By David Mayo, The Grand Rapids Press
Floyd Mayweather’s adviser today said that a familiar demand -- random blood and urine drug testing -- will be implemented in any future fight involving the boxing star.
Leonard Ellerbe said the negotiating point that stalled Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao talks also will become a central part of discussions to finalize a Mayweather-Shane Mosley bout this spring.
“Whoever fights Floyd Mayweather in the future, that person will be subjected to random blood and urine testing,” Ellerbe said. “I don’t care who he fights, that will be the case.
“Floyd is out front, championing this effort to change the way the sport is handled in the future.”
Mayweather-Pacquiao talks fell apart in December and January over that very issue. Mayweather demanded random blood testing -- which is not required in Nevada, where the fight would have taken place -- right up until the fight. Pacquiao proposed three tests, one in early January, a second no later than 30 days before the fight and a third after the fight.
Eventually, Mayweather yielded to a 14-day window before the fight when there would be no blood testing, while Pacquiao moved to a 24-day window. That is where the proposal wilted.
In the midst of their disagreements, Pacquiao sued Mayweather and several of the Grand Rapids native’s associates in a Nevada federal court, alleging they defamed him with claims that he used steroids.
While there is no proof Pacquiao ever used a performance-enhancing substance, that is not the case with Mosley, who used EPO and the steroids “the cream” and “the clear,” which he purchased from BALCO, the California laboratory that was the subject of a highly publicized federal investigation.
Mosley admitted his usage in leaked grand jury testimony related to the BALCO investigation in 2007.
Ellerbe refused to discuss how close Mayweather-Mosley is to completion, or even if talks have occurred. But he did acknowledge that any plan for Mayweather to fight March 13, on the same day Pacquiao fights Joshua Clottey, has been abandoned.
Ellerbe said throughout December that Mosley was Mayweather’s backup plan if the Pacquiao fight failed to materialize, and reiterated that Monday.
“If Shane Mosley is available, Floyd would like nothing more than to beat his ass,” Ellerbe said. “Floyd has been trying to make that fight for years.”
Mosley indeed became available Monday, when Andre Berto, his scheduled opponent for a fight next week, withdrew from that bout.
Berto pulled out of the scheduled Jan. 30 fight, citing a lack of focus in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. Berto was raised in Florida but fought for Haiti in the 2004 Olympics and has several family members in the Caribbean island nation, including a sister who was displaced by the disaster.
“Everybody is trying to make a fight,” between Mayweather and Mosley, Ellerbe said, “but Floyd just feels awful about what has happened in Haiti, and our hearts and prayers go out to Andre Berto and his family.”
E-mail David Mayo at dmayo@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/David_Mayo
Source: mlive.com
How about drug test for all boxing scribes? :)
ReplyDeleteHere, it tells the mentality of Floyd Mayweather Jr's camp. They think they are above all boxing commissions and intend to lay down their own rules.
Wait till old Shane whup Mayweather's behind. After that Mayweather would be begging for fights that he wouldn't even consider asking for medical check-up to land a fight.