Arum left the door open for revisiting a bout with Mayweather in the fall, he'll be the chief negotiator. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy who negotiated on Mayweather's behalf, maintained that Arum's bitterness towards Mayweather was the issue and that Arum should've sent another Top Rank official to work out a deal in his place.
Arum, who spoke glowingly of Schaefer as recently as a month ago, responded "he shouldn't be in negotiations either because Manny Pacquiao can't stand him. … I did say good things about him — before he sold his soul to Mayweather."
Arum, who promoted Mayweather for most of his career beginning in 1996 but had an acromonious split, is content with never facing the former welterweight champion if necessary.
"Life goes on. We're not going to let Manny get pushed around by Floyd. Floyd wants to play his games, let him play," Arum said. "This all has to do with Mayweather being Mayweather. He never wanted to fight Manny. He wanted a way out.
"Well, he's got his way out. Goodbye."
Source: usatoday.com
Timothy Bradley Gets Standby Call For Manny Pacquiao -- The Sweet Science
By David A. Avila, The Sweet Science
WBO junior welterweight titleholder Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley has received the standby call to fight Manny Pacquiao on Thursday should Floyd “Money” Mayweather pull out of the mega fight with the Filipino super star due to demands for Olympic style drug testing.
It could be the best Christmas gift imaginable for the Palm Springs fighter.
“HBO thinks a fight with Timothy Bradley is a good action fight,” said Cameron Dunkin, who manages Bradley and numerous other top prizefighters. “They don’t think Malignaggi would be a crowd pleasing fight.”
Pacquiao’s refusal to agree to Olympic style drug testing rather than the traditional testing offered by Nevada State Athletic Commission has prompted Mayweather to possibly scuttle the mega fight planned for March 13, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Though Malignaggi was first discussed, having Bradley as an alternative was suggested to HBO, said Dunkin adding that the network prefers the Palm Spring fighter’s attacking style.
Bradley loves the idea.
“I would love to fight the guy if Mayweather don’t want to fight. Any time, just let me know. It’s as simple as that,” said Bradley by telephone on Christmas Eve. “I’m willing to step in if they want to fight someone who is hungry and who really wants to fight.”
Malignaggi was first mentioned as an opponent, but according to sources HBO does not like the match up. That’s where Bradley comes into the picture.
Bradley’s dominating performance against Lamont Peterson nearly two weeks ago and previous battles against Kendall Holt, Junior Witter and Nate Campbell have suddenly boosted his visibility. His full attack style is another factor.
“I just want to fight the best in the world,” said Bradley who is co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing. “Money plays a factor but it doesn’t motivate me. Fighting the best motivates me.
Mayweather and Pacquiao were both guaranteed a minimum of $25 million to fight each other in a battle of the two best fighters Pound for Pound in boxing. In Bradley’s last fight that took place on Dec. 12 against Peterson, the Southern Californian made $300,000. It’s a huge jump in money and fighting ability.
And what about the drug test?
“I don’t see what the big deal is. Manny Pacquiao doesn’t have a history of taking illegal substances,” said Bradley. “That’s what the commissions are here for.”
Bradley says getting a shot at Pacquiao or Mayweather is a dream fight.
“It’s amazing because this is the fight I’ve always wanted my whole career: To get a chance at fighting the best fighter pound for pound in the world. I know in my heart I can compete with this guy,” Bradley said. “I know what makes him so great. I feel I have the talent that I have and with my speed and ability I can compete with anyone.”
In the next few days will it be Mayweather, Malignaggi or Bradley?
Source: thesweetscience.com
WBO junior welterweight titleholder Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley has received the standby call to fight Manny Pacquiao on Thursday should Floyd “Money” Mayweather pull out of the mega fight with the Filipino super star due to demands for Olympic style drug testing.
It could be the best Christmas gift imaginable for the Palm Springs fighter.
“HBO thinks a fight with Timothy Bradley is a good action fight,” said Cameron Dunkin, who manages Bradley and numerous other top prizefighters. “They don’t think Malignaggi would be a crowd pleasing fight.”
Pacquiao’s refusal to agree to Olympic style drug testing rather than the traditional testing offered by Nevada State Athletic Commission has prompted Mayweather to possibly scuttle the mega fight planned for March 13, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Though Malignaggi was first discussed, having Bradley as an alternative was suggested to HBO, said Dunkin adding that the network prefers the Palm Spring fighter’s attacking style.
Bradley loves the idea.
“I would love to fight the guy if Mayweather don’t want to fight. Any time, just let me know. It’s as simple as that,” said Bradley by telephone on Christmas Eve. “I’m willing to step in if they want to fight someone who is hungry and who really wants to fight.”
Malignaggi was first mentioned as an opponent, but according to sources HBO does not like the match up. That’s where Bradley comes into the picture.
Bradley’s dominating performance against Lamont Peterson nearly two weeks ago and previous battles against Kendall Holt, Junior Witter and Nate Campbell have suddenly boosted his visibility. His full attack style is another factor.
“I just want to fight the best in the world,” said Bradley who is co-promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Thompson Boxing. “Money plays a factor but it doesn’t motivate me. Fighting the best motivates me.
Mayweather and Pacquiao were both guaranteed a minimum of $25 million to fight each other in a battle of the two best fighters Pound for Pound in boxing. In Bradley’s last fight that took place on Dec. 12 against Peterson, the Southern Californian made $300,000. It’s a huge jump in money and fighting ability.
And what about the drug test?
“I don’t see what the big deal is. Manny Pacquiao doesn’t have a history of taking illegal substances,” said Bradley. “That’s what the commissions are here for.”
Bradley says getting a shot at Pacquiao or Mayweather is a dream fight.
“It’s amazing because this is the fight I’ve always wanted my whole career: To get a chance at fighting the best fighter pound for pound in the world. I know in my heart I can compete with this guy,” Bradley said. “I know what makes him so great. I feel I have the talent that I have and with my speed and ability I can compete with anyone.”
In the next few days will it be Mayweather, Malignaggi or Bradley?
Source: thesweetscience.com
Mayweather, Pacquiao seeking to arbitrate drug-testing divide -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
The promoters for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are discussing the possibility of letting an arbitrator decide how to conduct drug testing before the fighters' tentatively scheduled March 13 mega-fight in Las Vegas, Mayweather's promoter told The Times on Thursday.
"We're trying whatever we can to get this fight done," Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer said. "We want to stay focused and see what we can do to accomplish this."
Pacquiao isn't receptive to Team Mayweather's suggestion to adopt U.S. Anti-Doping Agency guidelines that will subject him to repeated blood tests in the days leading up to the fight. Mayweather said he wants assurance the bout is fought on a level playing field. Pacquiao would prefer urine testing done by either the Nevada State Athletic Commission or testers who preside over NFL and Major League Baseball programs.
--Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
The promoters for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are discussing the possibility of letting an arbitrator decide how to conduct drug testing before the fighters' tentatively scheduled March 13 mega-fight in Las Vegas, Mayweather's promoter told The Times on Thursday.
"We're trying whatever we can to get this fight done," Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer said. "We want to stay focused and see what we can do to accomplish this."
Pacquiao isn't receptive to Team Mayweather's suggestion to adopt U.S. Anti-Doping Agency guidelines that will subject him to repeated blood tests in the days leading up to the fight. Mayweather said he wants assurance the bout is fought on a level playing field. Pacquiao would prefer urine testing done by either the Nevada State Athletic Commission or testers who preside over NFL and Major League Baseball programs.
--Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Fox Sports Video: Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight called off
Boxing News World
<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=ba4908b0-51b3-447f-9ec1-631cee4228d4&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="FOX Wire: Daily Sports Update">Video: FOX Wire: Daily Sports Update</a>
Mayweather and Pacquiao Camps Are Still Sparring -- The New York Times
By GREG BISHOP, The New York Times
Manny Pacquiao wants to fight on March 13 because of his political commitments in the Philippines later next year. But as the impasse in negotiations with Floyd Mayweather Jr. continued this week, Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, began looking elsewhere for the next opponent.
Arum extended an offer for the date to Paul Malignaggi, a former junior welterweight champion from Brooklyn. As of Thursday evening, Arum had not heard back but expected a phone call after the weekend, when he returns from a vacation in Mexico.
The offer does not preclude a resumption of negotiations between the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps. Nor does it mean the fight will not take place as originally planned. But it does create another obstacle in a tense atmosphere, whether the new offer is simply posturing or not.
The matter in dispute is blood testing — when the tests would be conducted and by whom. Pacquiao and Mayweather agreed on everything else.
Mayweather’s camp is demanding Olympic-style testing, as outlined and performed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Pacquiao’s camp wants parameters for the testing, which Usada officials said would compromise the process. Neither side has budged, despite overtures from outside influences like HBO.
Arum said Pacquiao would be open to compromises, like not getting blood drawn closer than 30 days before the fight or allowing for more blood tests than the three he had agreed to.
Representatives for Mayweather could not be reached for comment, but they and Usada officials had said that Usada’s testing procedures were reasonable, noninvasive and the most thorough available for the fight.
Source: nytimes.com
Manny Pacquiao wants to fight on March 13 because of his political commitments in the Philippines later next year. But as the impasse in negotiations with Floyd Mayweather Jr. continued this week, Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, began looking elsewhere for the next opponent.
Arum extended an offer for the date to Paul Malignaggi, a former junior welterweight champion from Brooklyn. As of Thursday evening, Arum had not heard back but expected a phone call after the weekend, when he returns from a vacation in Mexico.
The offer does not preclude a resumption of negotiations between the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps. Nor does it mean the fight will not take place as originally planned. But it does create another obstacle in a tense atmosphere, whether the new offer is simply posturing or not.
The matter in dispute is blood testing — when the tests would be conducted and by whom. Pacquiao and Mayweather agreed on everything else.
Mayweather’s camp is demanding Olympic-style testing, as outlined and performed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Pacquiao’s camp wants parameters for the testing, which Usada officials said would compromise the process. Neither side has budged, despite overtures from outside influences like HBO.
Arum said Pacquiao would be open to compromises, like not getting blood drawn closer than 30 days before the fight or allowing for more blood tests than the three he had agreed to.
Representatives for Mayweather could not be reached for comment, but they and Usada officials had said that Usada’s testing procedures were reasonable, noninvasive and the most thorough available for the fight.
Source: nytimes.com
Blood feud kills Pacquiao-Mayweather fight -- AFP
AFP
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Manny Pacquiao will not fight Floyd Mayweather next March because a blood testing stalemate wiped out what could have been the richest fight in boxing history, promoter Bob Arum said Thursday.
The planned showdown between Filipino hero Pacquiao, a seven-division world champion, and unbeaten US star Mayweather could have brought each fighter as much as 40 million dollars in a rare Las Vegas mega-fight spectacular.
Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, said Mayweather's request to have stricter US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing methods, including possible random blood tests within days of the bout, killed any hope of reaching a deal.
"It's over," Arum said. "As far as I'm concerned the fight is over."
For boxing fans, it was like a Christmas Eve theft of their favorite gift, a long-awaited showdown between the generation's two recognized pound-for-pound superstars.
Mayweather-backing Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told the New York Times that calling off the fight would be "a big void for boxing" and "a setback for the sport and for these fighters."
Arum, who said every other aspect of the contract had been agreed upon, held out some hope the fight might come off later in 2010, but promised nothing.
"Can it be revisited in the fall? We'll see," Arum said.
An original May 1 date was scuttled because Pacquiao wants to run for Congress in his homeland and elections are in May. "Pac-Man" is expected to fight March 13, but against American Paul Malignaggi, 27-3 with five knockouts.
Mayweather was insisting on greater blood and urine testing than normal. Pacquiao was willing to commit to tests in January, 30 days before the fight and after the bout.
But Mayweather insisted on a USADA-administered program that opened the door for possible random blood tests within days of the fight.
Neither fighter had ever tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance under typical Nevada dope tests, which involve only urine samples that are taken just before and after the fight.
Arum saw Mayweather's insisting on random blood testing as a way out to avoid having to weigh in and face Pacquiao, who did not want blood drawn so close to the fight, Arum told the Grand Rapids Press.
"Floyd, to me, is a coward. Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao," Arum said.
"Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in. He knew that Manny gets freaked out when his blood gets taken and feels that it weakens him. This is just harassment and to me just signaled that he didn?t want the fight."
Arum had set a Thursday deadline to solve the testing issue, saying Pacquiao saw USADA as biased in favor of American Mayweather and unwilling to compromise their test procedures to accommodate a compromise.
"They are viewed by the Pacquiao side as being partisan. He doesn't want to use them," Arum said. "I don't want to use them. They're so inflexible they can't be used."
Mayweather, 40-0 with 25 knockouts, was regarded as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter before a 19-month layoff that ended last September.
Pacquiao, 50-3 with 38 knockouts, staked his claim on the pound-for-pound crown in Mayweather's absence by knocking out England's Ricky Hatton in the second round last May and stopping Miguel Cotto in the 12th round last month.
Boxing telecaster HBO had tried to negotiate a compromise Thursday to no avail, Arum said, and Golden Boy namesake Oscar de la Hoya tried his best, writing in a blog that Pacquiao needed the USADA testing for his own good.
"If Pacquiao doesn't want to do this ... or believes he'll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks," De La Hoya wrote.
"People have to wonder why doesn't he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal? A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Manny Pacquiao will not fight Floyd Mayweather next March because a blood testing stalemate wiped out what could have been the richest fight in boxing history, promoter Bob Arum said Thursday.
The planned showdown between Filipino hero Pacquiao, a seven-division world champion, and unbeaten US star Mayweather could have brought each fighter as much as 40 million dollars in a rare Las Vegas mega-fight spectacular.
Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, said Mayweather's request to have stricter US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing methods, including possible random blood tests within days of the bout, killed any hope of reaching a deal.
"It's over," Arum said. "As far as I'm concerned the fight is over."
For boxing fans, it was like a Christmas Eve theft of their favorite gift, a long-awaited showdown between the generation's two recognized pound-for-pound superstars.
Mayweather-backing Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer told the New York Times that calling off the fight would be "a big void for boxing" and "a setback for the sport and for these fighters."
Arum, who said every other aspect of the contract had been agreed upon, held out some hope the fight might come off later in 2010, but promised nothing.
"Can it be revisited in the fall? We'll see," Arum said.
An original May 1 date was scuttled because Pacquiao wants to run for Congress in his homeland and elections are in May. "Pac-Man" is expected to fight March 13, but against American Paul Malignaggi, 27-3 with five knockouts.
Mayweather was insisting on greater blood and urine testing than normal. Pacquiao was willing to commit to tests in January, 30 days before the fight and after the bout.
But Mayweather insisted on a USADA-administered program that opened the door for possible random blood tests within days of the fight.
Neither fighter had ever tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance under typical Nevada dope tests, which involve only urine samples that are taken just before and after the fight.
Arum saw Mayweather's insisting on random blood testing as a way out to avoid having to weigh in and face Pacquiao, who did not want blood drawn so close to the fight, Arum told the Grand Rapids Press.
"Floyd, to me, is a coward. Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao," Arum said.
"Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in. He knew that Manny gets freaked out when his blood gets taken and feels that it weakens him. This is just harassment and to me just signaled that he didn?t want the fight."
Arum had set a Thursday deadline to solve the testing issue, saying Pacquiao saw USADA as biased in favor of American Mayweather and unwilling to compromise their test procedures to accommodate a compromise.
"They are viewed by the Pacquiao side as being partisan. He doesn't want to use them," Arum said. "I don't want to use them. They're so inflexible they can't be used."
Mayweather, 40-0 with 25 knockouts, was regarded as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter before a 19-month layoff that ended last September.
Pacquiao, 50-3 with 38 knockouts, staked his claim on the pound-for-pound crown in Mayweather's absence by knocking out England's Ricky Hatton in the second round last May and stopping Miguel Cotto in the 12th round last month.
Boxing telecaster HBO had tried to negotiate a compromise Thursday to no avail, Arum said, and Golden Boy namesake Oscar de la Hoya tried his best, writing in a blog that Pacquiao needed the USADA testing for his own good.
"If Pacquiao doesn't want to do this ... or believes he'll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks," De La Hoya wrote.
"People have to wonder why doesn't he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal? A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test."
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.
Source: Google News
Crunch time for Pacquiao-Mayweather talks -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
It seems insane to think that the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight will fall apart over the way drug testing will be handled for the fight, but with the growing rhetoric between camps anything is possible.
If the sides are stupid enough to allow that one small thing to blow up the potentially biggest money fight in the history of boxing, shame on everyone involved, including the fighters, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Top Rank president and negotiator Todd duBoef, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya, Mayweather advisers Al Haymon and Leonard Ellerbe and Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz.
It's the fight the world -- not just the hardcore Fight Freaks -- demands and the time is ripe for it now. If the fight does fall apart, the negative repercussions for boxing are incalculable, and both sides know it.
However, I do believe the fight will still be made because boxing is about the bottom line and the bottom line is that nobody is walking away from the gargantuan payday that awaits both sides. It is not crazy to think that the fight could sell what would be a record-shattering 3 million pay-per-view subscriptions. The could each earn fighter probably at least $40 million or more if the fight, which would take place March 13 on HBO PPV at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is finally signed, sealed and delivered.
But if, a big if, the fight actually did fall through (I recall Golden Boy's Schaefer telling me a couple of weeks ago, "We'd have to all be idiots not to get this done"), a line of fighters is forming, ready to take on either man if they need a dance partner.
Arum laughably mentioned matching Pacquiao with junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman, former junior welterweight titleholder Paulie Malignaggi or doing a third fight with lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez, who was shut out by Mayweather in September.
The Mayweather camp hasn't been ridiculous enough to suggest other opponents during this crunch time, although the name Matthew Hatton, brother of Ricky Hatton, came up not too long ago. That's about as pathetic a mismatch as you could make.
In any event, junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. (25-0, 11 KOs), who keeps getting better and better with each fight and is coming off a very impressive title defense against Lamont Peterson on Dec. 12, says he is ready to face Pacquiao or Mayweather if the super fight between them falls through.
At least that match is sort of interesting, at least to the Fight Freaks, although it pales compared to the mega fight on the table. But you have to like Bradley's chutzpah for volunteering and getting a little publicity out of it.
"I'll take any random test requested -- blood, urine, even the SATs," said Bradley, who moved into ESPN.com's top 20 pound-for-pound following his most recent victory. "My name is Timothy Bradley, not Milton Bradley, and I'm not playing games. I'm ready to fight in March, April or May next year."
Gary Shaw, Bradley's co-promoter, added, "Timothy is happy to defend his world title or move up to welterweight to challenge Pacquiao or Mayweather should their fight fall through. There isn't an active world champion who has been seen more on premium TV than Timothy. Since the day he won his first world title he has proven he is the goods. The shellacking he gave undefeated interim champion Lamont Peterson earlier this month proved Timothy is one of boxing's elite fighters and a top-10 pound-for-pounder. He's ready, willing and able to fill the breach."
It's a nice thought, and maybe someday it will happen, because Bradley is good enough to keep winning. But right now, forget about Bradley. It's all about getting Pacquiao-Mayweather done.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
It seems insane to think that the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight will fall apart over the way drug testing will be handled for the fight, but with the growing rhetoric between camps anything is possible.
If the sides are stupid enough to allow that one small thing to blow up the potentially biggest money fight in the history of boxing, shame on everyone involved, including the fighters, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Top Rank president and negotiator Todd duBoef, Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya, Mayweather advisers Al Haymon and Leonard Ellerbe and Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz.
It's the fight the world -- not just the hardcore Fight Freaks -- demands and the time is ripe for it now. If the fight does fall apart, the negative repercussions for boxing are incalculable, and both sides know it.
However, I do believe the fight will still be made because boxing is about the bottom line and the bottom line is that nobody is walking away from the gargantuan payday that awaits both sides. It is not crazy to think that the fight could sell what would be a record-shattering 3 million pay-per-view subscriptions. The could each earn fighter probably at least $40 million or more if the fight, which would take place March 13 on HBO PPV at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is finally signed, sealed and delivered.
But if, a big if, the fight actually did fall through (I recall Golden Boy's Schaefer telling me a couple of weeks ago, "We'd have to all be idiots not to get this done"), a line of fighters is forming, ready to take on either man if they need a dance partner.
Arum laughably mentioned matching Pacquiao with junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman, former junior welterweight titleholder Paulie Malignaggi or doing a third fight with lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez, who was shut out by Mayweather in September.
The Mayweather camp hasn't been ridiculous enough to suggest other opponents during this crunch time, although the name Matthew Hatton, brother of Ricky Hatton, came up not too long ago. That's about as pathetic a mismatch as you could make.
In any event, junior welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. (25-0, 11 KOs), who keeps getting better and better with each fight and is coming off a very impressive title defense against Lamont Peterson on Dec. 12, says he is ready to face Pacquiao or Mayweather if the super fight between them falls through.
At least that match is sort of interesting, at least to the Fight Freaks, although it pales compared to the mega fight on the table. But you have to like Bradley's chutzpah for volunteering and getting a little publicity out of it.
"I'll take any random test requested -- blood, urine, even the SATs," said Bradley, who moved into ESPN.com's top 20 pound-for-pound following his most recent victory. "My name is Timothy Bradley, not Milton Bradley, and I'm not playing games. I'm ready to fight in March, April or May next year."
Gary Shaw, Bradley's co-promoter, added, "Timothy is happy to defend his world title or move up to welterweight to challenge Pacquiao or Mayweather should their fight fall through. There isn't an active world champion who has been seen more on premium TV than Timothy. Since the day he won his first world title he has proven he is the goods. The shellacking he gave undefeated interim champion Lamont Peterson earlier this month proved Timothy is one of boxing's elite fighters and a top-10 pound-for-pounder. He's ready, willing and able to fill the breach."
It's a nice thought, and maybe someday it will happen, because Bradley is good enough to keep winning. But right now, forget about Bradley. It's all about getting Pacquiao-Mayweather done.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
Bob Arum Pursues Paulie Malignaggi for Manny Pacquiao -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Top rank promoter Bob Arum said that he is pursuing a March 13 bout with junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi for Manny Pacquiao, re-iterating that the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion's megabout with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather originally scheduled for that same date "is off" as a result of the drug-testing negotiations impasse.
"The fight is off," said Arum. "Nobody is going to push around a fighter that I'm connected with like this. The fight is off."
Arum is referring to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which would employ random blood-testing and urinalysis for both Pacquiao and Mayweather for performance enhancing drugs.
At issue is the refusal of Pacquiao, seven-division world boxing champion from the Philippines, to supply blood other than three times -- once in January, once on Feb. 13 or 30 days out from the fight, and once the day after the fight.
The USADA will not allow Pacquiao's camp to dictate the terms and conditions of when he will be tested.
Mayweather-Pacquiao was scheduled to take place at the MGM in Las Vegas, whose Nevada State Athletic Commission tests fighters' urine for illegal drugs before and after bouts.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) has fought in Las Vegas 11 times and tested clean for every one of his bout there, said Nevada Commission director, Keith Kizer.
"We've absolutely turned down any involvement with the USADA. We don't want to be involved with them," said Arum, who would host Pacquiao-Malignaggi at the MGM as well.
"I have talked today with Lou DiBella about Paulie Malignaggi, and then, possibly, we'll go to Yuri Foreman," said Arum, who promotes Foreman (28-0, eight KOs), the newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champ. "But Lou said that he is going to track down Paulie and talk to him about it."
DiBella, Malignaggi's promoter, said that he would discuss the offer with his fighter "over the weekend."
"I have to talk to Paulie and I have to talk to Bob again, obviously," said DiBella. "We'll talk over the next day or two and see where things stand."
The 31-year-old Pacquiao has won his past 11 fights, eight of them by knockout.
The 29-year-old Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) is a pure boxer who is coming off of a Dec. 12, unanimous decision victory over Juan Diaz (35-3, with 17 KOs) that avenged an earlier loss.
Malignaggi's only other setbacks were against two fighters Pacquiao has knocked out -- Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, respectively, by knockout and decision.
Pacquiao's past six bouts have been decisions over Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, and knockouts, respectively, over David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Hatton and Cotto
Pacquiao weighed 134, 142, 138, and, 144, respectively, against Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton, and, Cotto, whom he knocked out in nine, eight, two, and, 12 rounds.
The Filipino's ability to carry power into all of those bouts raised questions in the eyes of some, including Floyd Mayweather Sr., who originally leveraged steroid accusations against Pacquiao in September.
Mayweather Jr., Kermit Cintron, and Malignaggi are among fighters who expressed their belief that Pacquiao may be using some form of performance enhancement to rise from his career-starting weight class of 106 pounds to his present one of 147.
USADA chief Travis Tygart and Golden Boy Promotions, the latter of which is negotiating on Mayweather's behalf, argue that urine tests do not detect Human Growth Hormone or any number of potent performance-enhancers, while the USADA's Olympic-style blood tests do.
Pacquiao has said that he believes drawing blood within 30 days of fight time would weaken him, while Tygart says the amount of blood required -- less than a teaspoon -- would not affect a fighter's performance.
"They [USADA] told [Pacquiao's trainer] Freddie Roach, that they want to absolutely be able to test the day before the fight by taking blood," said Arum. "All that they're looking to do now is to harrass Pacquiao. We have absolutely no confidence that they are going to do this fairly."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Top rank promoter Bob Arum said that he is pursuing a March 13 bout with junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi for Manny Pacquiao, re-iterating that the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champion's megabout with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather originally scheduled for that same date "is off" as a result of the drug-testing negotiations impasse.
"The fight is off," said Arum. "Nobody is going to push around a fighter that I'm connected with like this. The fight is off."
Arum is referring to the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which would employ random blood-testing and urinalysis for both Pacquiao and Mayweather for performance enhancing drugs.
At issue is the refusal of Pacquiao, seven-division world boxing champion from the Philippines, to supply blood other than three times -- once in January, once on Feb. 13 or 30 days out from the fight, and once the day after the fight.
The USADA will not allow Pacquiao's camp to dictate the terms and conditions of when he will be tested.
Mayweather-Pacquiao was scheduled to take place at the MGM in Las Vegas, whose Nevada State Athletic Commission tests fighters' urine for illegal drugs before and after bouts.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts) has fought in Las Vegas 11 times and tested clean for every one of his bout there, said Nevada Commission director, Keith Kizer.
"We've absolutely turned down any involvement with the USADA. We don't want to be involved with them," said Arum, who would host Pacquiao-Malignaggi at the MGM as well.
"I have talked today with Lou DiBella about Paulie Malignaggi, and then, possibly, we'll go to Yuri Foreman," said Arum, who promotes Foreman (28-0, eight KOs), the newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champ. "But Lou said that he is going to track down Paulie and talk to him about it."
DiBella, Malignaggi's promoter, said that he would discuss the offer with his fighter "over the weekend."
"I have to talk to Paulie and I have to talk to Bob again, obviously," said DiBella. "We'll talk over the next day or two and see where things stand."
The 31-year-old Pacquiao has won his past 11 fights, eight of them by knockout.
The 29-year-old Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) is a pure boxer who is coming off of a Dec. 12, unanimous decision victory over Juan Diaz (35-3, with 17 KOs) that avenged an earlier loss.
Malignaggi's only other setbacks were against two fighters Pacquiao has knocked out -- Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto, respectively, by knockout and decision.
Pacquiao's past six bouts have been decisions over Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez, and knockouts, respectively, over David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Hatton and Cotto
Pacquiao weighed 134, 142, 138, and, 144, respectively, against Diaz, De La Hoya, Hatton, and, Cotto, whom he knocked out in nine, eight, two, and, 12 rounds.
The Filipino's ability to carry power into all of those bouts raised questions in the eyes of some, including Floyd Mayweather Sr., who originally leveraged steroid accusations against Pacquiao in September.
Mayweather Jr., Kermit Cintron, and Malignaggi are among fighters who expressed their belief that Pacquiao may be using some form of performance enhancement to rise from his career-starting weight class of 106 pounds to his present one of 147.
USADA chief Travis Tygart and Golden Boy Promotions, the latter of which is negotiating on Mayweather's behalf, argue that urine tests do not detect Human Growth Hormone or any number of potent performance-enhancers, while the USADA's Olympic-style blood tests do.
Pacquiao has said that he believes drawing blood within 30 days of fight time would weaken him, while Tygart says the amount of blood required -- less than a teaspoon -- would not affect a fighter's performance.
"They [USADA] told [Pacquiao's trainer] Freddie Roach, that they want to absolutely be able to test the day before the fight by taking blood," said Arum. "All that they're looking to do now is to harrass Pacquiao. We have absolutely no confidence that they are going to do this fairly."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Mayweather's Antics Exceeding All Expectations -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
He doesn't posses the "It" factor, nor is he the most outrageously skilled fighter you've ever seen. Compared to Hector Camacho, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roy Jones his hand speed looks almost pedestrian; that said he's one of the best fighters since Muhammad Ali at tweaking his opponents and getting inside their head leading up to a big fight.
Floyd Mayweather by virtue of his interviews, antics and orchestrated press conferences has transformed himself into a fighter who when he speaks, the boxing world tunes in to find out what angle he's working this time. Before his retirement after stopping Rick Hatton in December of 2007, Mayweather didn't garner stop the press attention like Oscar De La Hoya or Mike Tyson. But since the emergence of Manny Pacquiao and his lopsided decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in his last fight, Mayweather has become the talk of the boxing community.
Starting on the day of the Pacquiao-Hatton bout when Mayweather announced his comeback, Floyd has tantalized boxing fans with what he'll say and do next. Keeping them on the edge, trying to figure out will he fight Pacquiao? Is he afraid of him and does he believe Manny is really using PEDs and/or HGH to help him as a fighter?
During the last few weeks the Mayweather faction has repeatedly asserted how they believe Pacquiao may be using PEDs/HGH and that's the reason Manny has looked so overwhelming in his last two fights versus Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. And because of that Mayweather has changed the debate to being about how Pacquiao has to prove to him that he isn't taking or injecting himself with any illegal supplements or steroids. This is nothing more than an attempt to try and rattle Pacquiao. He wants it to look as if the fighter who has shown throughout his career that he's willing to fight the best fighters out there (Pacquiao), is the more reluctant fighter than the one who's hopped, skipped and avoided taking on the upper-tier fighters in his division, (Mayweather).
The Pacquiao camp is playing the Mayweather camp in return and giving them a dose of their own medicine. Pacquiao has agreed to being tested by the Nevada State Athletic Commission three times, only the Mayweather camp insist that he must submit to the drug testing guidelines of the International Olympic Committee. In other words Team Mayweather not only wants to dictate that the protocol for the test be done more in depth for this bout than any of the two fighters' previous fights, they also want to dictate who does the testing. In essence they are saying Pacquiao submitting to being tested isn't enough. For it to be authentic and legit he must submit himself to the drug testing that we (the Mayweather faction) deem legitimate.
Give Team Mayweather credit for dictating the the pre-fight hype. Through the subterfuge of Mayweather he's managed to make it look as though it is Pacquiao who is hiding something and is perhaps doing something on the underhand, when in fact there is no evidence or proof that Pacquiao is doing anything of the sort.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is trying so hard to get inside of Pacquiao's head, hoping to get he and Freddie Roach to think about everything but the actual fight itself. Mayweather is doing his best to set things up so if he and Pacquiao don't fight in 2010 it'll look as if it was because of the unwillingness on the part of Team Pacquiao than it was Team Mayweather.
With the news of the last couple days that the fight may not happen, it's caused an uproar with boxing fans and has painted Pacquiao in a less positive light. Right now Floyd is controlling the media and fans regarding the build up and anticipation of fight.
When all is said and done, Pacquiao has more options and can fight any upper-tier junior welterweight or welterweight and make a ton of money. On the other hand Floyd has to fight somebody really good who is a perceived risk and not a setup in his next fight in order for him to break the bank. Pacquiao can make the most money fighting Mayweather, but he doesn't need him to make a monumental pay day.
Mayweather has exceeded all expectations regarding the games he's playing to sway the boxing media and public in trying to convince them that it is he who really wants the Pacquiao fight, but it's being held up because Manny can't pass a stipulated drug test. This is something you've gotta be pretty gullible to believe.
The anticipation of Mayweather-Pacquiao has sparked interest in boxing like no other fight in recent history. When you see boxing the lead story on the bottom crawl on ESPN programing, you know it's big, simply because ESPN does a terrible job promoting boxing - as evidenced by the fact they don't even promote their own Friday night cards on ESPN2.
Mayweather's request for a potential 3-5 blood tests and 8-12 urine tests taken at random intervals (Olympic testing) is a head game aimed at interrupting Manny's training and preparation up to and including the day before the fight. It gives Floyd the upper hand in calling the shots and an out if he doesn't want the fight.
The band marches on and Mayweather is doing his best to gain an angle if and when he fights Manny Pacquiao. It certainly would be a welcome change if Mayweather and Pacquiao would just sign to meet at 147 with Pacquiao's WBO title on the line without any gimmicks.
Well, you can forget that as long as the name Mayweather makes up half the marquee. Floyd will attempt to hold up and pull out of the fight up until the time both he and Manny leave their dressing rooms and head for the ring on fight night if they ever make it that far.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Better Than Steroids
He doesn't posses the "It" factor, nor is he the most outrageously skilled fighter you've ever seen. Compared to Hector Camacho, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roy Jones his hand speed looks almost pedestrian; that said he's one of the best fighters since Muhammad Ali at tweaking his opponents and getting inside their head leading up to a big fight.
Floyd Mayweather by virtue of his interviews, antics and orchestrated press conferences has transformed himself into a fighter who when he speaks, the boxing world tunes in to find out what angle he's working this time. Before his retirement after stopping Rick Hatton in December of 2007, Mayweather didn't garner stop the press attention like Oscar De La Hoya or Mike Tyson. But since the emergence of Manny Pacquiao and his lopsided decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez in his last fight, Mayweather has become the talk of the boxing community.
Starting on the day of the Pacquiao-Hatton bout when Mayweather announced his comeback, Floyd has tantalized boxing fans with what he'll say and do next. Keeping them on the edge, trying to figure out will he fight Pacquiao? Is he afraid of him and does he believe Manny is really using PEDs and/or HGH to help him as a fighter?
During the last few weeks the Mayweather faction has repeatedly asserted how they believe Pacquiao may be using PEDs/HGH and that's the reason Manny has looked so overwhelming in his last two fights versus Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. And because of that Mayweather has changed the debate to being about how Pacquiao has to prove to him that he isn't taking or injecting himself with any illegal supplements or steroids. This is nothing more than an attempt to try and rattle Pacquiao. He wants it to look as if the fighter who has shown throughout his career that he's willing to fight the best fighters out there (Pacquiao), is the more reluctant fighter than the one who's hopped, skipped and avoided taking on the upper-tier fighters in his division, (Mayweather).
The Pacquiao camp is playing the Mayweather camp in return and giving them a dose of their own medicine. Pacquiao has agreed to being tested by the Nevada State Athletic Commission three times, only the Mayweather camp insist that he must submit to the drug testing guidelines of the International Olympic Committee. In other words Team Mayweather not only wants to dictate that the protocol for the test be done more in depth for this bout than any of the two fighters' previous fights, they also want to dictate who does the testing. In essence they are saying Pacquiao submitting to being tested isn't enough. For it to be authentic and legit he must submit himself to the drug testing that we (the Mayweather faction) deem legitimate.
Give Team Mayweather credit for dictating the the pre-fight hype. Through the subterfuge of Mayweather he's managed to make it look as though it is Pacquiao who is hiding something and is perhaps doing something on the underhand, when in fact there is no evidence or proof that Pacquiao is doing anything of the sort.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is trying so hard to get inside of Pacquiao's head, hoping to get he and Freddie Roach to think about everything but the actual fight itself. Mayweather is doing his best to set things up so if he and Pacquiao don't fight in 2010 it'll look as if it was because of the unwillingness on the part of Team Pacquiao than it was Team Mayweather.
With the news of the last couple days that the fight may not happen, it's caused an uproar with boxing fans and has painted Pacquiao in a less positive light. Right now Floyd is controlling the media and fans regarding the build up and anticipation of fight.
When all is said and done, Pacquiao has more options and can fight any upper-tier junior welterweight or welterweight and make a ton of money. On the other hand Floyd has to fight somebody really good who is a perceived risk and not a setup in his next fight in order for him to break the bank. Pacquiao can make the most money fighting Mayweather, but he doesn't need him to make a monumental pay day.
Mayweather has exceeded all expectations regarding the games he's playing to sway the boxing media and public in trying to convince them that it is he who really wants the Pacquiao fight, but it's being held up because Manny can't pass a stipulated drug test. This is something you've gotta be pretty gullible to believe.
The anticipation of Mayweather-Pacquiao has sparked interest in boxing like no other fight in recent history. When you see boxing the lead story on the bottom crawl on ESPN programing, you know it's big, simply because ESPN does a terrible job promoting boxing - as evidenced by the fact they don't even promote their own Friday night cards on ESPN2.
Mayweather's request for a potential 3-5 blood tests and 8-12 urine tests taken at random intervals (Olympic testing) is a head game aimed at interrupting Manny's training and preparation up to and including the day before the fight. It gives Floyd the upper hand in calling the shots and an out if he doesn't want the fight.
The band marches on and Mayweather is doing his best to gain an angle if and when he fights Manny Pacquiao. It certainly would be a welcome change if Mayweather and Pacquiao would just sign to meet at 147 with Pacquiao's WBO title on the line without any gimmicks.
Well, you can forget that as long as the name Mayweather makes up half the marquee. Floyd will attempt to hold up and pull out of the fight up until the time both he and Manny leave their dressing rooms and head for the ring on fight night if they ever make it that far.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Better Than Steroids
Manny Pacquiao only fueling the Mayweathers' fire by refusing random blood tests -- The Grand Rapids Press
By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
The longer this impasse goes, the worse it looks for Manny Pacquiao.
If you’re really the pound-for-pound king, if you’re really not using performance-enhancers, then you do exactly what Floyd Mayweather asks. You get yourself poked with a needle on a handful of occasions -- certainly fewer times than Pacquiao has been poked with a tattoo needle -- then make Mayweather pay for his arrogance on the night of March 13.
If you’re the pound-for-pound king, and you didn’t get that way through sophisticated doping techniques for which you know there are masking methods and/or no urine detection technology, you give up a few drops of blood without any knowledge when you might be asked to do so, a few times between now and the fight, then you do your job.
If you’re the pound-for-pound king, you step up and make yourself heard on this issue, and quit letting your promoter and your trainer bellow that Mayweather’s demand is a method of seeking a way to avoid the fight.
Mayweather, the Grand Rapids native, agreed to every contractual tenet.
He accepted a 50-50 split, even though his pay-per-view fights against common opponents greatly outsold Pacquiao’s.
He agreed to pay Pacquiao a $10 million penalty if he comes in even half-a-biscuit or one swallow of his beloved Mountain Dew heavier than the 147-pound limit. That’s astounding, given that Mike Tyson was fined $3 million for biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
All he asked for in return was random blood testing.
And Pacquiao wouldn’t comply.
The longer it goes on, the more we start to sneer at the Filipino idol and wonder why.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has been busy at work spinning public favor in his fighter’s direction. And Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, has lambasted Mayweather for a demand that he somehow deems disruptive to training.
Forget that Pacquiao has endured any number of pinpricks for tattoos, including one he got just before his most recent fight, against Miguel Cotto, who declared the Filipino the hardest puncher he ever faced after getting knocked out by him, which certainly arched some eyebrows among the performance-enhancing theorists, considering the 40-pound gap Pacquiao has traversed since turning professional.
Forget that since the fight fell apart Tuesday night because of the drug-testing issue, a number of experts have declared it ridiculous that Pacquiao was willing to undergo blood testing on a set schedule, but not at all within 30 days of the fight, and that the top executive of the U.S. Anti-Doping Association told the Los Angeles Times such a schedule would allow plenty of time to “dope to the gills and get away with it.”
That’s what Pacquiao’s side wants everyone to forget.
Well, here’s a suggestion: Random means random, and if you don’t submit, you only fuel the fire the Mayweathers have been pumping with bellows for the last three months.
We’re talking about a few drops of blood every few weeks. Within a few minutes, anyone who has blood drawn for a drug test has fully regenerated it.
Any assertion that Pacquiao might be weakened because he has blood drawn a few times in a 10-week period before a fight is either deception or ignorance. But not both.
Here’s another suggestion: Set the pre-fight testing schedule so both fighters get tested randomly once between Jan. 1-15, again between Jan. 16-31, again between Feb. 1-15, and once more between Feb. 16-March 6. That guarantees no testing in the final seven days before the fight, only four pre-fight tests in total, and the randomness which is at the core of the Mayweather camp’s demands.
Here’s another suggestion: Let the drug-testers stand there every day during sparring, and the first time Pacquiao gets a fat lip or bloody nose, just squeeze some into a vial.
That’s how asinine the Pacquiao camp’s claims look in a business where lost blood is a day-to-day job hazard.
Failing that, someone really is weaseling out of the fight.
And that someone isn’t Floyd Mayweather.
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
The longer this impasse goes, the worse it looks for Manny Pacquiao.
If you’re really the pound-for-pound king, if you’re really not using performance-enhancers, then you do exactly what Floyd Mayweather asks. You get yourself poked with a needle on a handful of occasions -- certainly fewer times than Pacquiao has been poked with a tattoo needle -- then make Mayweather pay for his arrogance on the night of March 13.
If you’re the pound-for-pound king, and you didn’t get that way through sophisticated doping techniques for which you know there are masking methods and/or no urine detection technology, you give up a few drops of blood without any knowledge when you might be asked to do so, a few times between now and the fight, then you do your job.
If you’re the pound-for-pound king, you step up and make yourself heard on this issue, and quit letting your promoter and your trainer bellow that Mayweather’s demand is a method of seeking a way to avoid the fight.
Mayweather, the Grand Rapids native, agreed to every contractual tenet.
He accepted a 50-50 split, even though his pay-per-view fights against common opponents greatly outsold Pacquiao’s.
He agreed to pay Pacquiao a $10 million penalty if he comes in even half-a-biscuit or one swallow of his beloved Mountain Dew heavier than the 147-pound limit. That’s astounding, given that Mike Tyson was fined $3 million for biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
All he asked for in return was random blood testing.
And Pacquiao wouldn’t comply.
The longer it goes on, the more we start to sneer at the Filipino idol and wonder why.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has been busy at work spinning public favor in his fighter’s direction. And Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, has lambasted Mayweather for a demand that he somehow deems disruptive to training.
Forget that Pacquiao has endured any number of pinpricks for tattoos, including one he got just before his most recent fight, against Miguel Cotto, who declared the Filipino the hardest puncher he ever faced after getting knocked out by him, which certainly arched some eyebrows among the performance-enhancing theorists, considering the 40-pound gap Pacquiao has traversed since turning professional.
Forget that since the fight fell apart Tuesday night because of the drug-testing issue, a number of experts have declared it ridiculous that Pacquiao was willing to undergo blood testing on a set schedule, but not at all within 30 days of the fight, and that the top executive of the U.S. Anti-Doping Association told the Los Angeles Times such a schedule would allow plenty of time to “dope to the gills and get away with it.”
That’s what Pacquiao’s side wants everyone to forget.
Well, here’s a suggestion: Random means random, and if you don’t submit, you only fuel the fire the Mayweathers have been pumping with bellows for the last three months.
We’re talking about a few drops of blood every few weeks. Within a few minutes, anyone who has blood drawn for a drug test has fully regenerated it.
Any assertion that Pacquiao might be weakened because he has blood drawn a few times in a 10-week period before a fight is either deception or ignorance. But not both.
Here’s another suggestion: Set the pre-fight testing schedule so both fighters get tested randomly once between Jan. 1-15, again between Jan. 16-31, again between Feb. 1-15, and once more between Feb. 16-March 6. That guarantees no testing in the final seven days before the fight, only four pre-fight tests in total, and the randomness which is at the core of the Mayweather camp’s demands.
Here’s another suggestion: Let the drug-testers stand there every day during sparring, and the first time Pacquiao gets a fat lip or bloody nose, just squeeze some into a vial.
That’s how asinine the Pacquiao camp’s claims look in a business where lost blood is a day-to-day job hazard.
Failing that, someone really is weaseling out of the fight.
And that someone isn’t Floyd Mayweather.
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
Blood vs. urine? USADA clears up fuss over Mayweather-Pacquiao drug testing feud -- The Grand Rapids Press
By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press
The notion of bad blood interfering with the negotiations between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao's representatives wasn't far fetched. Neither camp gets along with the other.
But with Tuesday's announcement from Mayweather's camp that Pacquiao has refused the Olympic-style random drug testing, tensions have reached a new high.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission uses urine tests before and after fights to check for steroids other and performance-enhancing drugs. A blood test is required to earn a one-year license to fight in Nevada, too.
Mayweather's camp is demanding the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency conduct random blood tests during training. Pacqiuao's promoter, Bob Aurm, has said his fighter has agreed to be blood tested three times: in January, 30 days before the fight and then right after the fight.
Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports that both urine and blood tests are needed to determine if a fighter is clean.
"There is no urine-based tested for human-growth hormone," Tygart said. "It doesn’t show up in the urine. It’s only a blood-based test. That’s true of a number of prohibited substances, particularly those that would enhance and aid a boxer.”
Tygert also added the schedule Arum is proposing won't work, because a fighter would have the advantage of knowing when he'd be tested.
“That kind of window is totally unacceptable,” Tygart said. “It would provide a huge loophole for a cheater to step through and get away with cheating.”
Dr. Gary Wadler, an internal medicine physician and chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List and Methods sub-committee, supported Tygar's position.
“The fundamental principle is that the time and place of testing is in the domain of the governing body, not of the athlete,” Wadler told Yahoo! Sports. “It would lose all its validity if the athlete could pick and choose when he is going to be tested and for what he’s going to be tested for and how he’s going to be tested. They’re sophisticated enough now that if someone wanted to, you could play the calendar to your advantage."
And to Arum's notion that Pacquaio will feel "weakened" by getting his blood drawn close to the fight? Victor Conte, the founder of Bay-Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO), said the tests would have no physical effect on either fighter.
“That amount would be less than one-half of one percent (of the total blood in the body),” Conte told Yahoo! Sports. “It’s not going to have any effect, the drawing of blood. Could it have some mental effect? That’s the only down side of that. It’s certainly not going to have any physical effect, giving blood before a fight.”
The implementation of drug testing remains the only sticking point on negotiations for a fight that could break all of boxing's revenue records.
Will either side blink in time for the fight to happen? It doesn't sound like Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe plans to back off on his demands.
"They're backed up against the wall. Either they're going to step up to the plate and do this, or my guy's not stepping up into the ring and fighting," Ellerbe said on "The Huge Show" on Wednesday. "If you have nothing to hide, why not subject yourself to this testing?"
E-mail Josh Slagter at jslagter@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JoshSlagter
Source: mlive.com
The notion of bad blood interfering with the negotiations between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao's representatives wasn't far fetched. Neither camp gets along with the other.
But with Tuesday's announcement from Mayweather's camp that Pacquiao has refused the Olympic-style random drug testing, tensions have reached a new high.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission uses urine tests before and after fights to check for steroids other and performance-enhancing drugs. A blood test is required to earn a one-year license to fight in Nevada, too.
Mayweather's camp is demanding the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency conduct random blood tests during training. Pacqiuao's promoter, Bob Aurm, has said his fighter has agreed to be blood tested three times: in January, 30 days before the fight and then right after the fight.
Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA, told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports that both urine and blood tests are needed to determine if a fighter is clean.
"There is no urine-based tested for human-growth hormone," Tygart said. "It doesn’t show up in the urine. It’s only a blood-based test. That’s true of a number of prohibited substances, particularly those that would enhance and aid a boxer.”
Tygert also added the schedule Arum is proposing won't work, because a fighter would have the advantage of knowing when he'd be tested.
“That kind of window is totally unacceptable,” Tygart said. “It would provide a huge loophole for a cheater to step through and get away with cheating.”
Dr. Gary Wadler, an internal medicine physician and chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Prohibited List and Methods sub-committee, supported Tygar's position.
“The fundamental principle is that the time and place of testing is in the domain of the governing body, not of the athlete,” Wadler told Yahoo! Sports. “It would lose all its validity if the athlete could pick and choose when he is going to be tested and for what he’s going to be tested for and how he’s going to be tested. They’re sophisticated enough now that if someone wanted to, you could play the calendar to your advantage."
And to Arum's notion that Pacquaio will feel "weakened" by getting his blood drawn close to the fight? Victor Conte, the founder of Bay-Area Laboratory Cooperative (BALCO), said the tests would have no physical effect on either fighter.
“That amount would be less than one-half of one percent (of the total blood in the body),” Conte told Yahoo! Sports. “It’s not going to have any effect, the drawing of blood. Could it have some mental effect? That’s the only down side of that. It’s certainly not going to have any physical effect, giving blood before a fight.”
The implementation of drug testing remains the only sticking point on negotiations for a fight that could break all of boxing's revenue records.
Will either side blink in time for the fight to happen? It doesn't sound like Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe plans to back off on his demands.
"They're backed up against the wall. Either they're going to step up to the plate and do this, or my guy's not stepping up into the ring and fighting," Ellerbe said on "The Huge Show" on Wednesday. "If you have nothing to hide, why not subject yourself to this testing?"
E-mail Josh Slagter at jslagter@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JoshSlagter
Source: mlive.com
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