Sky Sports
Manny Pacquiao has reiterated his demand not to be blood tested within 30 days of a proposed showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jnr as rival promoters attempt to save the fight.
The Filipino was set to meet Mayweather on March 13 in Las Vegas but a dispute over the drug testing procedures is threatening to derail the long-awaited meeting between two of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
Mayweather Jnr wants US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) protocols, including random blood tests at any point before the fight, which was a deal breaker to Pacquiao, who said such tests too near the bout would weaken him.
"I'm still willing to fight Floyd Mayweather. I never said the fight was off or I do not want to fight him," Pacquiao said in a blog posting on his official website.
"I'll fight anyone at any time and my record and past fights prove that. I have never and will never dodge anyone."
On his unwillingness to allow himself to be blood tested close to fight day, he added: "The truth is taking blood out of my body does not seem natural to me and mentally I feel it will weaken me if blood is taken from me just days before the fight.
"That does not make sense to me, why anyone would do that."
Mayweather Jnr's promoter, Richard Schaefer, told ESPN that he had backed off USADA rules but would insist upon testing within 30 days of the fight as representatives of rival promoters tried to thrash out a deal.
"We know that 30 days before is not effective. At 30 days, we might as well not even do it," Schaefer said.
"It is a matter of the two sides working out the specifics of the cut off date to assure it will still be effective."
Frustrating
Schaefer called the shifting positions in talks frustrating and questioned Pacquiao's desire to face Mayweather Jnr.
"I don't know how to explain it other than maybe Pacquiao doesn't want the Mayweather fight," he added.
Pacquiao, however, made his position equally clear in his posting.
"If Floyd Mayweather Jnr truly ever wanted to fight me and he is not really scared, he would accept these terms I am willing to give him as they are above and beyond what the (Nevada) commission demands," Pacquiao said.
"I hope Floyd is not really a coward and will fight me and give the fans what they want to see. I am not afraid to fight Floyd anywhere any time."
Source: skysports.com
Sunday, 27 December 2009
No surprise: Pacquiao is the fighter of the year -- El Paso Times
By Matthew Aguilar, El Paso Times
With the end of 2009 drawing to a close, it's time to recognize the year's best work.
Fighter of the Year
Manny Pacquiao: Pacquiao's dominance was again the year's biggest headline -- as it was in 2008. The Filipino superstar followed up a December dismantling of Oscar De La Hoya by flattening the recognized junior welterweight champ, Englishman Ricky Hatton, in two rounds in May. He then outslugged perhaps the best 147-pounder in the world, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto, for a 12th-round TKO in November.
The Hatton knockout was explosive and brief -- as picturesque as it was brutal. The Cotto victory was a systematic drubbing of a bigger, stronger man. Combine them, and you have a masterpiece of a year. Indeed, the last 24 months for "Pac-Man" have been perhaps the most comprehensive, entertaining and impressive body of work of any boxer over the last decade, as Pacquiao showed a versatility that very few fighters -- even elite fighters -- ever realize.
If Floyd Mayweather Jr. ever gets the nerve to actually fight him, Pacquiao could garner his third "Fighter of the Year" award in as many years in 2010.
Fight of the Year
Juan Manuel Marquez KO 9 Juan Diaz: For about four rounds back on Feb. 28, Marquez -- generally regarded at the time as boxing's second-best pound-for-pound fighter -- had the look of a confused man. Diaz, the bigger fighter, had attacked Marquez from the outset -- pinning him against the ropes and punishing him with his faster hands. Diaz had even staggered the iron-chinned Marquez. But, slowly, Marquez began to show his class and superiority and, by the time it was over, Diaz had been down twice and beaten to a pulp. In between, it was a riveting battle between two proud warriors.
Round of the Year
Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez (1): On paper, this looked like it may be one of the least entertaining fights of 2009. But things got popping quickly, as Williams decked Martinez early in the round, and Martinez returned the favor late in the round. In between, the two middleweights traded bombs in the center of the ring. The decision, by majority for Williams, was also one of the most controversial.
Upset of the Year
Juan Carlos Salgado KO 1 Jorge Linares: Linares, the WBA super featherweight champ who looked like a future star, epitomized Golden Boy Promotions' horrible year. Weeks after signing with Oscar De La Hoya's company, Linares faced the unknown (but undefeated) Salgado in Tokyo in what amounted to a tuneup for bigger and better things. Instead, Linares caught a big Salgado right hand early and never recovered.
Comeback of the Year
Shane Mosley: Going into his January challenge of Antonio Margarito, Mosley wasn't considered washed-up. But he was thought to be damaged goods in light of a loss to Miguel Cotto in late 2007, and a struggle with Ricardo Mayorga in 2008.
"Sugar Shane" wasn't considered more than a bump in the road against the surging, ferocious Margarito. Surprise! Mosley turned in what is probably the most impressive, dominant performance of his career, destroying Margarito and re-establishing himself as an elite fighter. How good did Mosley look? He's been avoided like the plague and hasn't fought since.
Knockout of the Year
Pacquiao KO 2 Hatton: Well, what can you say about this one? The left hand that clipped Hatton on the chin, froze him for an instant and sent him crashing to the mat was nothing short of awesome. It was one of those perfect punches that electrifies the sport. And we're not sure if Hatton has gotten up yet ...
Matthew Aguilar may be reached at maguilarnew@yahoo.com
Source: elpasotimes.com
With the end of 2009 drawing to a close, it's time to recognize the year's best work.
Fighter of the Year
Manny Pacquiao: Pacquiao's dominance was again the year's biggest headline -- as it was in 2008. The Filipino superstar followed up a December dismantling of Oscar De La Hoya by flattening the recognized junior welterweight champ, Englishman Ricky Hatton, in two rounds in May. He then outslugged perhaps the best 147-pounder in the world, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto, for a 12th-round TKO in November.
The Hatton knockout was explosive and brief -- as picturesque as it was brutal. The Cotto victory was a systematic drubbing of a bigger, stronger man. Combine them, and you have a masterpiece of a year. Indeed, the last 24 months for "Pac-Man" have been perhaps the most comprehensive, entertaining and impressive body of work of any boxer over the last decade, as Pacquiao showed a versatility that very few fighters -- even elite fighters -- ever realize.
If Floyd Mayweather Jr. ever gets the nerve to actually fight him, Pacquiao could garner his third "Fighter of the Year" award in as many years in 2010.
Fight of the Year
Juan Manuel Marquez KO 9 Juan Diaz: For about four rounds back on Feb. 28, Marquez -- generally regarded at the time as boxing's second-best pound-for-pound fighter -- had the look of a confused man. Diaz, the bigger fighter, had attacked Marquez from the outset -- pinning him against the ropes and punishing him with his faster hands. Diaz had even staggered the iron-chinned Marquez. But, slowly, Marquez began to show his class and superiority and, by the time it was over, Diaz had been down twice and beaten to a pulp. In between, it was a riveting battle between two proud warriors.
Round of the Year
Paul Williams-Sergio Martinez (1): On paper, this looked like it may be one of the least entertaining fights of 2009. But things got popping quickly, as Williams decked Martinez early in the round, and Martinez returned the favor late in the round. In between, the two middleweights traded bombs in the center of the ring. The decision, by majority for Williams, was also one of the most controversial.
Upset of the Year
Juan Carlos Salgado KO 1 Jorge Linares: Linares, the WBA super featherweight champ who looked like a future star, epitomized Golden Boy Promotions' horrible year. Weeks after signing with Oscar De La Hoya's company, Linares faced the unknown (but undefeated) Salgado in Tokyo in what amounted to a tuneup for bigger and better things. Instead, Linares caught a big Salgado right hand early and never recovered.
Comeback of the Year
Shane Mosley: Going into his January challenge of Antonio Margarito, Mosley wasn't considered washed-up. But he was thought to be damaged goods in light of a loss to Miguel Cotto in late 2007, and a struggle with Ricardo Mayorga in 2008.
"Sugar Shane" wasn't considered more than a bump in the road against the surging, ferocious Margarito. Surprise! Mosley turned in what is probably the most impressive, dominant performance of his career, destroying Margarito and re-establishing himself as an elite fighter. How good did Mosley look? He's been avoided like the plague and hasn't fought since.
Knockout of the Year
Pacquiao KO 2 Hatton: Well, what can you say about this one? The left hand that clipped Hatton on the chin, froze him for an instant and sent him crashing to the mat was nothing short of awesome. It was one of those perfect punches that electrifies the sport. And we're not sure if Hatton has gotten up yet ...
Matthew Aguilar may be reached at maguilarnew@yahoo.com
Source: elpasotimes.com
Arum: Mayweather wants to keep Pacquiao blood eight years -- Examiner
By Michael Marley, Examiner.com
They say you should never say never but Bob Arum is ready to say never to a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather super bout.
An exasperated Arum told me Saturday night he’s made a final offer to the Mayweather team.
At the same time, Mayweather representative Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com that if Pacman does not agree to blood testing closer than 30 days before the fight date, there is no fight. The diplomatic Schaefer then said he would shut his phone off until January 2.
If they accept, Arum said the Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao super bout will proceed as planned on March `13 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. If not, then Arum said from his Cabo San Lucas working vacation location Mayweather won’t fight Pacqiuao ever.
“Manny will do a blood test, as required, to get his new boxing license in January per the Nevada commission,” Arum said. “Manny will also do another blood test after the fight. End of story.
"If they do not agree to this, then that’s the end for Mayweather as far as Pacquiao is concerned. Then Mayweather will never, never fight Manny.”
Here's what Schaefer told ESPN:
"What we're saying, and what is important to us, is four things -- that the tests be random, that they include blood and urine and the time frame, meaning when do you stop the tests before the fight but know they will still be effective. Three of them we have agreed on -- random, blood and urine. So now it is a matter of the two sides working out the specifics of the cutoff date to assure it will still be effective."
At this time, the Nevada commission does not require any blood testing other than the one required for a new license. The purpose of those tests is to screen for HIV, not for steroids.
Arum then informed me that Schaefer has made some bizarre comments about why blood tests rather than urine tests must be done on the Pinoy Idol.
“Richard said the blood tests can be saved for up to eight years and that, if five years from now they come up with a way to find illegal substances in the blood that they can’t find right now,” Arum said.
“Is that insane? This is a fight in Nevada and it has to be under their rules. They (Schaefer’s company, Golden Boy) have (Shane) Mosley fighting Jan. 30. Mosley has admitted to using illegal steroids. There is no blood testing being done for that fight because it’s not in Nevada’s rules.
“Oscar (de la Hoya) is calling for blood testing on Manny. When was Oscar ever blood tested before or after a fight? I will tell you when he was, never. I have had it with this motherbleeper Schaefer amd with this pussycat Mayweather. Mayweather does not want to fight Manny, it’s obvious,” Arum said.
The promoter said he would wait until Monday of Tuesday but then will move to plug in a substitute opponent for March 13 from his own WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, the Lou Dibella handled Paulie Malignaggi or junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley (promoted by Gary Shaw).
It’s ironic to note that Malignaggi has continually accused Pacman of cheating with illegal drugs and that Shaw’s son, Jared, has said that the Pinoy Idol’s cheating should be totally exposed.
Like Mayweather and unlike Mosley, Pacman has never been charged with using illegal drugs before any fight.
“If they don’t cut the crap, we will move on,” Arum said. “Let Schaefer shut his phone off, who cares?”
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
They say you should never say never but Bob Arum is ready to say never to a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather super bout.
An exasperated Arum told me Saturday night he’s made a final offer to the Mayweather team.
At the same time, Mayweather representative Richard Schaefer told ESPN.com that if Pacman does not agree to blood testing closer than 30 days before the fight date, there is no fight. The diplomatic Schaefer then said he would shut his phone off until January 2.
If they accept, Arum said the Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao super bout will proceed as planned on March `13 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. If not, then Arum said from his Cabo San Lucas working vacation location Mayweather won’t fight Pacqiuao ever.
“Manny will do a blood test, as required, to get his new boxing license in January per the Nevada commission,” Arum said. “Manny will also do another blood test after the fight. End of story.
"If they do not agree to this, then that’s the end for Mayweather as far as Pacquiao is concerned. Then Mayweather will never, never fight Manny.”
Here's what Schaefer told ESPN:
"What we're saying, and what is important to us, is four things -- that the tests be random, that they include blood and urine and the time frame, meaning when do you stop the tests before the fight but know they will still be effective. Three of them we have agreed on -- random, blood and urine. So now it is a matter of the two sides working out the specifics of the cutoff date to assure it will still be effective."
At this time, the Nevada commission does not require any blood testing other than the one required for a new license. The purpose of those tests is to screen for HIV, not for steroids.
Arum then informed me that Schaefer has made some bizarre comments about why blood tests rather than urine tests must be done on the Pinoy Idol.
“Richard said the blood tests can be saved for up to eight years and that, if five years from now they come up with a way to find illegal substances in the blood that they can’t find right now,” Arum said.
“Is that insane? This is a fight in Nevada and it has to be under their rules. They (Schaefer’s company, Golden Boy) have (Shane) Mosley fighting Jan. 30. Mosley has admitted to using illegal steroids. There is no blood testing being done for that fight because it’s not in Nevada’s rules.
“Oscar (de la Hoya) is calling for blood testing on Manny. When was Oscar ever blood tested before or after a fight? I will tell you when he was, never. I have had it with this motherbleeper Schaefer amd with this pussycat Mayweather. Mayweather does not want to fight Manny, it’s obvious,” Arum said.
The promoter said he would wait until Monday of Tuesday but then will move to plug in a substitute opponent for March 13 from his own WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, the Lou Dibella handled Paulie Malignaggi or junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley (promoted by Gary Shaw).
It’s ironic to note that Malignaggi has continually accused Pacman of cheating with illegal drugs and that Shaw’s son, Jared, has said that the Pinoy Idol’s cheating should be totally exposed.
Like Mayweather and unlike Mosley, Pacman has never been charged with using illegal drugs before any fight.
“If they don’t cut the crap, we will move on,” Arum said. “Let Schaefer shut his phone off, who cares?”
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
Mayweather camp: 'We're OK' with less-stringent drug-testing protocol -- Los Angeles Times
By Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times
The promoter for unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. told The Times today that he'd be willing to compromise on U.S. Anti-Doping Agency policy that would leave Mayweather and his tentatively scheduled March 13 opponent, Manny Pacquiao, subject to a blood test on the eve of their mega-fight.
"As long as there's a blood test, as long as there's a urine test and as long as it's random, a [specificied] cutoff date is agreeable to us," Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer said. "We're saying, 'We're OK,' and we hope Pacquiao [and his promoter and trainer] are OK."
Schaefer didn't precisely spell out how the drug testing would be done. He and USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart have said they don't believe an effective anti-doping policy can be carried out if Pacquiao won't agree to test anytime in the 30-day period before the fight. Schaefer pointed to Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach's comments to The Times this week that a blood test three days before the bout seems reasonable.
Pacquiao first told The Times on Christmas Eve that he planned to sue Mayweather and Schaefer's Golden Boy Promotions for defamation because of their intense public push for testing beyond that required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"They're trying to tarnish, damage and destroy the clean reputation of someone who is a fighter, a warrior," Pacquiao advisor and biographer Winchell Campos told The Times on Saturday. "Manny has said he fights for his country, his honor and his God, and he'd never do anything to disgrace any of those."
That said, Campos said Pacquiao is willing to consider any direction from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. If Nevada authorities agree that additional blood testing beyond their urine collection is appropriate for this high-profile bout that could be the most lucrative in history, "then that's fair," Campos said. "But nobody should be dictating those things to the commission."
Schaefer said he's "never accused Pacquiao of doing something illegal" and said as a promoter who has more than 20% of Pacquiao's rights, "the last thing I'd want is to see him accused or be found guilty of using steroids." Schaefer said he strongly wants the fighters to come together and agree to drug-testing terms.
"Now that I've learned more about this, boxing now will have an outspoken advocate for blood testing in the sport," Schaefer said. "I plan to ask Nevada to have Travis Tygart explain why blood tests are necessary. This is not about hitting a baseball, throwing a football or hitting a puck. This is a sport that's mano-a-mano, with guys hitting each other's heads. It's important that the strongest testing possible is in place."
-- Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
The promoter for unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. told The Times today that he'd be willing to compromise on U.S. Anti-Doping Agency policy that would leave Mayweather and his tentatively scheduled March 13 opponent, Manny Pacquiao, subject to a blood test on the eve of their mega-fight.
"As long as there's a blood test, as long as there's a urine test and as long as it's random, a [specificied] cutoff date is agreeable to us," Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer said. "We're saying, 'We're OK,' and we hope Pacquiao [and his promoter and trainer] are OK."
Schaefer didn't precisely spell out how the drug testing would be done. He and USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart have said they don't believe an effective anti-doping policy can be carried out if Pacquiao won't agree to test anytime in the 30-day period before the fight. Schaefer pointed to Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach's comments to The Times this week that a blood test three days before the bout seems reasonable.
Pacquiao first told The Times on Christmas Eve that he planned to sue Mayweather and Schaefer's Golden Boy Promotions for defamation because of their intense public push for testing beyond that required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
"They're trying to tarnish, damage and destroy the clean reputation of someone who is a fighter, a warrior," Pacquiao advisor and biographer Winchell Campos told The Times on Saturday. "Manny has said he fights for his country, his honor and his God, and he'd never do anything to disgrace any of those."
That said, Campos said Pacquiao is willing to consider any direction from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. If Nevada authorities agree that additional blood testing beyond their urine collection is appropriate for this high-profile bout that could be the most lucrative in history, "then that's fair," Campos said. "But nobody should be dictating those things to the commission."
Schaefer said he's "never accused Pacquiao of doing something illegal" and said as a promoter who has more than 20% of Pacquiao's rights, "the last thing I'd want is to see him accused or be found guilty of using steroids." Schaefer said he strongly wants the fighters to come together and agree to drug-testing terms.
"Now that I've learned more about this, boxing now will have an outspoken advocate for blood testing in the sport," Schaefer said. "I plan to ask Nevada to have Travis Tygart explain why blood tests are necessary. This is not about hitting a baseball, throwing a football or hitting a puck. This is a sport that's mano-a-mano, with guys hitting each other's heads. It's important that the strongest testing possible is in place."
-- Lance Pugmire
Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com
Mayweather moves, but fight no closer -- ESPN
By Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
There was movement by the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao camps Saturday in the battle over how to handle drug testing for their tentative March 13 super fight, but the sides remain at a stalemate in an increasingly nasty negotiation that threatens a fight many predict would be the highest-grossing bout in history.
With all of the other points agreed to for the blockbuster HBO PPV welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the drug testing protocol is the final sticking point.
Mayweather -- whose father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., has accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing substances without any proof -- had been demanding the inflexible Olympic-style testing conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That would mean Mayweather and Pacquiao would be subject to random blood and urine tests all the way up to the fight and immediately following it.
Pacquiao objected, in part, because he and his team want assurances that testing would be cut off at a predetermined time before the fight.
Mayweather changed his stance Saturday, moving off the hard line he had taken on using USADA as the testing agency.
"We are OK to move off USADA," Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather, told ESPN.com. "What we're saying, and what is important to us, is four things -- that the tests be random, that they include blood and urine and the time frame, meaning when do you stop the tests before the fight but know they will still be effective. Three of them we have agreed on -- random, blood and urine. So now it is a matter of the two sides working out the specifics of the cutoff date to assure it will still be effective."
Schaefer said those talks are taking place between Bruce Binkow, a high-level Golden Boy executive, and Todd duBoef, the president of Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter.
"Todd and Bruce are trying to work out the specifics of the cutoff to assure the tests are still effective because we know that 30 days before is not effective," Schaefer said. "At 30 days, we might as well not even do it. We want to figure it out [the cutoff window] and I will give my recommendation to Team Mayweather, and they will be on board. USADA is the most recognized one, but if it's another one, like the Nevada commission, we don't really care. I don't care who performs the tests as long as they are performed. That's our position. If this fight doesn't happen it's not because of Team Mayweather."
Pacquiao agreed to unlimited urine testing and at least three blood tests, one in early January around the time of the kickoff news conference, one 30 days before the fight and another in the dressing room after the fight. When Mayweather was insisting on USADA, Top Rank chief Bob Arum said Pacquiao was willing to revisit the number of tests as long as they used some other agency, one with which they could negotiate the protocol and assure Pacquiao that he would at least not be tested in the middle of the night or in the few days leading up to the bout.
On Friday, Arum said their side was willing to sit down with Golden Boy and the Nevada State Athletic Commission to work out the details of the testing. Nevada only requires a prefight and a postfight urine test, although it could also test blood if the sides asked.
But on Saturday, Arum, speaking from his vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, backtracked, saying even the three tests were out the window -- unless Nevada asked for them, which Arum knows is unlikely.
"Our position is that since the fight would be in Nevada, let [the Mayweather side] make any petition it wants to the commission," Arum said. "We wash our hands of it. If the commission wants to take blood, fine. We don't care. But we're not going to pander to this petty bull---- about how many days before the fight they can test and so forth. Who are they [Golden Boy] to tell Manny what he's supposed to do? How many times did [Golden Boy boss] Oscar De La Hoya ever give blood before a fight? I will not let this kid get pushed around.
"If they go to the commission and they ask for blood tests and the commission says yes, we will do whatever the commission says. The commission says blood testing, we'll do blood testing. We're not going to help it or oppose it. We're not going to give any credence to this nonsense. They want to sign a contract under the rules of the commission, fine. We don't want the fight if it means Manny is going to be pushed around. Let the commission tell us how many days in front they want blood. Let the commission pick a date to stop taking blood. We trust the commission. Blood testing we think is unnecessary, but fine, we'll do it. But let the commission set the parameters. Let Golden Boy approach the commission and say we want to take blood when he's walking into the ring. Whatever the commission wants to do we will support, but we won't take part in this exercise in nonsense, a procedure which is contrary to how boxing has been conducted in Nevada for 40 years. The burden is not on us to tell the commission what to do."
Arum's appeal for the commission to handle matters may be hollow because although it has protocols in place for random urine testing during training camps, it doesn't for blood testing, and to put it in place in time for a March 13 fight is unlikely, according to Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada commission.
"We're very confident that urine tests by themselves cover everything that needs to be covered, but if the camps want to do additional testing through a third party they are welcome to, as long as they also adhere to commission rules," Kizer told ESPN.com. "Urine testing we could run with today. We could test their urine every day from now until March 13. But blood testing is trickier because we don't require it. If the commission wanted to change the rule it would have to be at a public meeting and, at the earliest, that would be early to mid-January. We have done some urine testing during training camps. We have those protocols in place. Blood testing is a different story.
"We'd have to put it on a commission agenda. Golden Boy or Top Rank or both could ask for blood testing and we'd look into it. Whether it would go anywhere, that's up to the commission to decide. As of now, there are no plans for a special commission meeting, nor has one been requested from either side."
The promoters and HBO hoped to have the fight signed and formally announced at a news conference the first week of January. If they can't iron out the particulars on blood testing until a commission meeting, likely around Jan. 13, it would make finalizing the bout unlikely until at least then.
Schaefer believes that Arum's position of leaving it up to the commission is him "moving the goal post."
"The pressure is on Pacquiao," he said. "They keep moving the goal post like they did with the $10 million weight penalty [if either fighter is over the contract maximum 147 pounds], which we agreed to. They didn't think we would accept that. When we did, they had to find something else to make into a problem. So now they're saying it's up to the commission instead of wanting to negotiate the drug testing with us. I don't want to hear that if the fight breaks up it was because of us. When they came to us with a $10 million weight penalty, they didn't expect us to say yes. They thought we'd say no. So when we said yes, they had to come up with something else. Now we're off USADA, and they are going to come and say only urine testing if that's what the commission says. It's really frustrating.
"We are making compromises. It's a two-way street. If they back off again, I will shut off my phone and spend the rest of the Christmas and New Year's time with my family, and good luck to all of these fools."
While Arum is making plans for an alternative fight for Pacquiao against former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi -- who has also accused Pacquiao of using PEDs -- if the Mayweather fight falls apart, Schaefer said he hasn't discussed an alternative with Mayweather.
"We haven't discussed anybody else because the fight we want to bring to the fight fans is the one with Pacquiao," he said. "The focus is on getting Mayweather-Pacquiao done while Bob is making calls everywhere on the Malignaggi fight. That shows his focus is not on Mayweather.
"How ridiculous is that that Pacquiao would go and fight the guy who makes accusations that he uses performance-enhancing drugs instead of Mayweather [Jr.], who didn't make those accusations? Something is not right. I don't know how to explain it other than maybe Pacquiao doesn't want the Mayweather fight."
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
There was movement by the Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao camps Saturday in the battle over how to handle drug testing for their tentative March 13 super fight, but the sides remain at a stalemate in an increasingly nasty negotiation that threatens a fight many predict would be the highest-grossing bout in history.
With all of the other points agreed to for the blockbuster HBO PPV welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the drug testing protocol is the final sticking point.
Mayweather -- whose father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., has accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing substances without any proof -- had been demanding the inflexible Olympic-style testing conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. That would mean Mayweather and Pacquiao would be subject to random blood and urine tests all the way up to the fight and immediately following it.
Pacquiao objected, in part, because he and his team want assurances that testing would be cut off at a predetermined time before the fight.
Mayweather changed his stance Saturday, moving off the hard line he had taken on using USADA as the testing agency.
"We are OK to move off USADA," Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather, told ESPN.com. "What we're saying, and what is important to us, is four things -- that the tests be random, that they include blood and urine and the time frame, meaning when do you stop the tests before the fight but know they will still be effective. Three of them we have agreed on -- random, blood and urine. So now it is a matter of the two sides working out the specifics of the cutoff date to assure it will still be effective."
Schaefer said those talks are taking place between Bruce Binkow, a high-level Golden Boy executive, and Todd duBoef, the president of Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter.
"Todd and Bruce are trying to work out the specifics of the cutoff to assure the tests are still effective because we know that 30 days before is not effective," Schaefer said. "At 30 days, we might as well not even do it. We want to figure it out [the cutoff window] and I will give my recommendation to Team Mayweather, and they will be on board. USADA is the most recognized one, but if it's another one, like the Nevada commission, we don't really care. I don't care who performs the tests as long as they are performed. That's our position. If this fight doesn't happen it's not because of Team Mayweather."
Pacquiao agreed to unlimited urine testing and at least three blood tests, one in early January around the time of the kickoff news conference, one 30 days before the fight and another in the dressing room after the fight. When Mayweather was insisting on USADA, Top Rank chief Bob Arum said Pacquiao was willing to revisit the number of tests as long as they used some other agency, one with which they could negotiate the protocol and assure Pacquiao that he would at least not be tested in the middle of the night or in the few days leading up to the bout.
On Friday, Arum said their side was willing to sit down with Golden Boy and the Nevada State Athletic Commission to work out the details of the testing. Nevada only requires a prefight and a postfight urine test, although it could also test blood if the sides asked.
But on Saturday, Arum, speaking from his vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, backtracked, saying even the three tests were out the window -- unless Nevada asked for them, which Arum knows is unlikely.
"Our position is that since the fight would be in Nevada, let [the Mayweather side] make any petition it wants to the commission," Arum said. "We wash our hands of it. If the commission wants to take blood, fine. We don't care. But we're not going to pander to this petty bull---- about how many days before the fight they can test and so forth. Who are they [Golden Boy] to tell Manny what he's supposed to do? How many times did [Golden Boy boss] Oscar De La Hoya ever give blood before a fight? I will not let this kid get pushed around.
"If they go to the commission and they ask for blood tests and the commission says yes, we will do whatever the commission says. The commission says blood testing, we'll do blood testing. We're not going to help it or oppose it. We're not going to give any credence to this nonsense. They want to sign a contract under the rules of the commission, fine. We don't want the fight if it means Manny is going to be pushed around. Let the commission tell us how many days in front they want blood. Let the commission pick a date to stop taking blood. We trust the commission. Blood testing we think is unnecessary, but fine, we'll do it. But let the commission set the parameters. Let Golden Boy approach the commission and say we want to take blood when he's walking into the ring. Whatever the commission wants to do we will support, but we won't take part in this exercise in nonsense, a procedure which is contrary to how boxing has been conducted in Nevada for 40 years. The burden is not on us to tell the commission what to do."
Arum's appeal for the commission to handle matters may be hollow because although it has protocols in place for random urine testing during training camps, it doesn't for blood testing, and to put it in place in time for a March 13 fight is unlikely, according to Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada commission.
"We're very confident that urine tests by themselves cover everything that needs to be covered, but if the camps want to do additional testing through a third party they are welcome to, as long as they also adhere to commission rules," Kizer told ESPN.com. "Urine testing we could run with today. We could test their urine every day from now until March 13. But blood testing is trickier because we don't require it. If the commission wanted to change the rule it would have to be at a public meeting and, at the earliest, that would be early to mid-January. We have done some urine testing during training camps. We have those protocols in place. Blood testing is a different story.
"We'd have to put it on a commission agenda. Golden Boy or Top Rank or both could ask for blood testing and we'd look into it. Whether it would go anywhere, that's up to the commission to decide. As of now, there are no plans for a special commission meeting, nor has one been requested from either side."
The promoters and HBO hoped to have the fight signed and formally announced at a news conference the first week of January. If they can't iron out the particulars on blood testing until a commission meeting, likely around Jan. 13, it would make finalizing the bout unlikely until at least then.
Schaefer believes that Arum's position of leaving it up to the commission is him "moving the goal post."
"The pressure is on Pacquiao," he said. "They keep moving the goal post like they did with the $10 million weight penalty [if either fighter is over the contract maximum 147 pounds], which we agreed to. They didn't think we would accept that. When we did, they had to find something else to make into a problem. So now they're saying it's up to the commission instead of wanting to negotiate the drug testing with us. I don't want to hear that if the fight breaks up it was because of us. When they came to us with a $10 million weight penalty, they didn't expect us to say yes. They thought we'd say no. So when we said yes, they had to come up with something else. Now we're off USADA, and they are going to come and say only urine testing if that's what the commission says. It's really frustrating.
"We are making compromises. It's a two-way street. If they back off again, I will shut off my phone and spend the rest of the Christmas and New Year's time with my family, and good luck to all of these fools."
While Arum is making plans for an alternative fight for Pacquiao against former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi -- who has also accused Pacquiao of using PEDs -- if the Mayweather fight falls apart, Schaefer said he hasn't discussed an alternative with Mayweather.
"We haven't discussed anybody else because the fight we want to bring to the fight fans is the one with Pacquiao," he said. "The focus is on getting Mayweather-Pacquiao done while Bob is making calls everywhere on the Malignaggi fight. That shows his focus is not on Mayweather.
"How ridiculous is that that Pacquiao would go and fight the guy who makes accusations that he uses performance-enhancing drugs instead of Mayweather [Jr.], who didn't make those accusations? Something is not right. I don't know how to explain it other than maybe Pacquiao doesn't want the Mayweather fight."
Dan Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com.
Source: sports.espn.go.com
For Pacquiao It's Not The Drug Test, It's Relinquishing Control -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
The on and off again “super fight” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has turned the boxing world and community upside down more so than it even was just a month ago. It's no secret to anyone who has observed Mayweather and his minions that they've purposely created a controversy to hold up the fight in which there is not a shred of evidence that one exist.
One last time, there's not a morsel of evidence that Pacquiao has ever taken PED's/HGH. On top of that there's no such drug or supplement that can give a fighter more than he has physically; and if you think differently you haven't been around that many ranked or upper-tier professional boxers/fighters. Isn't it something how David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto had no qualm about fighting Pacquiao and then created a false smoke screen regarding steroid usage after losing to him in somewhat convincing fashion?
For those who forget, both Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas tinkered with some sort of supplements at a particular point in their careers. And it just so happens during that precise period they both suffered defeats. In fact it can be said during the period they were believed to taking different banned substances they never looked worse suffering their most conclusive defeats of their careers.
Pacquiao's body or actions haven't shown anything that would suggest he's juicing or beating the system in any way shape or form. He just happens to be a physical phenom like former five-division and all-time great Thomas Hearns. Hearns, like Pacquiao, was a string bean when he turned pro but put on muscle and retained his hand speed and power as he moved up in weight.
The ruse Mayweather is attempting to pull over on the boxing community is all about power and control. It boils down to nothing more than Mayweather, who is the lesser draw at the gate than Pacquiao; trying to dictate the terms to the fighter who has more leverage and needs him less to make a ton of money. Mayweather thinks if he makes enough accusations that Pacquiao is using PED's/HGH that people will begin to think it's true. And sadly some of those who show blind loyalty to Mayweather and act as if it's his birth right to go down as one of the greats - give him cover.
Today the Mayweather faction tries to paint anyone who doesn't worship at the throne of Mayweather as being a hater. That's great and if they think that they can dismiss the bull-crap that Mayweather is doing by simply painting those who know the game of boxing and stating the truth, great. They'll get no where and will continue to fight and make excuses for a fighter who has cried, begged and pleaded for homage more than any supposed great fighter during the modern era of professional boxing.
The bottom line is Manny Pacquiao isn't concerned about passing a drug test regardless of whether it's done by the Nevada State Athletic Commission or the Olympic committee. It's the idea that who is Floyd Mayweather to dictate the terms and conditions of it above and beyond any other championship fight in history? Why should Pacquiao let the fighter who needs the fight more for his career in an historical sense call the shots?
He shouldn't.
Pacquiao knows he can submit to any style drug test without worrying about passing it, but why should he? Simply because Floyd Mayweather Jr. insist on it? Pacquiao has smartly refused to give in and let Mayweather dictate the terms and circumstances surrounding the bout when he has more leverage of the two fighters.
Hopefully, Arum or Pacquiao will soon announce that they're going in a different direction since the Mayweather faction isn't serious about making the fight. And that they'll try and make a fight with the Mosley-Berto winner. If Mosley does beat Berto, every boxing observer alive knows he and Pacquiao would be a better and more exciting fight than Pacquiao-Mayweather.
Not to mention it would be conducted between two great fighters who are truly interested in finding out who the better fighter is more than just playing the system and fans.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
The on and off again “super fight” between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has turned the boxing world and community upside down more so than it even was just a month ago. It's no secret to anyone who has observed Mayweather and his minions that they've purposely created a controversy to hold up the fight in which there is not a shred of evidence that one exist.
One last time, there's not a morsel of evidence that Pacquiao has ever taken PED's/HGH. On top of that there's no such drug or supplement that can give a fighter more than he has physically; and if you think differently you haven't been around that many ranked or upper-tier professional boxers/fighters. Isn't it something how David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto had no qualm about fighting Pacquiao and then created a false smoke screen regarding steroid usage after losing to him in somewhat convincing fashion?
For those who forget, both Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas tinkered with some sort of supplements at a particular point in their careers. And it just so happens during that precise period they both suffered defeats. In fact it can be said during the period they were believed to taking different banned substances they never looked worse suffering their most conclusive defeats of their careers.
Pacquiao's body or actions haven't shown anything that would suggest he's juicing or beating the system in any way shape or form. He just happens to be a physical phenom like former five-division and all-time great Thomas Hearns. Hearns, like Pacquiao, was a string bean when he turned pro but put on muscle and retained his hand speed and power as he moved up in weight.
The ruse Mayweather is attempting to pull over on the boxing community is all about power and control. It boils down to nothing more than Mayweather, who is the lesser draw at the gate than Pacquiao; trying to dictate the terms to the fighter who has more leverage and needs him less to make a ton of money. Mayweather thinks if he makes enough accusations that Pacquiao is using PED's/HGH that people will begin to think it's true. And sadly some of those who show blind loyalty to Mayweather and act as if it's his birth right to go down as one of the greats - give him cover.
Today the Mayweather faction tries to paint anyone who doesn't worship at the throne of Mayweather as being a hater. That's great and if they think that they can dismiss the bull-crap that Mayweather is doing by simply painting those who know the game of boxing and stating the truth, great. They'll get no where and will continue to fight and make excuses for a fighter who has cried, begged and pleaded for homage more than any supposed great fighter during the modern era of professional boxing.
The bottom line is Manny Pacquiao isn't concerned about passing a drug test regardless of whether it's done by the Nevada State Athletic Commission or the Olympic committee. It's the idea that who is Floyd Mayweather to dictate the terms and conditions of it above and beyond any other championship fight in history? Why should Pacquiao let the fighter who needs the fight more for his career in an historical sense call the shots?
He shouldn't.
Pacquiao knows he can submit to any style drug test without worrying about passing it, but why should he? Simply because Floyd Mayweather Jr. insist on it? Pacquiao has smartly refused to give in and let Mayweather dictate the terms and circumstances surrounding the bout when he has more leverage of the two fighters.
Hopefully, Arum or Pacquiao will soon announce that they're going in a different direction since the Mayweather faction isn't serious about making the fight. And that they'll try and make a fight with the Mosley-Berto winner. If Mosley does beat Berto, every boxing observer alive knows he and Pacquiao would be a better and more exciting fight than Pacquiao-Mayweather.
Not to mention it would be conducted between two great fighters who are truly interested in finding out who the better fighter is more than just playing the system and fans.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Oscar de la Hoya: Contradictions or Lies, Pick Your Poison -- Bad Left Hook
Bad Left Hook
I know this was linked in the most recent Mandatory Eight Count post, but since I'm just really getting back into the swing of things, I just saw this, and it's really sticking in my craw.
In Oscar de la Hoya's Ring blog, he recently offered this quote:
If Pacquiao doesn’t want to do this and risk a possible $40 million payday because he’s afraid of needles or believes he’ll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks.
Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, "Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same."
Now obviously, the first obnoxious thing is that promoter Oscar is using a respected and highly-read publication as his personal soapbox, showing blatant favoritism for Mayweather (who "isn't" a Golden Boy fighter, but yes he is) in this situation. This is exactly what people feared when Golden Boy bought the publication. I know that many don't take anything Oscar says very seriously, and rightly so, but those many are still the minority against the random lookie-loos and casual passers-by that are going to hop over to The Ring's site and get this as an influential piece by Famous Boxer Oscar de la Hoya.
(I also realize that it's sort of ironic for me to get upset over someone standing on a soapbox on the internet, but rest assured, I don't confuse this site with The Ring.)
But here's what's seriously just on my nerves beyond belief. I'm going to quote this line again, bold it, and box it:
I’m saying to myself, "Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same."
OH DID THEY?
If you've paid attention for a little while, say a year or so, you just might remember the famous Oscar saying after that fight that Manny Pacquiao doesn't hit hard.
Here's the quote, straight from Oscar, published by Michael Rosenthal of The Ring on February 20, 2009:
"I just didn’t care. I didn’t care if he was hitting me because I couldn’t do anything about it. Luckily he doesn’t hit hard. Obviously, if he would’ve hit hard, he would have knocked me out with no problem."
So which is it, Oscar? Does Manny hit so hard, the power of Mosley and Vargas, and thus you JUST HAVE TO WONDER if he's on performance-enhancing drugs, or does he hit so lightly that you weren't really bothered, just out shape and demoralized because you couldn't keep pace with him?
One of these statements is a pure lie, is my point. An absolute lie. And given that he had nothing to really gain by saying that Pacquiao doesn't hit very hard, I'm guessing that one wasn't it.
No, I'm guessing his sudden comparison of Pacquiao's power to Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas is probably the lie. I can't come up with a particularly good way in which this could benefit Oscar as a promoter, really. He's taking a very clear and heavy-handed (pardon the pun) public stance on this, and he's been taking weird pot-shots at Manny Pacquiao every time Pacquiao's had a fight lined up for the last year.
I've said many times that I find Oscar both off-putting and fascinating, that I'm not a fan of his and that I feel as though many things about him come off as fake put-ons meant to Crest Whitestrip his public image. But this is getting close to an all-time low, really. The man is either contradicting himself or he's a flat-out liar looking either to gain an upper-hand business-wise (which might not add up at all), or just score some sort of bizarre self-satisfaction, which given some of his past statements, seems more likely.
Source: badlefthook.com
I know this was linked in the most recent Mandatory Eight Count post, but since I'm just really getting back into the swing of things, I just saw this, and it's really sticking in my craw.
In Oscar de la Hoya's Ring blog, he recently offered this quote:
If Pacquiao doesn’t want to do this and risk a possible $40 million payday because he’s afraid of needles or believes he’ll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks.
Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, "Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same."
Now obviously, the first obnoxious thing is that promoter Oscar is using a respected and highly-read publication as his personal soapbox, showing blatant favoritism for Mayweather (who "isn't" a Golden Boy fighter, but yes he is) in this situation. This is exactly what people feared when Golden Boy bought the publication. I know that many don't take anything Oscar says very seriously, and rightly so, but those many are still the minority against the random lookie-loos and casual passers-by that are going to hop over to The Ring's site and get this as an influential piece by Famous Boxer Oscar de la Hoya.
(I also realize that it's sort of ironic for me to get upset over someone standing on a soapbox on the internet, but rest assured, I don't confuse this site with The Ring.)
But here's what's seriously just on my nerves beyond belief. I'm going to quote this line again, bold it, and box it:
I’m saying to myself, "Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same."
OH DID THEY?
If you've paid attention for a little while, say a year or so, you just might remember the famous Oscar saying after that fight that Manny Pacquiao doesn't hit hard.
Here's the quote, straight from Oscar, published by Michael Rosenthal of The Ring on February 20, 2009:
"I just didn’t care. I didn’t care if he was hitting me because I couldn’t do anything about it. Luckily he doesn’t hit hard. Obviously, if he would’ve hit hard, he would have knocked me out with no problem."
So which is it, Oscar? Does Manny hit so hard, the power of Mosley and Vargas, and thus you JUST HAVE TO WONDER if he's on performance-enhancing drugs, or does he hit so lightly that you weren't really bothered, just out shape and demoralized because you couldn't keep pace with him?
One of these statements is a pure lie, is my point. An absolute lie. And given that he had nothing to really gain by saying that Pacquiao doesn't hit very hard, I'm guessing that one wasn't it.
No, I'm guessing his sudden comparison of Pacquiao's power to Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas is probably the lie. I can't come up with a particularly good way in which this could benefit Oscar as a promoter, really. He's taking a very clear and heavy-handed (pardon the pun) public stance on this, and he's been taking weird pot-shots at Manny Pacquiao every time Pacquiao's had a fight lined up for the last year.
I've said many times that I find Oscar both off-putting and fascinating, that I'm not a fan of his and that I feel as though many things about him come off as fake put-ons meant to Crest Whitestrip his public image. But this is getting close to an all-time low, really. The man is either contradicting himself or he's a flat-out liar looking either to gain an upper-hand business-wise (which might not add up at all), or just score some sort of bizarre self-satisfaction, which given some of his past statements, seems more likely.
Source: badlefthook.com
Manny camp mulls Foreman title bout -- The Philippine Star
By Abac Cordero, The Philippine Star
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao would rather go or should rather go for Yuri Foreman and his WBA super-welterweight crown in his next fight.
In fact, even before negotiations for the Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. took off a couple of weeks ago, the Filipino icon had already expressed his willingness to take on the boxer who carries the last name of the legendary heavyweight champion.
“Pumayag na siya labanan si Yuri (He has agreed to fight Yuri). But all these were swept aside when the Mayweather fight came up like it was a sure thing,” Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pineda said of a possible fight with the undefeated Foreman.
A former New York Golden Gloves champion, Foreman is unbeaten in 29 fights (with one no-contest) and is also under Top Rank. It could be a great match between him and Pacquiao who could win an eighth world title in eight different weight classes.
That’s something the 5-foot-11 Foreman could offer, and the others, like junior welterweight or welterweight champions Paul Malignaggi, Tim Bradley or Shane Mosley can’t. Pacquiao is the reigning WBO welterweight champion, winning the title from Miguel Cotto.
“We want to fight in March and we don’t really want to wait. (If) Mayweather doesn’t want to fight in March, we might fight for the 154 pound title and move up for that eighth world title. I’m thinking about that still and it’s something that I’m kicking around in my head right now. Yuri Foreman might be the opponent. It is a possibility,” trainer Freddie Roach said recently.
The fight with Mayweather, which fell off as quick as it took off, appears to be out of the picture now, following a dispute in the drug-testing procedure to be observed by both camps. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said it’s Mayweather’s way only out of the fight.
The names of Malignaggi, Bradley, Mosley and Foreman came up as Pacquiao’s possible opponent on March 13 if the reigning pound-for-pound champion, seeking a congressional seat in the May 2010 elections in the Philippines, decides to push through with the date.
According to Chicago-based Pinoy reporter Joseph Lariosa, Malignaggi said in a phone interview that he’d take the blood test “ten times” just for a chance to face Pacquiao and earn something he hasn’t earned before for a single fight. He’s on the same boat with anyone else.
Bradley also wants the fight with Pacquiao whom he described as clean.
“I’m not worried about Manny Pacquiao. He’s not on steroids. Just because he’s destroying guys, you want to say he’s on steroids? Come on. He’s just that good. He’s been tested how many times and he’s never tested positive. Neither has Mayweather,” Bradley said in an article at philboxing.com.
He said he wouldn’t demand any blood test if he gets to fight either Pacquiao or Mayweather.
“This whole thing with Pacman and Mayweather is baloney with the steroid and blood testing thing. The fans want to see this fight. Everyone wants to see the fight. I want to see it. This is the fight that should be made. But this testing stuff is crazy,” he told ESPN.com.
Source: philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao would rather go or should rather go for Yuri Foreman and his WBA super-welterweight crown in his next fight.
In fact, even before negotiations for the Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. took off a couple of weeks ago, the Filipino icon had already expressed his willingness to take on the boxer who carries the last name of the legendary heavyweight champion.
“Pumayag na siya labanan si Yuri (He has agreed to fight Yuri). But all these were swept aside when the Mayweather fight came up like it was a sure thing,” Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pineda said of a possible fight with the undefeated Foreman.
A former New York Golden Gloves champion, Foreman is unbeaten in 29 fights (with one no-contest) and is also under Top Rank. It could be a great match between him and Pacquiao who could win an eighth world title in eight different weight classes.
That’s something the 5-foot-11 Foreman could offer, and the others, like junior welterweight or welterweight champions Paul Malignaggi, Tim Bradley or Shane Mosley can’t. Pacquiao is the reigning WBO welterweight champion, winning the title from Miguel Cotto.
“We want to fight in March and we don’t really want to wait. (If) Mayweather doesn’t want to fight in March, we might fight for the 154 pound title and move up for that eighth world title. I’m thinking about that still and it’s something that I’m kicking around in my head right now. Yuri Foreman might be the opponent. It is a possibility,” trainer Freddie Roach said recently.
The fight with Mayweather, which fell off as quick as it took off, appears to be out of the picture now, following a dispute in the drug-testing procedure to be observed by both camps. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said it’s Mayweather’s way only out of the fight.
The names of Malignaggi, Bradley, Mosley and Foreman came up as Pacquiao’s possible opponent on March 13 if the reigning pound-for-pound champion, seeking a congressional seat in the May 2010 elections in the Philippines, decides to push through with the date.
According to Chicago-based Pinoy reporter Joseph Lariosa, Malignaggi said in a phone interview that he’d take the blood test “ten times” just for a chance to face Pacquiao and earn something he hasn’t earned before for a single fight. He’s on the same boat with anyone else.
Bradley also wants the fight with Pacquiao whom he described as clean.
“I’m not worried about Manny Pacquiao. He’s not on steroids. Just because he’s destroying guys, you want to say he’s on steroids? Come on. He’s just that good. He’s been tested how many times and he’s never tested positive. Neither has Mayweather,” Bradley said in an article at philboxing.com.
He said he wouldn’t demand any blood test if he gets to fight either Pacquiao or Mayweather.
“This whole thing with Pacman and Mayweather is baloney with the steroid and blood testing thing. The fans want to see this fight. Everyone wants to see the fight. I want to see it. This is the fight that should be made. But this testing stuff is crazy,” he told ESPN.com.
Source: philstar.com
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