By Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News
Boxing has always had some difficulty getting the best to fight the best. Sometimes rival promoters get in the way. More recently, one fighter refusing special drug testing requested by another prevented a fight from happening.
Freddie Roach came up with something new this week. The Hall of Fame trainer was asked what he thought about the possibility of Amir Khan taking on pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in the near future.
Keep in mind that Pacquiao said before his most recent fight against "Sugar" Shane Mosley in May that he wanted three more fights before retiring to concentrate on his political career in his native Philippines.
Pacquiao is fighting Juan Manuel Marquez a third time on Nov. 12.
The boxing world is hopeful that Pacquiao would then take on Floyd Mayweather Jr., but since previous negotiations have failed because of differences over drug testing, there is no guarantee that would happen.
The only other fight out there that would seem to carry enormous appeal for Pacquiao would be against fast-rising star Khan, who is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Zab Judah this past Saturday in a junior welterweight title unification bout in Las Vegas.
With Pacquiao's worldwide appeal and Khan having the strong support of the United Kingdom, this would be a huge promotion and more than likely a terrific fight that Khan would actually have a chance of winning.
Alas, Roach says it will never take place. Why? "They are not going to fight each other," Roach said Tuesday morning via telephone. "I'm not going to let that happen because I train both fighters. They are both my fighters and they are like sons to me. How can I let both my sons fight?"
Roach said he wouldn't even know which corner to work.
"It is too much drama to let that happen," he said. "They both have too much respect for me to let that happen. They are like my kids. I've been with Manny for 10 years and I've been with Amir for three years. We have a great relationship. Why would I ruin that relationship?"
Khan is employed by Golden Boy Promotions. Richard Schaefer, its CEO, spoke diplomatically when asked about Roach's edict that would rob fans of a potential super fight.
"I can appreciate how close Freddie is to both and how both of the fighters are close to Freddie," Schaefer said Tuesday afternoon. "It would put Amir in a terrible situation, it would put Pacquiao in a terrible situation.
"So why push that if there are so many other attractive options out there for either one of those fighters?"
Schaefer said that Khan will fight again in December, and that there are plenty of opponents for him. He could fight comebacking Erik Morales, or perhaps the winner of the Aug. 27 fight between Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero and Marcos Maidana.
Khan now holds two belts - WBA and IBF - and he could next fight either Lamont Peterson or Victor Cayo, who Friday night squared off in an IBF title elimination fight in Las Vegas.
Timothy Bradley, who held the other two major belts at junior welterweight until he was stripped of one of them Thursday, is another possibility. Bradley has already turned down Khan once, and he has promotional problems and is currently being sued by co-promoters Gary Shaw and Ken Thompson, who claim they have one more fight with him.
But Khan has been talking a lot of trash about Bradley, saying he's scared to fight him. Bradley has been listening, and he lashed out at Khan during a telephone interview Wednesday.
"Every fighter who is trying to get a fight with me pops off at the mouth," Bradley said. "And then when we get in the ring they get smashed in the face. I'm not afraid of him. If you are a true Bradley fan, you know I'm not afraid of any man.
"He just needs to go enjoy his victory and leave my name out his mouth."
Bradley said as soon as his litigation is over, he will be happy to do something about Khan's mouth.
Khan would vacate the junior welterweight division after the December fight and move up to welterweight early next year, Schaefer said. One possibility there sounds good.
"I think Mayweather and Amir Khan is as interesting (as Khan-Pacquiao), as exciting, or Amir against the winner of Mayweather-(Victor) Ortiz because Ortiz might pull it off (in their fight Sept. 17)," Schaefer said.
Indeed, Khan against either Mayweather, Ortiz or Bradley would be very nice. But Khan against Pacquiao would be way better because there would be more money involved, it would have incredibly wide appeal and it would have the chance to be one of the most exciting fights in years.
We respect Roach a great deal. But him being the trainer for both Pacquiao and Khan is not even close to being a good enough reason for them not to fight. Roach needs to figure this out, for the fans and for the good of the sport.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, is vacationing in Europe and could not be reached for comment. But even the powerful Arum might not be able to do anything about this, as it is well-known that Pacquiao and Roach approve Pacquiao's opponents.
Bummer.
Source: dailynews.com
Saturday 30 July 2011
Is Mayweather Jr. Correct in Fear of Steroid Use? -- 8CountNews
By Keith Terceira, 8CountNews.com
The reason that Floyd Mayweather Jr.(41-0, 25ko) is calling for random testing as a condition for his fight with Pound for Pound Champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38ko) is honestly, only known to “Money” himself.
If we take it as an honest assessment of the concern at its face value then we need to examine the use and effects of steroids.
What the honest and truthful effects of steroid use are as applied to boxing versus the other known usages in sports like baseball, football, and weightlifting are not as highly documented?
As applied to baseball we all know the effects that it caused on baseball records and how it improved performance in all areas of the sport from batting, pitching, and on fielding ability. We also are aware through testimony in the Barry bonds trial that the side effects were notable if we take the testimony as truthful. Similar problems were testified to by dozens of athletes of varying sports, including Lyle Alzado who first came out and told of the dangers of HGH.
Bonds was accused of having symptoms of “Roid Rage” by his former mistress which included side effects that were apparent on his body like skin blemishes, enlarged skull, as well various behavior issues. His lack of ability to have a steady professional working relationship with the media, often having outbursts at reporters and team mates should have been a warning sign.
Manny Pacquiao’s behavior in his high profile careers outside of the ring, working in the Philippine government, his charitable works around his province, his music, and his endorsement deals, contradicts the known side effects of someone who is a user of PED’s.
Anabolic steroid users can expect after even moderate prolonged use to become aggressive, suspicious, quarrelsome, and impulsive. Even the initial use can produce irritability, anger, and agitation.
The discontinued use of all corticosteroids, have the tendency to produce withdrawal symptoms, depression is one of the largest, and users miss the elation and positive psychological effects induced by the drugs.
Stoppage produces listlessness, apathy, loss of appetite, libido and self-esteem, feelings of anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, and mood swings. Withdrawal symptoms alone would be counterproductive to a boxer having to compete in the ring shortly after using steroids. These side effects would not be conducive to a successful career over long periods of time. Unless the boxer shut himself from the world during use there would be displays of these side-effects.
Short term use of HGH (human growth hormone) even in an AAS cycle produces water retention, minor joint pain and swelling in the joints. Even the short term large doses of HGH produce irritability and aggression.
If we look for issues of acting out or bad behavior of both Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. we do not see the antisocial behavior associated with steroidal use coming from Manny. On the contrary we see just the opposite, a likeable, steady, friendly, and charitable young man whose public persona is undamaged by bad behavior and inconsistency.
Steroid use is linked to extreme mood swings, impulsiveness, depression, paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions and impaired judgment.
Erratic and dangerous behavior such as domestic violence are well documented and have long been associated with steroidal use in athletes, yet we do not see reports of this type of action associated with Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao.
The only thing that people point to that lead to suspicions of steroid use is the ability of Manny Pacquiao to adjust his weight over the fifteen year period of his career.
As a young 17 year old fighter weight was at 108 but we need as Americans to look at the socio-economic situation that Manny Pacquiao came from, the nutrition available to him at the time, and the training he was afforded early in his career.
To put on 40 pounds over the period of 15 years of better nutrition, weight- training and conditioning, and domestic environmental changes is not unknown or unlikely.
It happens on a daily basis in America when people immigrate to this country after suffering in third world nations, it happens across America when inner city and rural impoverished children get the benefits of consistent well rounded meals, medical care, and the removal of stress from their lives. It happens on the back roads and on the main streets of the world when money, food, and proper care are available.
It apparently happens in Boxing when success is achieved!
Source: 8countnews.com
The reason that Floyd Mayweather Jr.(41-0, 25ko) is calling for random testing as a condition for his fight with Pound for Pound Champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38ko) is honestly, only known to “Money” himself.
If we take it as an honest assessment of the concern at its face value then we need to examine the use and effects of steroids.
What the honest and truthful effects of steroid use are as applied to boxing versus the other known usages in sports like baseball, football, and weightlifting are not as highly documented?
As applied to baseball we all know the effects that it caused on baseball records and how it improved performance in all areas of the sport from batting, pitching, and on fielding ability. We also are aware through testimony in the Barry bonds trial that the side effects were notable if we take the testimony as truthful. Similar problems were testified to by dozens of athletes of varying sports, including Lyle Alzado who first came out and told of the dangers of HGH. Bonds was accused of having symptoms of “Roid Rage” by his former mistress which included side effects that were apparent on his body like skin blemishes, enlarged skull, as well various behavior issues. His lack of ability to have a steady professional working relationship with the media, often having outbursts at reporters and team mates should have been a warning sign.
Manny Pacquiao’s behavior in his high profile careers outside of the ring, working in the Philippine government, his charitable works around his province, his music, and his endorsement deals, contradicts the known side effects of someone who is a user of PED’s.
Anabolic steroid users can expect after even moderate prolonged use to become aggressive, suspicious, quarrelsome, and impulsive. Even the initial use can produce irritability, anger, and agitation.
The discontinued use of all corticosteroids, have the tendency to produce withdrawal symptoms, depression is one of the largest, and users miss the elation and positive psychological effects induced by the drugs.
Stoppage produces listlessness, apathy, loss of appetite, libido and self-esteem, feelings of anxiety, difficulty in concentrating, and mood swings. Withdrawal symptoms alone would be counterproductive to a boxer having to compete in the ring shortly after using steroids. These side effects would not be conducive to a successful career over long periods of time. Unless the boxer shut himself from the world during use there would be displays of these side-effects.
Short term use of HGH (human growth hormone) even in an AAS cycle produces water retention, minor joint pain and swelling in the joints. Even the short term large doses of HGH produce irritability and aggression.
If we look for issues of acting out or bad behavior of both Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. we do not see the antisocial behavior associated with steroidal use coming from Manny. On the contrary we see just the opposite, a likeable, steady, friendly, and charitable young man whose public persona is undamaged by bad behavior and inconsistency.
Steroid use is linked to extreme mood swings, impulsiveness, depression, paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions and impaired judgment.
Erratic and dangerous behavior such as domestic violence are well documented and have long been associated with steroidal use in athletes, yet we do not see reports of this type of action associated with Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao.
The only thing that people point to that lead to suspicions of steroid use is the ability of Manny Pacquiao to adjust his weight over the fifteen year period of his career.
As a young 17 year old fighter weight was at 108 but we need as Americans to look at the socio-economic situation that Manny Pacquiao came from, the nutrition available to him at the time, and the training he was afforded early in his career.
To put on 40 pounds over the period of 15 years of better nutrition, weight- training and conditioning, and domestic environmental changes is not unknown or unlikely.
It happens on a daily basis in America when people immigrate to this country after suffering in third world nations, it happens across America when inner city and rural impoverished children get the benefits of consistent well rounded meals, medical care, and the removal of stress from their lives. It happens on the back roads and on the main streets of the world when money, food, and proper care are available.
It apparently happens in Boxing when success is achieved!
Source: 8countnews.com
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