INSIDE BOXING "THE TRUTH AND NOTHING CLOSE TO THE TRUTH"
SPECIAL REPORT
BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON

(IB-January 8, 2009) Now that the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has officially been declared a draw, reasons for the negotiations collapse are confirmed.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr., in his first public comments since Top Rank CEO Bob Arum declared "the fight is off", maintains Manny Pacquiao refused the offer of a "14 day before the fight blood-draw" for testing.

"He (Pacquiao) should just come out and say he doesn't want to fight me. He is the one who just doesn't want to be tested. The whole world wants to see this fight and the one who doesn't want to make it happen is Manny Pacquiao", said the rather subdued Mayweather, Jr. in a released statement. 

Mayweather, Jr. says he was "thoroughly disgusted" by claims from the Pacquiao team that HE was the reason for the impasse. "The public will be able to see through their smoke screens and lies. I am ready to fight and sign the contract. Manny needs to stop making excuses and fight", said Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and his promoter Golden Boy Productions are still, quite frankly, in denial.

The circumstances surrounding the fight that transpired in the last couple of weeks dictated that:

1) There HAD TO BE a public apology given to Pacquiao and the people of the Philippines acknowledging "the conspirators" (Golden Boy Productions, Oscar de la hoya, Richard Schaefer and the Mayweather's', had all knowingly lied about the alleged use by Pacquiao of any type of performance enhancing drugs. 

2) there would be NO BLOOD DRAWN prior to 24 days leading up to the fight.  

These two obstacles had to be cleared up before any negotiations could go further, something that seems to be lost in translation by "the conspirators".

This FACT had become obvious by the filing of the defamation lawsuit by attorney Daniel Petrocelli on behalf of Manny Pacquiao.

Mediation attempts by former Federal Judge Daniel Weinstein, were futile. In his released statement Judge Weinstein said, "In the end, the parties could not agree on a testing protocol acceptable to all".

Apparently Judge Weinstein had come to the conclusion that coming to some sort of middle ground was impossible.

For Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and "the conspirators" to continue their attempts at convincing the public that Manny Pacquiao is the responsible party for the fights' demise, is rather odd.

The Nevada Athletic Commission has ruled that there is currently no need to have any tests, other than the current urinalysis, done for any sanctioned bout in that state.

So why do Mayweather, Jr. and "the conspirators" continue to press that button?

Opinions on the issue of blood testing are many. Some noted chemists claim that urine can determine the use of steroids. Other chemists claim the blood-draw is not infallible. The human growth hormone (HGH) is not discovered in a blood test.

So where does that leave us, the uneducated public, in determining what tests should or should not be administered to all boxers, not just those in big-money bouts?

The one constant in the whole issue is that there is no test currently available that can guarantee 100% that there has EVER been an illegal substance used by an athlete.

This FACT alone gives merit to the Pacquiao team's stance that the NAC's tests are adequate.

Should "the conspirators" provide proof that any boxers currently preparing for a sanctioned bout by the NAC are using any type of performance enhancing drugs, "the conspirators" need to name them.

To single out Manny Pacquiao, and not include the names of others "the conspirators" suspect of illegal drug use is hypocritical, to say the least.

Why was there no demand by Golden Boy Productions, when one of their own (Shane Mosley) fighters tested positive for a banned substance, for all boxers in every state be tested? Why the urgency for Pacquiao being tested when he has never tested positive before?

There are so many questions, and so few answers, that we can all agree on one thing...

Manny Pacquiao and the people of the Philippines are evidently not influenced by the big-bucks associated with this fight. The resolve of Manny Pacquiao, and the people of the Philippines is concrete.

This fight may one day happen, but Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and "the conspirators" will never dictate the terms and until they acknowledge their misdeeds, there is no need to discuss further negotiations.

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