YOU BLOODY MORONS: THIS IS BIGGER THAN MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO

By G. Leon

Is Manny Pacquiao's decision not to partake in the rigorous drug test that Team Mayweather is requesting suspicious? Absolutely. There isn't a fighter who would risk $30M+ for bloodwork, but there is much more to this than meets than eye. Floyd Mayweather Jr is not bigger than boxing. His ego might be, but he is not. Like Pacquiao, Mayweather rapidly achieved success in multiple weight classes (140-154). Had Mayweather's lone opponent at 154, Oscar De La Hoya, demanded that Mayweather take additional drug tests not MANDATED by the commission, following his expeditious leap from lightweight to junior middleweight title challenger, is this something Floyd would have welcomed with open arms? (Of course, this might be an unfair comparison since De La Hoya has promoted every Mayweather fight since then.) To me Mayweather's demands imply that he feels every Manny Pacquiao fight that takes place in his hometown, Las Vegas, Nevada, the boxing capitol of the world, isn't happening on the level.

Have you ever seen an unsigned fight appear on SportsCenter more than than Mayweather-Pacquiao? Having this fight come to fruition without any implications of corruption would help take out sport to new heights.

And then what happens? Information is leaked about Pacquiao's unwillingness to take additional testing that is not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Mayweather's official statement was a joke. Anybody who has ever heard him talk knows he didn't write it. I mean "Frankly." PLEASE. Maybe Mayweather knows someone back in Grand Rapids named Frank Lee, but frankly Pacquiao shouldn't have to go above and beyond the NSAC requirements because Mayweather says so. The fact that he's already agreed to take additional tests twice is more than any fighter on the top level would have and should have conceded to. Can you really picture a Klitschko allowing David Haye to make such a demand for a fight?

Floyd Mayweather's decision to retire enabled Pacquiao, via the excitement he brings to the ring to become the pound for pound upgrade in his absence, something that can't sit well with Mayweather, or his ego.

Team Mayweather should leave well enough alone, especially considering that Pacquiao would have no problem waiting until the summer or September for this fight to happen since he's looking foward to running for congress in the Philippines, a move that would likely cause Mayweather to once again seek advance money from Al Haymon and Oscar De La Hoya.

Regardless of how this plays out, now Mayweather and Pacquiao will be asked countless questions of alleged malfeasance taking place in what could become the highest grossing fight ever, and no matter how you slice it, that's not good for our sport.

These are the best two fighters in the world. One is a master boxer and the other one is a beast the likes of which I've never seen. That needs to be the story, not additional drug testing which isn't required by one of the most respected commissions in boxing.

If Mayweather's attitude towards what this fight means to boxing doesn't chage soon, I might regret his ever going broke forcing him to come back. By the time everyone involved was paid back, Mayweather wasn't Scrooge McDuckin it after the Marquez fight. And of course the fact that Mayweather and his braintrust also know that there are likely no more $30M, $20M or $10M fights out there for him if he loses, has absolutely nothing to do with their current concerns.

Source: boxingtalk.com

Will Bad Blood Scuttle the Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight?

By Gary Andrew Poole Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009

The talk of the fight world has been the March welterweight title clash between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Superlatives have been thrown around, including the likelihood of it being the most lucrative boxing match ever. But it may now well be the greatest fight that never was.

Pacquiao, the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, has a reputation for leaving his opponents in a bloody pulp, but his refusal to provide a blood sample before the bout — as demanded by the Mayweather camp — has led to an abrupt end to planning for the mega-matchup. The Filipino boxer, who has become an international sports icon, doesn't want his blood drawn within 30 days of the contest. Mayweather's team says the test is standard for Olympic athletes. However, Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach believe any blood test close to the opening bell will weaken him. "We will abide by the [boxing] commission rules on a blood test after the fight and urine tests anytime," says Roach. He adds that Mayweather, who used to be the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, knows Pacquiao is very superstitious and doesn't like having his blood drawn close to fight night. A statement from Pacquiao's promoters specified that the Filipino fighter has already agreed to take blood tests as prescribed, including one in January when the fight was to have been officially announced; and one no later than Feb. 13, which is 30 days before the match. The additional blood test request, Roach claims, is as an excuse to scuttle the fight. "Mayweather doesn't dictate the rules, boxing commissions do; this is not something required in boxing," says Roach. "We're gonna knock this bum out, he knows it, and he is scared." (See pictures of the rise of Manny Pacquiao.)

The American boxer professed disappointment in a statement. "I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said Mayweather. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same. It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."

But Mayweather is known to relish in getting under his opponent's skin. And, apart from the blowup on the part of Pacquiao's promoters, what Mayweather has done is inject an accusatory undertone of doping that is bound to irritate the Pacquiao camp, because it potentially tarnishes the seven-time champion's dramatic victories. "Mayweather is using this to harass Manny," says Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter. "This fight is down the drain. It makes no sense at all. My kid is clean as a whistle." (See the top 10 sports moments of 2009.)

Pacquiao has been called a once-in-a-lifetime fighter, and he has stolen much of the limelight from Mayweather. The Mayweather camp has been incredulous about Pacquiao's record. Pacquiao started his career at 106 lbs and has won seven championship belts in seven weight classes; he now fights at 144 lbs, almost a 40-lb swing. He is known for his ring artistry, in which he slips and slides in the ring like a ghost, strikes his opponent at so many angles and lands punches with concussive force.(See the meaning and mythos of Manny Pacquiao.)

But Mayweather is one of the smartest boxers around. "He is brilliant at draining the drama from a fight, but he also wins," says Larry Merchant, the HBO boxing analyst. By making a request that he expected Pacquiao to turn down, he may have proven that he is just as good a tactician outside the ring as in it. Or as Pacquiao enthusiasts may add, Mayweather is good at getting out of the ring as well.

If Pacquiao and Mayweather never meet in the fight, it will be a major body blow to boxing, a sport that seemed to gain mainstream momentum this year, mostly because of charismatic Pacquiao's rags-to-riches story. His November fight in Las Vegas against Miguel Cotto brought worldwide, and more importantly American, attention back to the fight game. After Pacquiao defeated Cotto there was immediate talk of a bout with Mayweather. The crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas chanted, "We want Floyd! We want Floyd!" (See the rise of mixed martial arts: the new rules of fight club.)

It is difficult to imagine the two fighters, and particularly their promoters, walking away from a fight that could be the biggest payday of their careers, which Arum, the promoter, estimates could bring each fighter $40 million. The fight can be salvaged, Arum says, if a drug-testing compromise can be made between both camps. Arum says that in addition to boxing commission drug testing, Pacquiao is willing to have his urine examined by drug testing agencies that evaluate NBA, MLB and NFL players.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1949885,00.html#ixzz0ad1GmORAThe talk of the fight world has been the March welterweight title clash between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Superlatives have been thrown around, including the likelihood of it being the most lucrative boxing match ever. But it may now well be the greatest fight that never was.

Pacquiao, the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, has a reputation for leaving his opponents in a bloody pulp, but his refusal to provide a blood sample before the bout — as demanded by the Mayweather camp — has led to an abrupt end to planning for the mega-matchup. The Filipino boxer, who has become an international sports icon, doesn't want his blood drawn within 30 days of the contest. Mayweather's team says the test is standard for Olympic athletes. However, Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach believe any blood test close to the opening bell will weaken him. "We will abide by the [boxing] commission rules on a blood test after the fight and urine tests anytime," says Roach. He adds that Mayweather, who used to be the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, knows Pacquiao is very superstitious and doesn't like having his blood drawn close to fight night. A statement from Pacquiao's promoters specified that the Filipino fighter has already agreed to take blood tests as prescribed, including one in January when the fight was to have been officially announced; and one no later than Feb. 13, which is 30 days before the match. The additional blood test request, Roach claims, is as an excuse to scuttle the fight. "Mayweather doesn't dictate the rules, boxing commissions do; this is not something required in boxing," says Roach. "We're gonna knock this bum out, he knows it, and he is scared." (See pictures of the rise of Manny Pacquiao.)

The American boxer professed disappointment in a statement. "I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said Mayweather. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same. It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."

But Mayweather is known to relish in getting under his opponent's skin. And, apart from the blowup on the part of Pacquiao's promoters, what Mayweather has done is inject an accusatory undertone of doping that is bound to irritate the Pacquiao camp, because it potentially tarnishes the seven-time champion's dramatic victories. "Mayweather is using this to harass Manny," says Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter. "This fight is down the drain. It makes no sense at all. My kid is clean as a whistle." (See the top 10 sports moments of 2009.)

Pacquiao has been called a once-in-a-lifetime fighter, and he has stolen much of the limelight from Mayweather. The Mayweather camp has been incredulous about Pacquiao's record. Pacquiao started his career at 106 lbs and has won seven championship belts in seven weight classes; he now fights at 144 lbs, almost a 40-lb swing. He is known for his ring artistry, in which he slips and slides in the ring like a ghost, strikes his opponent at so many angles and lands punches with concussive force.(See the meaning and mythos of Manny Pacquiao.)

But Mayweather is one of the smartest boxers around. "He is brilliant at draining the drama from a fight, but he also wins," says Larry Merchant, the HBO boxing analyst. By making a request that he expected Pacquiao to turn down, he may have proven that he is just as good a tactician outside the ring as in it. Or as Pacquiao enthusiasts may add, Mayweather is good at getting out of the ring as well.

If Pacquiao and Mayweather never meet in the fight, it will be a major body blow to boxing, a sport that seemed to gain mainstream momentum this year, mostly because of charismatic Pacquiao's rags-to-riches story. His November fight in Las Vegas against Miguel Cotto brought worldwide, and more importantly American, attention back to the fight game. After Pacquiao defeated Cotto there was immediate talk of a bout with Mayweather. The crowd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas chanted, "We want Floyd! We want Floyd!" (See the rise of mixed martial arts: the new rules of fight club.)

It is difficult to imagine the two fighters, and particularly their promoters, walking away from a fight that could be the biggest payday of their careers, which Arum, the promoter, estimates could bring each fighter $40 million. The fight can be salvaged, Arum says, if a drug-testing compromise can be made between both camps. Arum says that in addition to boxing commission drug testing, Pacquiao is willing to have his urine examined by drug testing agencies that evaluate NBA, MLB and NFL players.

Source: time.com

BOB ARUM: MAYWEATHER JUST DOESN'T WANT TO FIGHT PACQUIAO

By G. Leon

GL: Why is Manny Pacquiao opposed to the Olympic style drug testing? "Don't give me this nonsese about the Olympic style drug testing. The Nevada Commission has drug testing prodcedures, and Mayweather, in order to find a way out of this fight, started this nonsense about having other tests taken. He is not the commissioner, the commission is the Nevada commission and they have jurisdiction over the fight. I pulled out of these negotiations three weeks ago becuase I wasn't going to put up with it, but Todd said that he would find a solution. First they agreed that Manny would do urine analysis until he couldn't piss anymore. Whenever they wanted he would piss, they agreed to take his blood before the press conference and after the fight. Then they appeased the little rascal even more by saying they would take it 30 days before. But nothing is good for Mayweather because he doesn't want the fight.

He knows that Manny has a phobia of putting needles in and extracting blood when it got close to the fight. He Knew that Pacquiao would't do it and he kept on insisting on it, but Pacquiao just won't do it. If you check with any boxing drug testing specialist.

"Len Satterfield quoted one of the biggest experts in the field, who has 800 football players, who said that sophisticated urine analysis is better than blood testing to detect steroids or anything else. This is just a nonsense issue raised by Mayweather in order to get into the fight."

GL: The whole superstition that Pacquiao has about..

Bob Arum: (cutting in) "It's not a superstition."

GL: That's what ESPN is saying.

BA: "I don't care what they call it. He feels that taking blood from him immediately beofre the fight or a few weeks before the fight. This is what he believes and this is what Freddie believe and we're not going to do it. End of story, case closed and we're going to be moving on to another opponent."

GL: My two part question is this, first off how soon before a fight would Pacquiao give his bloodwork for the HIV test and whatever medicals need to be conducted, and seconldy, what's the problem if the test is conducted after the fight?

BA: "We would agree to that, there isn't any. You're absolutely correct. HE would agree to the test immediately after the fight and he would give blood to the commission in the beginning of the year at the press conference, which had been scheduled for January 6. Even though we believe blood testing determines nothing, we would agree to do it after the fight, of course."

GL: And how soon before the fight would he normally get the bloodwork done for his medicals?

BA: "It depends on when he applied for the license. So in this case he would apply in January and do it in January."

GL: So none of this has anything to do with Manny's desire to run for congress.

BA: "Absolutely not. It won't interfere with the promotion, that was the point of doing it in March, but the point is, Floyd Mayweather is not the commission of boxing. Floyd Mayweather is under the jurisdiction, if we fight in Nevada, which I'm sure we would. To appease him we agreed to urine analysis and the blood test before the fight and after."

GL: Is now until March 13 enough time to promote what could be the biggest fight in boxing history?

BA: "I think it's a short window and I agree with you Greg. The biggest fight in boxing history was the first Ali-Frazier fight and that wasn't signed until the end of December and it happened on March 8. It's much more difficult to promote fights and get info out in those days, so the answer is it can be done, but moments are ticking off and the more this goes on, it's appearing less and less likely."

GL: You said that you're sure the fight would take place in Vegas. Does that mean they're offering more than the $25M Jerry Jones is offering to make the fight?

BA: "I don't want to get into it, but I think before this issue came to a head, I think both sides had agreed to do the fight at the MGM Grand."

GL: Can you give us some thoughts on Kelly's peformance?

BA: "I think everybody loved the show. Kelly needed a test like Espino because he had so much rust. Given the rust he had and the fact that Espino came out like a real warrior, I think he did really well."

GL: I spoke with Jack Loew and he made it clear that Pavlik will stay at middleweight and he wants to fight Paul Williams. Is that a realistic option?

BA: "FOr me it is. We had a contract on December 5, and it didn't happen because of Kelly's hand. We're willing to do it on HBO on the earliest possible opportunity, all they have to do is initial the old contract and it's done."

GL: Since Kelly's hand is healed, other than a serious fluke, you have no doubt the fight would come off?

BA: "Let me assure you Greg that Kelly was seriously injured. It sounds ridiculous that a finger could do this, but it was a staph infection and he nearly died. If you want to inspect the records from the Cleveland clinic, which is one of the foremost hospitals in the country we'll arrange for it.

GL: I think the issue people have has more to do with the fight being scheduled for December 5, it didn't happen on December 5. We watch Williams fight somebody else on December 5 and then Pavlik is back in the ring two weeks later.

BA: "That's right, because Kelly even on December 19 only had a month to prepare. He couldn't fight Williams on a two week training period, that would have been crazy."

GL: Unless a resolution is reached and agree to let Pacquiao take the tests when he's willing to take the tests, will there be a fight on March 13?

BA: "No. No. No. No. I think that's not in the cards."

GL: Closing thoughts?

BA: "Mayweather never had any intetion to fight Pacquiao and this demonstrates it.

Source: boxingtalk.com

Mayweather-Pacquiao appears dead over drug testing issue, and there's blame to go around

By David Mayo | The Grand Rapids Press
December 23, 2009, 12:05PM

Mayo-column-mug.jpgYou might think someone will blink, and that either Floyd Mayweather's camp will relent on this blood feud, or Manny Pacquiao's camp will relent and allow a few pinpricks so everyone can bleed money.

Of course, that assumes common sense prevails, which isn't always the case in boxing.

Money usually does prevail, however, and if Mayweather-Pacquiao actually does disintegrate over a disagreement in how to administer random drug tests, it would be a bigger upset than the night Buster Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson.

Happy Holidays, sports fans. The prettiest package under your tree just got smashed to smithereens.

And the discussion of who did the smashing is well under way.

At issue is that the Mayweather wanted to ensure that Pacquiao doesn't use performance-enhancing drugs via Olympic-style, random blood testing, administered by either the U.S. Anti-Doping Association, or an independent laboratory using the same technology.

Pacquiao agreed to three blood tests, according to his promoter, Bob Arum -- one at the beginning of training camp in January; another no later than Feb. 13, or 30 days before the fight; and a final test after the fight -- and random urine sampling in between.

When neither side would budge, the accusations flew. Arum and Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, claim Mayweather is looking for a way out of the fight. Mayweather, in a statement, said he merely wants to ensure a level playing field, while his adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, said he can't believe Pacquiao would let the fight fall apart over blood testing, and his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., said this validates his performance-enhancing charges against Pacquiao.

At the core of this fallout were two egregious demands, one by each side, that were the final sticking points in a fight which had an agreed-upon date (March 13), site (MGM Grand in Las Vegas), weight limit (147 pounds) and financial split (50-50):

• One, Pacquiao demanded a usurious $10 million payment to the offended fighter if either man came in even a fraction heavier than 147 pounds. That demand was based on Mayweather paying $600,000 to Juan Manuel Marquez after weighing 146 pounds for a September fight.

Of course, that ignores that the real weight limit for Mayweather-Marquez was, in fact, 147, but with a contractual stipulation for a $300,000 payment for each pound heavier than 144. Mayweather abided by the weight restrictions in a screwball contract, just as he has for all his professional fights. Faced with Pacquiao's enormous penalty requirement, Mayweather agreed.

Two, Mayweather demanded both fighters submit to USADA-style random blood testing, obviously based on the performance-enhancement charges first raised by his father.

Pacquiao has passed urine screens -- including for steroids -- in all previous post-fight testing in Nevada. Keith Kizer, the state commission’s executive director, said that body would continue to enforce its own testing, but that additional testing could be negotiated by the parties.

Faced with Mayweather's over-the-top drug-testing demand, Pacquiao refused and, as of now, the fight will not happen.

The concern in the Mayweather camp is that if Pacquiao only submits to blood testing three times, he would have time to engorge performance-enhancers which can be masked from urine detection -- primarily HGH and the synthetic blood-boosting hormone EPO -- but easily detected by blood sampling.

The concern on Pacquiao's side is that Mayweather's demand is nothing but a way to "harass" its fighter, Arum said. Roach claimed Pacquiao would feel "weakened" by frequent blood testing.

Both concerns can be dismissed as absolutely ludicrous: Pacquiao supporters say Mayweather is trying to weasel out of the fight or create a built-in excuse if he loses; Mayweather supporters say it's absurd to think a little drawn blood would weaken anyone and non-compliance merely heightens speculation.

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Whether the fight can be pulled back together will require concession, although this issue has been on the table two weeks, and neither side has blinked.

Time is running out.

The fight looks dead. And regardless whom you support, you can find plenty of blame to spread around.

Source: mlive.com

The Rules Regarding Blood That May Put Mayweather-Pacquiao in the Crypt

Paul Haberman Esq.

A Look at the Anti-Doping Regulations That May Kill Boxing’s Mega- Fight of 2010 and How They Would be Adopted for The Mayweather-Pacquiao Bout


It is being widely reported this week that the proposed mega-fight between the two best fighters in professional boxing today, Filipino sensation Manny (Pac Man) Pacquiao and the undefeated Floyd (Money) Mayweather, Jr., tentatively scheduled for March 13, 2010, may now be in serious jeopardy. The reason: Pacquiao does not wish to contractually consent to Olympic-style drug testing procedures. According to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com:


“Olympic style drug testing is more rigorous than the drug testing performed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission [the commission with jurisdiction over Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, where the fight is reportedly now scheduled to be held] and other state commissions. It would involve random blood and urine testing before and after the fight. Nevada commission testing only tests urine for banned substances, only just before the fight and once immediately following the fight.”1


Mayweather, whose father has been quoted in the press since after Pacquiao’s November 14, 2009 bout with Miguel Cotto as saying that he believed that Pacquiao uses performance enhancing drugs, reportedly wants a provision for random drug testing in their bout agreement “to ensure fair play and sportsmanship by both fighters.”2 The Pacquiao camp, in turn, has reportedly stated that Pacquiao has difficulties with taking blood and does not wish to do so in close proximity to the fight.3 Regardless of the rationale, two of the many questions that arise are where exactly does this request find its origin, and what are some of the possible implications and extensions of contracting to Olympic-style drug testing? A quick analysis of each question follows.


The Regulatory Origins of Olympic-Style Drug Testing


2009 World Doping Code


The 2009 World Doping Code (“WDC”), as instituted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”), the international anti-doping governing body for amateur sports, mandates that a given nation’s anti-doping agency “[p]lan and conduct an effective number of In-Competition and Out-of-Competition tests on Athletes over whom they have jurisdiction[.]” WDC Article 5.1. All such athletes shall be subject to the “whereabouts requirement” of WADA’s “International Standard for Testing.” Id. The “whereabouts requirement” mandates that an athlete that is selected for out-of-competition drug testing “shall provide accurate, current location information” such that they may be subjected to drug testing at all times prior to a competition.4 This requirement is in place so that a given agency knows where to find an athlete at all times for drug test administration. All such out-of-competition testing “shall be initiated and directed by both international and national organizations.” WDC Article 5.2.5


United States Olympic Committee National Anti-Doping Policies


As inferred above, WADA delegates some of its out-of-competition drug testing to an individual nation’s anti-doping agency. In the United States, the agencies that share that responsibility are the United States Olympic Committee (“USOC”) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”). Under the USOC’s National Anti-Doping Policies, effective January 1, 2009, all athletes that are eligible for inclusion on the United States Olympic or Paralympic Teams shall participate in a “registered testing pool”6 organized by USADA “for a period of at least 12 months before the commencement of the Games, provided, however, in exceptional circumstances, for good cause shown in writing, the USOC CEO may waive a portion of this 12 month period.” USOC National Anti-Doping Policies (“NADP”) at 4. During that 12 month period, their eligibility for participation in a given international competition can be revoked if they test positive for any number of a myriad of banned substances. USADA carves out an exception for “therapeutic use” that includes situations where “emergency treatment or treatment of an acute medical condition was necessary.” 7 While other exceptions exist as well, this particular one could prove relevant to the discussion below, as there has been some history in boxing of “therapeutic use” claims in connection with positive drug testing.


Possible Implications and Extensions of Employing Olympic-Style Drug Testing Before Mayweather-Pacquiao


Despite the fairly long-winded summary of the regulatory foundation of Olympic-style drug testing above, its application in Mayweather-Pacquiao simply means that each boxer would be subject to random drug testing throughout the course of their respective training camps. WADA and USADA would be replaced in this instance by a neutral outside laboratory or agency selected by the camps to conduct the random testing. If the camps fully embrace the rules summarized above, both Mayweather and Pacquiao will be mandated to report where they are at all times to the selected outside laboratory or agency so that the laboratory or agency knows where to send its people for conduction of the random tests. Since this testing requirement would come about by contract and not by any governing law, it could theoretically be up to the camps whether or not to allow for a “therapeutic use” exception.”


If Pacquiao employs a similar training camp as he did for his bout with Cotto, a “whereabouts requirement” would mandate that Pacquiao had to report each and every time that he left Los Angeles, home of the Wild Card Gym, the base of operations for his lead trainer, Freddie Roach, and went over to his training facilities in Philippines, and vice versa. Likewise, should Mayweather decide to train outside of his home base in Las Vegas, at altitude in Big Bear, California, for example, he too would be responsible for immediately informing the designated laboratory or agency. Of these possible scenarios, the trickiest for random testing purposes would be when Pacquiao trains in the Philippines, which could result in sizeable expenses for the promoters if they have to pay to send the testing personnel overseas. However, if Pacquiao were not to be tested during any stay in the Philippines, it would be as if he had his own personal exception to the random drug testing rule for as long as he stayed there.


The possibility of employing the “therapeutic use” exception could potentially open the door to controversy, and indeed has throughout recent boxing history. Notably, former multi-division world champion James (Lights Out) Toney tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone following his unanimous decision win over John (The Quiet Man) Ruiz for the World Boxing Association heavyweight championship in 2005. Toney vehemently denied using steroids for performance enhancement purposes. Instead, Toney alleged that he ingested nandrolone for therapeutic purposes, as it assisted in the recovery from an earlier biceps and triceps surgery. Nonetheless, Toney was stripped of the WBA title and his decision win was changed to a “no-contest” by the New York State Athletic Commission.


Here, a “therapeutic use” exception could prove useful to both boxers. As documented on the HBO Series “24/7” during Mayweather’s preparation for his bout for Britain’s Ricky Hatton, Mayweather’s body apparently requires a host of therapeutic treatments as a result of the wear and tear of his many years of being a top-shelf athlete. It certainly would not surprise anyone if Pacquiao had similar physical ailments, though they have not been documented in any of the “24/7” programs on his bouts. Regardless, if either one sustained an appreciable training injury that could either result in the fight being postponed or the use of an ordinarily banned substance to expedite treatment and preserve the date, Mayweather and Pacquiao would have some decisions to make.


One possible solution would be to incorporate a “therapeutic use” exception alongside a provision for submission to an independent medical examination after or just before the use of a banned substance, so that a neutral outside doctor selected by the aggrieved camp could evaluate the boxer at issue as to the severity of his injury and provide an opinion as to whether they is any alternative to using the banned substance to timely and effectively treat the alleged injury. This could get messy, however, as one party could theoretically then request a second examination by another outside doctor if they do not hear the answer they want. It may also end up being moot, since if the substance at issue is banned in Nevada and shows up during Nevada’s mandatory testing, the fight could be off or the decision changed to a no-contest anyway. More generally, such an examination could be disruptive to a training camp. Nonetheless, if the camps wanted safeguards in place in exchange for allowing a “therapeutic use” exception, and to minimize the controversy generated by any such use, an independent medical examination would be one avenue to consider.


In the end, whether Olympic-style drug testing of any form, or the bout as a whole, takes place in 2010 will come down to no more than whether Mayweather and Pacquiao’s people can iron out this difference over testing, and any others outstanding, in the coming weeks. As it is, the March 13, 2010 date cannot undergo much more delay in being made official, as press conferences have to be commenced, television production organized, and training camps formulated and begun. For the good of boxing’s continued climb back into the mainstream, here’s hoping they work this out soon and that Mayweather-Pacquiao does not get sent to the crypt over blood.

Source: 8countnews.com

Blood feud: Mayweather, Pacquiao may both cheat (smartly)

NY Boxing Examiner | Michael Marley

(Warning: There are absolutely zero jokes, puns or even Marley sarcasm in this column. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has accomplished one despicable thing with this late in the negotiations demand for random drug testing for Manny Pacquiao.

By agreeing to subject himself to random testing, Mayweather portrays himself as the clean guy, the surely drug free guy.

Simultaneously, if Manny doesn’t roll over to his demands, Pacman is portrayed as the athlete who must have something to hide, a highly suspected drug cheater whose glorious victories over Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto must be viewed with some skepticism as to their honesty.

Further, even if Pacquiao can upset the odds by handing Mayweather his first pro ring defeat, there will be a drug cloud of suspicion hanging over him if he continues to refuse the random testing.

Frankly, I don’t know if Megamanny cheats and neither do you or anyone named Mayweather, Schaefer or Haymon.

Ditto for Mayweather.

The thought that occurs that both might be cheating, as so many other world class jocks have done and are doing, by using something like HGH which cannot be detected by either bloor or urine samples.

If they were, would either gain an advantage over the other? I’ll leave that you chemists out there in Pacland and Mayweatherville.

If either or both are using something undetectable, the secret will stay secret, I suppose.

Now, with all this money in the $30 million range for both camps, I want to see Manny and Floyd do the sensible thing, the businesslike thing.

Floyd needs to drop this 11th hour demand and he and Manny need to put their John Hancocks on the contracts.

Then we can look forward to a good, clean (as far as we will ever know) fight come March 13.

Given human nature and their competitive fires, I’d put my money on both fighters doing whatever they can do (without getting caught) to win.

Those competitive fires are a big reason of how they reached the mountaintop where they are today.
There’s nothing sacrosanct or holier than thou about either boxer.

Anyone who thinks otherwise has his head stuck in sand a long way from the land of common sense.

Source: Examiner.com

Pacquiao can’t afford to pass on megafight

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports

The request by Floyd Mayweather for both he and Manny Pacquiao to potentially be blood tested as close as 48 hours from their possible March superfight is both unprecedented and unnecessary.

Pacquiao’s de facto manager told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole that Pacman will be blood tested one month out and just after the possible March 13 fight in (likely) Las Vegas. That schedule should answer any possible doping questions about Pacquiao (or Mayweather). The 48-hour deadline is a classic Mayweather psychological ploy, a little edge designed to get into his opponent’s head.

That said, at this point, with the debate this far along, Pacquiao should just suck it up and agree to it.
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Mayweather is a master at putting opponents in bad positions, both inside and outside the ring. Pacquiao is in one now, outfoxed by Mayweather in the fight negotiations. There’s no way Pacquiao can explain walking away from one of the biggest bouts in boxing history because, as his promoter suggests, he’s afraid of needles.

Do that and it isn’t just the game of boxing that takes a beating – it’s also Pacquiao’s reputation. The semantics about boxing standards or steroid cycles or unfair negotiations won’t break through what would, no doubt, be a vocal hammering from critics, none louder than from the Mayweathers.

“For that kind of money, how could you not take a test?” Floyd’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., has already crowed to the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press.

Indeed, how do you not take a test?

The Mayweather camp has been outspoken in its suspicions about Pacquiao and performance-enhancing drugs. So it demanded that both fighters possibly submit blood samples to the United States Anti-Doping Agency in the days before and after the fight. When to test would be up to USADA. Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said they’d stick to State of Nevada regulations, although Pacquiao’s adviser, Michael Koncz, said they’d do blood samples, just not that close to the fight.

That isn’t good enough, so far, for the Mayweather camp. If no one budges, boxing may be in the process of shooting itself in the foot, walking away from an event that already has fans worldwide buzzing in anticipation. More likely: Something gets worked out in time for a fight announcement in early January.

“In a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level,” Mayweather Jr. said in a statement.

“We’re going in a different direction,” Arum told the Grand Rapids Press. “What I believe is that Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao.”

There’s little doubt this is harassment of Pacquiao. What else would you expect from Floyd Mayweather? He’s the master at screwing with opponents. Making Pacquiao discuss PEDs in the run up to the fight is a potential distraction – even if he’s clean. That was, no doubt, a goal when his camp requested aggressive doping standards.

This isn’t Mayweather’s normal bluster, though. He’s on the moral high ground here. The Pacquiao camp can hate the situation it finds itself in and may be correct that the requests are mostly ridiculous. It doesn’t change the reality of the debate.

If Pacman pulls out of the fight because of the timetable for doping tests, he’ll have a near-impossible challenge proving he isn’t trying to hide something.

Arum isn’t doing Pacquiao any favors with some of his silly excuses. He said Pacquiao is squeamish about needles, which is a heck of a thing to blow up a contest to determine the toughest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

He added that Pacquiao thinks a blood test within 48 hours of the fight might drain him, although most such tests take very little actual blood. Then there’s Arum’s claim that every doctor in the world would say doing such a thing is “stupid” and blood tests don’t “prove anything.” That’s hyperbole.

“Manny Pacquiao doesn’t know anything about drugs,” Arum told the Grand Rapids paper. “This is just typical nastiness by wise guys like [Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard] Ellerbe and Mayweather.”

Nastiness? Sure. Wise guys? Absolutely. The Mayweather camp doesn’t play around. However, to say we have to just take Arum’s word that Pacquiao doesn’t know anything about drugs is absurd. There hasn’t been a reason to believe anything or anyone in sports on this topic in years. PED scandals in baseball, football, cycling, track, swimming and so on aren’t Pacquiao’s fault, but that’s the sporting reality he lives in.

He can’t just pretend fan suspicion isn’t reasonable.

Pacquiao has been a breath of fresh air for boxing and he’s never failed a drug test in his 50-3-2 career. The chance to see a man of similar speed and skill finally challenge the unbeaten Mayweather (40-0) has reenergized the sport.

Which doesn’t mean either fighter is above reproach. The Mayweathers have had no problem voicing their concerns about Pacman’s ability to maintain punching power and punch-taking ability as he has climbed through weight classes (even as Mayweather has made a similar journey).

Regardless, in one of their typically deft maneuvers, they demanded extreme testing standards that left the Pacquiao camp backpedaling and debating an issue they can’t win.

What Mayweather is calling for may be unfair, but is Pacquiao going to give up tens of millions of dollars and a chance to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greatest fighters out of principle?

Is he going to bail knowing that he opens himself up to questions about PEDs because, despite being tough enough to let Miguel Cotto unload on him, he’s scared of a needle?

Floyd Mayweather has cornered him on this one, doing what he does best, making the fight get fought on his terms. The way to stop Mayweather, though, has always been to punch back – hard.

Instead, Manny Pacquiao is going to walk away?

Source: Yahoo! Sports