"TAILS BETWEEN THEIR LEGS"
INSIDE BOXING
BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON

(IB-JANUARY 4, 2010) "What they have to do, and what I know the option is going to be, is that they have to apologize. All of them. They all have to make a meaningful apology" before Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO's) would even consider dropping the civil suit against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (40-0, 25 KO's), his father Floyd, Sr., his uncle Roger, Oscar de la Hoya, Richard Schaefer and Golden Boy Productions,  and begin negotiations for a fight.

There you have it.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum made this statement after announcing that on Tuesday morning in the Santa Monica offices of retired Federal Judge Daniel Weinstein of JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) there will be an attempt at reaching some type of agreement whereas fight negotiations can continue.  

In attendance at the Tuesday morning pow-wow: Representing Manny Pacquiao will be Arum, his step-son Todd duBoef (President of Top Rank) and a representative of attorney Daniel Petrocelli who has been retained as legal counsel in the defamation, libel and slander suit filed on behalf of Manny Pacquiao. 

Petrocelli filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles, California Federal Court seeking both punitive and compensatory damages from Golden Boy Productions, GBP CEO Richard Schaefer, GBP President Oscar de la hoya, Floyd Mayweather's Sr. and Jr. along with Mayweathers'uncle, Roger Mayweather,  in the amount of $75,000, that being the minimum allowed to file such a suit.

One has to wonder why such meetings are being scheduled?

The Mayweather camp was adamant that Pacquiao was on "some type of steroid" and, until recently, was very vocal with their accusations. GBP honchos Schaefer and de la hoya asked time and time again, "If he (Pacquiao) has nothing to hide, why doesn't he just take the tests". These folks as well have decided to say nothing, once the word leaked out that the lawsuit was being filed. 

Now that they are all abiding by a self-imposed "gag rule", do they honestly believe that is good enough?

CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe, says "we are still trying to make a deal. This is the biggest fight in the history of boxing and we are trying to give it to the fans". Okay, then this can be cleaned up quickly and in a matter of minutes.

Quite simply, call an International Press Conference...

Have the Mayweather clan, Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la hoya all in attendance. Give them the microphone and let them all admit they lied about Manny Pacquiao ever using any PEDS (Performance Enhancing Drugs) and acknowledge they are responsible to pay for all court costs and legal fees inherited by Pacquiao. They must further state that never in the future will they participate in any conversation alleging Manny Pacquiao's involvement in illegal drug use. 

They must all "put their tails between their legs" for the world to see and hear. Then and only then will Manny Pacquiao allow negotiations for this bout to continue.

Manny Pacquiao seems quite content to continue his regular training regimen and is not allowing anything to interfere with his resolve. Apparently dishonoring his country and him personally means more to Pacquiao and he can easily walk away from the mega-millions this fight could produce.

Would the other group of litigants actually consider such a compromise? Can the Mayweather's and Golden Productions' BOTH actually "come clean" and admit they are liars and more importantly, WILL they?

Stay tuned, because I'm predicting it won't take long to get this answered.   

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ON A VERY SAD NOTE...INSIDEBOXING.com would like to express our sincerest and heartfelt condolences to Miguel Cotto and his family for the passing of his father Miguel Cotto, Sr. in Puerto Rico.

The elder Cotto suffered from asthma and frequently needed the assistance of oxygen. He was apparently driving an automobile when he pulled over and asked for help, before collapsing.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been confirmed.

Miguel Cotto, Sr. is survived by his wife, two sons and three grandchildren.