GRAPEVINE, TEXAS—I know many of you would revel in it if I compared Floyd Mayweather Jr. to Charles Manson or your local axe murderer.
But, hey fair is fair, and there are times when both Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio's reputations have been sullied, when their respective names have been besmirched, particularly on the always open gossip and innuendo stream of the internet.
Nearly every day, I read or hear something about Mayweather taking pain alleviating injections before his bouts, which are permissible under certain, limited and medically documented conditions by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
By now, most fight fans have read umpteen times that Mayweather supposedly deadens his throbbing mitts with shots of Xylocaine.
Only today, Pacman promoter Bob Arum was barking that Mayweather will never fight away from Nevada because he uses Lidocaine, legal used upon informed consent of the boxing board in the state.
(The generic name of this drug is Lidocaine, the brand name is Xylocaine.)
Now you know Uncle Bob never plays fast and loose with the facts but...Arum's allegation about the prevent pain injections which some might label “performance enhancing” shots precipitated a phone call from me to NSAC Executive Director and longtime attorney Keith Kizer.
Guess what, Mayweather haters the world over?
Kizer, who succeded Marc Ratner in the position back in 2006, says that, as far as the commission is concerned, Mayweather's hands are literally clean on this matter.
Mayweather outpointed Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir in Las Vegas in 2006, split decisioned Oscar de la Hoya and earned a TKO 10 over Ricky Hatton in the gambling mecca which is also the boxer's hometown in 2007. Mayweather was retired throughout 2008 and returned to the ring in Vegas last September to outpoint Juan Manuel Marquez.
As Kizer explained it, fighters must, under penalty of perjury, sign a statement at the fight weigh ins discloosing what, if any, pain or other serious medication they have used or plan to use anytime between the weigh in and fight time.
“Mayweather has never disclosed any such information so, as far as we are concerned, this is not any kind of issue. I know the ardent Pacquiao fans talk a lot about but to us it's the same as the speculation about Pacquiao using any sort of drugs which comes from the Mayweather fans out there. Both of them have always tested clean in Nevada.”
Kizer said he could name other boxers who have asked permission to use aspirin, Lidocaine, cortisone and other “pain therapeutic” medications.
“To us, it's just a safety issue and we have to know about it but none of those things are barred either by us or by the world and United States anti doping agencies,” Kizer said. “We need to know the reason they're using something, what exactly they're using or want to use and we need to know if they plan to take two pills or 20. If the fighter has something from a doctor concerning this, then our doctors check I out and give us guidance.”
Floyd Mayweather, drug crusader, cleaner than the Board Of Health?
When it comes to taking pain relieving injections in his hands, which have carried him to a sparkling 40-0 pro record, it would appear so.
So can we get off the constant harping on this topic?
I didn't think so.
(mlcmarley@aol.com)
Source: examiner.com
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