SPECIAL REPORT
INSIDE BOXING
BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON
(IB-DECEMBER 27, 2009) There has been a virtual impasse in the negotiations for what was to have been billed as the "fight of the decade" between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
There seem to be villains on both sides of the table in these bizarre and quite frankly silly attempts to come to a "meeting of the minds" in getting this record breaking financial effort consummated.
Having just fought a tough battle in mid-November against Miguel Cotto, it was understandably a tough decision for Pacquiao to decide the March 13, 2010 date was enough time to both recover and properly train for a match with Mayweather. Compound that with the political aspirations of Pacquiao in early May of 2010 and there was definitely some time needed to evaluate his situation.
TOP RANK promoter Bob Arum went to the Philippines and secured the Pacquiao agreement.
All that was left was for the relatively "minor" particulars to be ironed out, right? What weight would the fighters agree to come in at? What weight gloves and the brand? Who would referee the bout? Where would the fight be held?
The only items we are SURE have been agreed upon is the weight (147 lbs) and where (MGM GRAND HOTEL AND CASINO in Las Vegas) the bout will be held. The assumption that the weight and brand of gloves, the referee and anything else to this point is pure speculation.
GOLDEN BOY PRODUCTIONS CEO Richard Schaefer, Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and Oscar de la hoya have all contributed to the possible demise of this fight. Although only Floyd Mayweather, Sr. has directly stated his belief that Manny Pacquiao has used some type of PED (Performance Enhancing Drug), both Schaefer and de la hoya have publicly questioned the insistence of Pacquiao to refuse to have his blood drawn for testing.
The odd part of the GOLDEN BOY PRODUCTIONS stance is that this issue has NEVER come up in any fights involving one of their clients before. So why now?
Even after Shane Mosley defeated de la hoya and was later revealed to have taken a PED, there was no policy changing outcry by the GBP people. That was the PERFCT TIME to initiate that type of dialogue.
Seems to be a bit of hypocrisy, if nothing else.
The Nevada State Boxing Commission requires only urine testing before and after any bout. Since that is the state where the bout will (maybe) be held, doesn't that define testing regulations?
I'm sure most of you are now pulling the SEC (Steroid Era Card). I would not disagree with that assessment if it were not for the FACT that leading up to this fight no requests by either party for such universal testing had been lobbied for.
Manny Pacquiao has publicly stated that he will not have his blood drawn within 30 days of the fight but will allow a blood draw following the match. He references the MANY athletes who have had random blood draws directly prior to a performance and have claimed the draw weakened them.
So where's the problem?
GOLDEN BOY CEO Richard Schaefer then says, "If we cannot have the tests done randomly ANYTIME leading up to the bout, the test is not worth being done".
Are you kidding me?
Couldn't Schaefer, GBP, BOB ARUM, TOP RANK, PACQUIAO and MAYWEATHER all agree the purses would be held for both parties until the post-fight blood draw had given PED clearance for BOTH fighters?
The FACT of the matter is Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would never know the intricate testing results that Olympic style testing produces without prodding from Schaefer and GOLDEN BOY PRODUCTIONS.
The FACT is there has never been a boxer from the Mayweather family with a PHD in chemistry.
The FICTION being perpetrated by the Pacquiao camp is that because Pacquiao has never been linked to any PEDS, he is beyond reproach. We are ALL guilty until proven innocent.
The FICTION of this particular battle is that in the court of public opinion any/all speculation as to who is involved in PEDS in professional sports can easily be resolved by blood testing.
I personally still have a couple of concerns regarding all the controversy concerning this possible match.
WHY IS FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR. SO CONCERNED WITH A GUY THAT IS SO MUCH VISIBLY SMALLER THAN HE IS?
Because if Pacquiao kicks his ass, Mayweather will always say he "was dirty"!
WHY DOESNT MANNY PACQUIAO JUST ASK FLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR. TO JUST AGREE TO FIGHT OR BOTH MOVE ON?
Because then Mayweather would be justified in saying "my weight is mine, yours is yours lets get in the ring and fight"!
Ironically, the FACT of the matter is that both sides seem to be afraid of SOMETHING.
The FICTION is that either of these two are worthy of the title WORLD CHAMPION.
Former WORLD CHAMPIONS such as SUGAR RAY ROBINSON, HENRY ARMSTRONG, KID GAVILAN, THOMAS HEARNS, WILFRED BENITEZ, and ROBERTO DURAN
(all former Welterweight Champions)would question the heart of these two alleged welterweights.
And now, so do I.
