GL: Obviously you're aware of the all of the hoopla surrounding the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Not the fight itself, rather the testing the fighters will udergo. After initially making some concessions, Arum has made it clear that he is leaving this to the Vegas Commission. As the Commissioner, can you tell us how Nevada will handle this matter? "As of right now, this is nothing different than any other fight we've had in Nevada. We'll do fight night drug testing via urine. We may, if we so choose, do in training urine tests as well. Neither side has asked us to do anything differently than that, so that's where it stands with the Nevada Athletic Commission."
GL: Does Mayweather requesting additional testing not mandated by the NSAC lead you to believe that he feels your methods of testing are prehistoric?
KK: "No. Not at all. I've talked to Leonard Ellerbe about it. That's definitely not their stance nor is it the stance they will be taking."
GL: Do you think they have any position to claim that Manny Pacquiao is on something based on what you've seen in his fights from ringside?
KK: "Nothing I've seen. No. Both of these gentleman have been successful moving up in weight and they've passed every drug test we've given them, so I'm pretty cofident they're playing by the rules, however that doesn't mean we're not going to be testing them fight night regardless of who they fight."
GL: If the fight happens, the commissions drug testing procedures would be the standard operatig procedure that has been used in countless fights before it, correct?
KK: "That's what we're using now. As with anything, any licensee can petition us to do something different. Years ago the Contender petitioned us for a smaller ring. The Commission at that time turned them down. We've had the UFC petition us to do their TV show and that petition was accepted. We've had other petitions over the years, some granted, some not. Any licensee, a fighter, promoter or both, can request that we do something additional. What the Commission would decide there would depend on the facts, the circumstances, the evidence and the five votes."
GL: Who other than yourself would vote?
KK: "I don't get a vote. I'm the director, there's five Commissioners, they would vote and majority rules."
GL: As of now have any petitions been filed?
KK: "No."
GL: Have the Mayweather people indicated that they will be filing one?
KK: "No. I've talke to Leonard Ellerbe a couple of times over the last couple of weeks and they were very positive conversations. He's always been a professional with us and nothing has changed in that regard. Whether or not he or Mr. Schaefer or anybody else on the Mayweather side of the fight would file something, you have to ask them."
GL: You weren't in charge when the De La Hoya-Mosley rematch took place, but we all know what happened with Shane following that fight. Have the standards of the commission been upgraded since then?
KK: "Well I don't think that's the correct terminology. My understanding on the clear and the cream back then, not being an expert myself, but talking to experts was, that was invented by Balco to evade the drug testing that was being done on the time. Now they have a test for the clear and the cream, and the use of it has gone way down with the experts because now you can get caught. Now you have Marion Jones getting away with that at the Olympics, but we were able to catch Fernando Vargas and Ben Johnson. I think the standards have always been the highest level of testing. However, there are people out there who have temporarily found ways to evade the drug testing. That's what these experts get paid for, to close that gap and that time between the development of a new drug and a efficient test for it.
I know HGH, they're still trying to find an efficient blood and urine test for it. There will always be that cat and mouse game. Our goal is not to catch people, but to deter them from using anything in the first place. You have to think the first deterrant is common decency. You're not just hitting a baseball further, you're hitting another human in the head harder than you should be able to. That in itself, should be enough to keep people from cheating like this. I think the congressional hearings have gone a long way in labeling these guys as losers and cheaters, whereas five years ago people would say why didn't that guy find a better way to cheat. Now they treat him Rosie Ruiz jumping on a subway in the Boston marathon. I think the public reaction more than anything else has helped these athletes realize that it's not worth it. I think a lot of athletes might have used in the past because they thought their opponent was and they weren't looking for an unfair advantage, they will looking to even the playing field.
GL: Does Pacquiao not wanting to take the additional tests seems suspicious to you or do you think it's more of who the hell are you to tell me which non-mandated tests to take?
KK: "Part of it might be the latter there, that both sides have dug in their heels pretty good based on the language used by both sides. As far as blood testing, you could have a situation where you could have bruising, you could nick a vein. I would never want to do blood testing in a locker room because it's an unsterile situation where you could have infection. Or Godforbid, they get infected with another disease because of the needle. It's a lot more dangerous than urine testing. We do require blood testing for HIV and Hepatitis B and C because that is the only efficient way to test for those viruses. And that's usually done 30 days before the fight unless somebody is a last minute sub, but those are done in a doctors office or a hospital, a sterile environment."
GL: Do you ever see USADA testing becoming the standard in boxing?
KK: "I don't know if there's much of a difference between what the USADA does and what the Nevada Commission or any other Commission does. The labs we use follow the same type of procedures. We all use the WADA list of prohibited substances."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Nevada orders testing for Mayweather, Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have both been ordered to take immediate drug tests by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
NAC chairman Pat Lundvall issued the demand on Monday in line with the commission’s random testing policy, which conforms to the World Anti Doping Agency’s guidelines.
Even though the proposed March 13 fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao has not yet been finalized, as both men are licensed fighters in Nevada they are subject to random tests.
More From Martin Rogers
Breaking point for Pacquiao-Mayweather? Dec 27, 2009
Irony reigns if Pacquiao-Malignaggi is made Dec 26, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
However, the tests will only sample urine, and despite the commission’s actions, a resolution to the argument over blood testing which is threatening the staging of the fight is no nearer.
Lundvall ordered NAC executive director Keith Kizer to inform Mayweather and Pacquiao that they would be tested by an independent testing company, LabCorp. Mayweather will provide a sample in Las Vegas and Pacquiao will go to an approved laboratory in the Philippines.
This move by the commission seems designed to show it is committed to a drug testing policy, following the flurry of publicity surrounding performance enhancing drugs in the negotiations over the fight.
At a board meeting Monday, Lundvall and Kizer revealed there had been no requests for blood testing for the proposed superfight submitted through their organization as yet.
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum made a “final offer” on Sunday, claiming he and Pacquiao would abide by whatever system the NAC deemed appropriate, and that Mayweather and Golden Boy should do the same. Pacquiao has previously rejected Mayweather’s demands for random blood tests at any time leading up to the fight.
Lundvall insisted that differing medical opinion and information on the efficacy of various testing systems, made it difficult to ascertain which was the optimum program to use. However, she claimed she was confident the method employed by NAC was effective in catching cheats.
However, the commission’s stance now makes it even less likely Golden Boy and Mayweather would agree to let the commission make the final decision on testing, as stipulated by Arum.
The likely next step is that Arum will go ahead with preliminary negotiations for a replacement fight for Pacquiao with Paulie Malignaggi, and wait to see if the Mayweather camp softens its stance.
The superfight is not yet dead, but ground needs to be given on both sides. With the egos and issues involved, that could be a slow process.
NAC chairman Pat Lundvall issued the demand on Monday in line with the commission’s random testing policy, which conforms to the World Anti Doping Agency’s guidelines.
Even though the proposed March 13 fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao has not yet been finalized, as both men are licensed fighters in Nevada they are subject to random tests.
More From Martin Rogers
Breaking point for Pacquiao-Mayweather? Dec 27, 2009
Irony reigns if Pacquiao-Malignaggi is made Dec 26, 2009
ADVERTISEMENT
However, the tests will only sample urine, and despite the commission’s actions, a resolution to the argument over blood testing which is threatening the staging of the fight is no nearer.
Lundvall ordered NAC executive director Keith Kizer to inform Mayweather and Pacquiao that they would be tested by an independent testing company, LabCorp. Mayweather will provide a sample in Las Vegas and Pacquiao will go to an approved laboratory in the Philippines.
This move by the commission seems designed to show it is committed to a drug testing policy, following the flurry of publicity surrounding performance enhancing drugs in the negotiations over the fight.
At a board meeting Monday, Lundvall and Kizer revealed there had been no requests for blood testing for the proposed superfight submitted through their organization as yet.
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum made a “final offer” on Sunday, claiming he and Pacquiao would abide by whatever system the NAC deemed appropriate, and that Mayweather and Golden Boy should do the same. Pacquiao has previously rejected Mayweather’s demands for random blood tests at any time leading up to the fight.
Lundvall insisted that differing medical opinion and information on the efficacy of various testing systems, made it difficult to ascertain which was the optimum program to use. However, she claimed she was confident the method employed by NAC was effective in catching cheats.
However, the commission’s stance now makes it even less likely Golden Boy and Mayweather would agree to let the commission make the final decision on testing, as stipulated by Arum.
The likely next step is that Arum will go ahead with preliminary negotiations for a replacement fight for Pacquiao with Paulie Malignaggi, and wait to see if the Mayweather camp softens its stance.
The superfight is not yet dead, but ground needs to be given on both sides. With the egos and issues involved, that could be a slow process.
Getting Testy - Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao
The very latest scandal in the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao super-fight is the demand by the Mayweather camp for Manny Pacquiao to undergo Olympic-style drug testing leading up to the fight March 13, 2010.
Perhaps the smartest thing Mayweather has done so far is to partner up with Golden Boy Promotions, allowing them to negotiate on his behalf and utilizing their substantial muscle and network. Mayweather's demand that the Olympic U.S. Anti Dopers Association (USADA) be the organization that conduct the tests is most likely because of Oscar De La Hoya's personal relationship with the head of this group. Considering that "Olympic-style drug testing" means the testing would be at random and as often as the USADA would like, the relationship with De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions is a huge advantage. Especially now that everyone knows Pacquiao is superstitious about getting blood drawn in general, much less right before a fight. (This superstition was born when Pacquiao was blood-tested before his first bout against Erik Morales, which he lost.)
Team Pacquiao has refused such random tests and instead, have offered to give blood directly after the fight. The USADA claims that a scheduled blood test would give Pacquiao's team the opportunity to shoot him up with a masking agent and thus render the test meaningless.
So it seems they are at an impasse and the fate of the super-bout hangs in the balance.
Is this a pressure tactic designed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. to ultimately avoid fighting Manny Pacquiao? There are many inconsistencies within Golden Boy Promotions' protocol that would make it seem so. While negotiating the PPV bout between Shane Mosley and Zab Judah in 2008 (the fight never got made,) Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaeffer refused the Olympic-style drug testing requested by the Judah camp, stating "Whatever tests they [the Nevada State Athletic Commission] want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires. The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach has stated that they will adhere to the rules and tests enforced by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), which includes extensive drug tests through urine analysis, a method that NSAC Executive Director, Keith Kizer considers less invasive than blood testing. "Urine tests are not only cheaper, they are more effective and there are no risks of nicking a blood vein or causing an infection," Kizer explains. "If blood tests are administered in the locker room, something like nicking a vein or excessive bruising would force us to cancel the fight, not to mention the risks of infection, administering a test in that kind of environment." Kizer states "Our goal is to deter the use of drugs [by athletes] in the first place." It is Kizer's belief that if drug tests aren't strictly enforced, the athletes who don't normally use performance-enhancing substances may feel compelled to do so in order to even the playing field. "Blood tests are not as effective as urine tests in most cases," Kizer says. "As far as I know, the only test that shows up better in blood is EPO (blood-doping), which is a long-term test that should be administered over the course of months and months in order to be accurate." When asked whether he thought Manny Pacquiao uses steroids, Kizer immediately answers "No. We've tested Manny Pacquiao several times, including the fights during his climb through the weight classes and he has always tested clean."
Roach has even proffered a letter from the NFL, arguably the strictest professional league when it comes to drug-testing, which would state that blood testing is unnecessary and less effective than urine or saliva tests. Though a blood test has been developed for human growth hormone (HGH,) the test has not been proven effective or reliable, as it has never detected HGH in any of the athletes tested, including all of the athletes at the Olympic Games of 2008.
A Brief History
Mayweather was accused of ducking the mega-fight in May, 2009, when he announced his first fight out of retirement would be against Juan Manuel Marquez. The announcement came on the day of Pacquiao's fight against Ricky Hatton. Fight fans and media outlets started calling Mayweather out for his apparent avoidance of fighting Manny Pacquiao, though claiming to himself be the true pound-for-pound king of boxing. Brian Kenny of ESPN went head-to-head against Mayweather in an on-air interview (click to see video clip,) being the first public figure to officially accuse the former pound-for-pound champion of dodging Pacquiao. Mayweather may have suffered his first comeuppance at the hand of Brian Kenny, but the real blow came when ticket sales to his comeback fight against Marquez were dismal. The fight got moved from July 18, 2009 to September 19, 2009 due to an alleged rib injury suffered by Mayweather, but many people have speculated that the real reason for the postponement was to build the fight and increase ticket and projected PPV sales. Mayweather dominated his fight against Marquez, who was forced to gain over 10 pounds for the bout. Mayweather even came in two pounds overweight, tipping the scales further in his favor. Instead of regaining the respect of fans for beating the pound-for-pound second best in Marquez, Mayweather suffered further criticism through the media and fans. Hip Hop icon, Eminem's Sirius radio station, Shade 45, had a phone interview with the tarnished former pound-for-pound champion on October 29th, 2009, attacking Mayweather for protecting his record and not fighting anyone who would test him. Hip Hop star "RA the Rugged Man", a guest on the show and a veritable boxing encyclopedia, did most of the talking in the no-holds-barred conversation (click to hear audio clip.)
Conversely, Pacquiao went on to fight one of the the welterweight division's most feared fighters, Miguel Cotto and in a stunning TKO victory in the 12th round, affirmed his position as boxing's pound-for-pound king. During Pacquiao's post-fight interview, fans chanted "we want Floyd!" repeatedly, begging Larry Merchant to ask who Pacquiao would like to fight next. Pacquiao gave the usual answer, stating he would fight whomever his promoter put in front of him. Mayweather immediately went on record, harping to anyone who would listen that Manny was avoiding the fight by not specifically calling Mayweather out when asked who he'd want to fight next. Mayweather stated "Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself." During coverage of Manny Pacquiao's LA victory party, days after the Cotto fight, a KTLA Los Angeles reporter asked Pacquiao "For the record, do you want to fight Mayweather?" to which Pacquiao simply replied, "for the record, yeah."
This may have forced Mayweather's hand as far as starting negotiations for the fight of the decade, but since then, fight fans are left wondering whether he will actually go through with it. The latest blood-testing hoopla only confirms the fans' worst fears that this much-anticipated fight may not get made as it seems Mayweather's camp is trying to find any feasible way to back out of the fight while saving face.
Freddie Roach states "I'm not going to let my fighter endure any kind of blood test so close to the fight. We don't work for Mayweather. I'm perfectly happy complying with whatever the Nevada State Commission asks of us." As it is, Mayweather insisted on having the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas instead of in Dallas, Texas, which would have been much more lucrative. Though Pacquiao didn't express a preference of where the fight should be located, Roach believes that having the fight at the MGM, or "Floyd's backyard" as he put it, was enough of a compromise.
Inside Scoop
Insiders say Golden Boy has tentatively agreed to use the tests enforced by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but only if the NSAC standards are also adhered to in the weight clause, reducing the $10 million penalty per pound over from the contracts to $600 thousand per pound over. Roach has no problem with this, stating "I don't care how much the penalty is. If Floyd shows up overweight - we won't fight him."
Roach goes on to say that negotiations are already underway with WBO NABO Light Welterweight champion, Paulie Malignaggi as well as WBA World Light Middleweight champion, Yuri Foreman. A win over Foreman would make Pacquiao a world champion in a record-breaking eight different weight classes, to which he already holds the record at seven titles, beating Oscar De La Hoya's six and besting Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s five.
Talk has also surfaced that Pacquaio plans to sue Mayweather for defamation of character.
In My Opinion
Will this fight get made? Many arguments can be made for either side, but I believe it will get made in the end. Mayweather has already succumbed once to holding negotiations after countless accusations that he is ducking Pacquiao and for the most part, the media and fans are still not backing him up even after this latest attempt to scandalize the fight. He is left with no leverage and no way out other than admitting cowardice, or sustaining (read: faking) an injury / infection that would prevent him from fighting for the next several months - which might happen. And if it does, you heard it here first.
Perhaps the smartest thing Mayweather has done so far is to partner up with Golden Boy Promotions, allowing them to negotiate on his behalf and utilizing their substantial muscle and network. Mayweather's demand that the Olympic U.S. Anti Dopers Association (USADA) be the organization that conduct the tests is most likely because of Oscar De La Hoya's personal relationship with the head of this group. Considering that "Olympic-style drug testing" means the testing would be at random and as often as the USADA would like, the relationship with De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions is a huge advantage. Especially now that everyone knows Pacquiao is superstitious about getting blood drawn in general, much less right before a fight. (This superstition was born when Pacquiao was blood-tested before his first bout against Erik Morales, which he lost.)
Team Pacquiao has refused such random tests and instead, have offered to give blood directly after the fight. The USADA claims that a scheduled blood test would give Pacquiao's team the opportunity to shoot him up with a masking agent and thus render the test meaningless.
So it seems they are at an impasse and the fate of the super-bout hangs in the balance.
Is this a pressure tactic designed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. to ultimately avoid fighting Manny Pacquiao? There are many inconsistencies within Golden Boy Promotions' protocol that would make it seem so. While negotiating the PPV bout between Shane Mosley and Zab Judah in 2008 (the fight never got made,) Golden Boy CEO, Richard Schaeffer refused the Olympic-style drug testing requested by the Judah camp, stating "Whatever tests they [the Nevada State Athletic Commission] want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires. The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one."
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach has stated that they will adhere to the rules and tests enforced by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), which includes extensive drug tests through urine analysis, a method that NSAC Executive Director, Keith Kizer considers less invasive than blood testing. "Urine tests are not only cheaper, they are more effective and there are no risks of nicking a blood vein or causing an infection," Kizer explains. "If blood tests are administered in the locker room, something like nicking a vein or excessive bruising would force us to cancel the fight, not to mention the risks of infection, administering a test in that kind of environment." Kizer states "Our goal is to deter the use of drugs [by athletes] in the first place." It is Kizer's belief that if drug tests aren't strictly enforced, the athletes who don't normally use performance-enhancing substances may feel compelled to do so in order to even the playing field. "Blood tests are not as effective as urine tests in most cases," Kizer says. "As far as I know, the only test that shows up better in blood is EPO (blood-doping), which is a long-term test that should be administered over the course of months and months in order to be accurate." When asked whether he thought Manny Pacquiao uses steroids, Kizer immediately answers "No. We've tested Manny Pacquiao several times, including the fights during his climb through the weight classes and he has always tested clean."
Roach has even proffered a letter from the NFL, arguably the strictest professional league when it comes to drug-testing, which would state that blood testing is unnecessary and less effective than urine or saliva tests. Though a blood test has been developed for human growth hormone (HGH,) the test has not been proven effective or reliable, as it has never detected HGH in any of the athletes tested, including all of the athletes at the Olympic Games of 2008.
A Brief History
Mayweather was accused of ducking the mega-fight in May, 2009, when he announced his first fight out of retirement would be against Juan Manuel Marquez. The announcement came on the day of Pacquiao's fight against Ricky Hatton. Fight fans and media outlets started calling Mayweather out for his apparent avoidance of fighting Manny Pacquiao, though claiming to himself be the true pound-for-pound king of boxing. Brian Kenny of ESPN went head-to-head against Mayweather in an on-air interview (click to see video clip,) being the first public figure to officially accuse the former pound-for-pound champion of dodging Pacquiao. Mayweather may have suffered his first comeuppance at the hand of Brian Kenny, but the real blow came when ticket sales to his comeback fight against Marquez were dismal. The fight got moved from July 18, 2009 to September 19, 2009 due to an alleged rib injury suffered by Mayweather, but many people have speculated that the real reason for the postponement was to build the fight and increase ticket and projected PPV sales. Mayweather dominated his fight against Marquez, who was forced to gain over 10 pounds for the bout. Mayweather even came in two pounds overweight, tipping the scales further in his favor. Instead of regaining the respect of fans for beating the pound-for-pound second best in Marquez, Mayweather suffered further criticism through the media and fans. Hip Hop icon, Eminem's Sirius radio station, Shade 45, had a phone interview with the tarnished former pound-for-pound champion on October 29th, 2009, attacking Mayweather for protecting his record and not fighting anyone who would test him. Hip Hop star "RA the Rugged Man", a guest on the show and a veritable boxing encyclopedia, did most of the talking in the no-holds-barred conversation (click to hear audio clip.)
Conversely, Pacquiao went on to fight one of the the welterweight division's most feared fighters, Miguel Cotto and in a stunning TKO victory in the 12th round, affirmed his position as boxing's pound-for-pound king. During Pacquiao's post-fight interview, fans chanted "we want Floyd!" repeatedly, begging Larry Merchant to ask who Pacquiao would like to fight next. Pacquiao gave the usual answer, stating he would fight whomever his promoter put in front of him. Mayweather immediately went on record, harping to anyone who would listen that Manny was avoiding the fight by not specifically calling Mayweather out when asked who he'd want to fight next. Mayweather stated "Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone including his loudmouth trainer, talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself." During coverage of Manny Pacquiao's LA victory party, days after the Cotto fight, a KTLA Los Angeles reporter asked Pacquiao "For the record, do you want to fight Mayweather?" to which Pacquiao simply replied, "for the record, yeah."
This may have forced Mayweather's hand as far as starting negotiations for the fight of the decade, but since then, fight fans are left wondering whether he will actually go through with it. The latest blood-testing hoopla only confirms the fans' worst fears that this much-anticipated fight may not get made as it seems Mayweather's camp is trying to find any feasible way to back out of the fight while saving face.
Freddie Roach states "I'm not going to let my fighter endure any kind of blood test so close to the fight. We don't work for Mayweather. I'm perfectly happy complying with whatever the Nevada State Commission asks of us." As it is, Mayweather insisted on having the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas instead of in Dallas, Texas, which would have been much more lucrative. Though Pacquiao didn't express a preference of where the fight should be located, Roach believes that having the fight at the MGM, or "Floyd's backyard" as he put it, was enough of a compromise.
Inside Scoop
Insiders say Golden Boy has tentatively agreed to use the tests enforced by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but only if the NSAC standards are also adhered to in the weight clause, reducing the $10 million penalty per pound over from the contracts to $600 thousand per pound over. Roach has no problem with this, stating "I don't care how much the penalty is. If Floyd shows up overweight - we won't fight him."
Roach goes on to say that negotiations are already underway with WBO NABO Light Welterweight champion, Paulie Malignaggi as well as WBA World Light Middleweight champion, Yuri Foreman. A win over Foreman would make Pacquiao a world champion in a record-breaking eight different weight classes, to which he already holds the record at seven titles, beating Oscar De La Hoya's six and besting Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s five.
Talk has also surfaced that Pacquaio plans to sue Mayweather for defamation of character.
In My Opinion
Will this fight get made? Many arguments can be made for either side, but I believe it will get made in the end. Mayweather has already succumbed once to holding negotiations after countless accusations that he is ducking Pacquiao and for the most part, the media and fans are still not backing him up even after this latest attempt to scandalize the fight. He is left with no leverage and no way out other than admitting cowardice, or sustaining (read: faking) an injury / infection that would prevent him from fighting for the next several months - which might happen. And if it does, you heard it here first.
Arum sets Mayweather deadline
Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has given Floyd Mayweather Jnr's camp a Monday deadline to resolve a blood-testing row which has threatened to derail the proposed super fight between the two welterweights.
Top Rank promoter Arum confirmed to Sports Illustrated that Pacquiao will submit to unlimited urine tests while agreeing to blood tests in January and as many as two more, no later than 30 days before the fight.
Arum is also proposing a hearing be held on January 19 in front of the Nevada Athletic Commission to determine whether additional blood tests are necessary.
"This is unprecedented," Arum told the U.S. based sport magazine. "Our expert says blood tests are ridiculous. But we will let the commission decide. They are the governing body."
If Mayweather refuses, Arum revealed he will make a deal for Pacquiao to face former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.
"That deal will take about an hour [to make]," Arum added.
Our expert says blood tests are ridiculous.
--Bob Arum
The welterweight clash was due to take place in Las Vegas in March but the pair have become embroiled in a dispute over Mayweather's controversial request that Filipino Pacquiao has Olympic style blood-screening 30 days prior to the fight.
Pacquiao has since said he will file a defamation lawsuit against American Mayweather -- whose promoters Golden Boy Promotions went public with their demands for testing as laid down by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) -- for accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Pacquiao, 31, became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
Top Rank promoter Arum confirmed to Sports Illustrated that Pacquiao will submit to unlimited urine tests while agreeing to blood tests in January and as many as two more, no later than 30 days before the fight.
Arum is also proposing a hearing be held on January 19 in front of the Nevada Athletic Commission to determine whether additional blood tests are necessary.
"This is unprecedented," Arum told the U.S. based sport magazine. "Our expert says blood tests are ridiculous. But we will let the commission decide. They are the governing body."
If Mayweather refuses, Arum revealed he will make a deal for Pacquiao to face former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas.
"That deal will take about an hour [to make]," Arum added.
Our expert says blood tests are ridiculous.
--Bob Arum
The welterweight clash was due to take place in Las Vegas in March but the pair have become embroiled in a dispute over Mayweather's controversial request that Filipino Pacquiao has Olympic style blood-screening 30 days prior to the fight.
Pacquiao has since said he will file a defamation lawsuit against American Mayweather -- whose promoters Golden Boy Promotions went public with their demands for testing as laid down by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) -- for accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs.
Pacquiao, 31, became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
Mayweather, Jr. vs. Pacquiao will happen; "The Secret" is out
This is all so silly. The two sides (Floyd Mayweather, Jr. / Golden Boy vs. Manny Pacquiao / Top Rank) have to wake up pretty early each morning to determine who is mad at whom and why each day.
What I'm picking up on is these daily turf wars; everything from the "100,000 vs.16,200" to "blood vs. urine" is setting back our once quaint boxing civilization.
Somebody with some clout must have a serious secret that he's fighting to keep in his vault. And I mean it's such a deep dark secret that if it gets out, it will rock a few worlds.
So these little turf wars will continue, but they are getting terribly tedious. Five years from now, some mutant form of Golden Boy and some similar form of Top Rank will be fighting over a couple of 17 year-old kids of different races and nationalities. Today's fighters, Mayweather, Jr. and Pacquiao will be old news.
I remember just a few years ago Golden Boy employed "The Voice of Reason," the dignified Don Chargin, as a consultant. But soon after that concluding, Golden Boy seemed to have lost its moral compass and now GBP lives in the proverbial glass house.
GBP shouldn't be throwing stones from the glass house, such as making demands regarding blood tests or anything else really. They should just be happy to be in on the deal on Mayweather, Jr.'s nickel.
Mayweather, Jr. isn't really even their fighter, he hired them to negotiate for him to close this particular deal to fight Pacquiao against his former promoter Top Rank.
Hiring GBP to negotiate for him against Top Rank is certainly his legal right but one of the laziest and stupidest moves in both business and boxing history.
It let a known wolf into the hen house.
GBP has a promotional piece of opponent Manny Pacquiao! What a conflict of interest! But this is professional boxing.
They actually earned it when they once intercepted Pacquiao at LAX Airport and later handed him a duffel bag full of money, rumored to be a cool $250,000.
Remember that classy bit of boxing history? And an arbiter standing between Richard Schaefer and Bob Arum still actually handed GBP a piece of the action. Only in America Don King! GBP actually benefited from this!
Back to this secret. Is this secret now elevated to "The Secret." Such as the fight becoming "The Fight?"
So is there or isn't there a "Secret" that explains a bunch of strange moves by Mayweather, Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions?
Is it totally crazy that Mayweather, Jr. could owe a certain casino a ton of money in the form of loans and gambling markers and in return, deliver this or any other fight he's involved in as some form of medieval collateral?
Not so crazy if you consider his huge IRS debt and self-stated gambling habits. If NBA referees can sell out, why not a boxer in major debt?
But could it be "The Secret" is the explanation for a bunch of isolated, peculiar Mayweather, Jr. and GBP moves?
Perhaps time will tell, but for now, we can all just guess something made them defy sports logic and balk at a real Super Bowl venue (and the biggest live gate guarantee in boxing history) without hesitation or consideration. And that same possible dark secret logic may be the very reason they can't blow this fight.
Can I prove it? No. It's just my opinion.
MGM Grand (16,200) vs. Cowboys Stadium (100,000) will be a new required course as part of the Harvard Business School curriculum this spring.
But back to Floyd. When he told Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer this two weeks ago, Schaefer, no fool, the "Swiss Banker" had no reason to fly to Texas even though he knew he would be publicly humiliated for pulling out at the 11Th hour.
This would explain a lot of things to my satisfaction. This "blood vs. urine" is now just window dressing. It's just to screw with Pacquiao's head.
But "The Secret" explains a bunch of isolated, peculiar Mayweather, Jr. and GBP moves.
I'm waiting for the next turf war.
What I'm picking up on is these daily turf wars; everything from the "100,000 vs.16,200" to "blood vs. urine" is setting back our once quaint boxing civilization.
Somebody with some clout must have a serious secret that he's fighting to keep in his vault. And I mean it's such a deep dark secret that if it gets out, it will rock a few worlds.
So these little turf wars will continue, but they are getting terribly tedious. Five years from now, some mutant form of Golden Boy and some similar form of Top Rank will be fighting over a couple of 17 year-old kids of different races and nationalities. Today's fighters, Mayweather, Jr. and Pacquiao will be old news.
I remember just a few years ago Golden Boy employed "The Voice of Reason," the dignified Don Chargin, as a consultant. But soon after that concluding, Golden Boy seemed to have lost its moral compass and now GBP lives in the proverbial glass house.
GBP shouldn't be throwing stones from the glass house, such as making demands regarding blood tests or anything else really. They should just be happy to be in on the deal on Mayweather, Jr.'s nickel.
Mayweather, Jr. isn't really even their fighter, he hired them to negotiate for him to close this particular deal to fight Pacquiao against his former promoter Top Rank.
Hiring GBP to negotiate for him against Top Rank is certainly his legal right but one of the laziest and stupidest moves in both business and boxing history.
It let a known wolf into the hen house.
GBP has a promotional piece of opponent Manny Pacquiao! What a conflict of interest! But this is professional boxing.
They actually earned it when they once intercepted Pacquiao at LAX Airport and later handed him a duffel bag full of money, rumored to be a cool $250,000.
Remember that classy bit of boxing history? And an arbiter standing between Richard Schaefer and Bob Arum still actually handed GBP a piece of the action. Only in America Don King! GBP actually benefited from this!
Back to this secret. Is this secret now elevated to "The Secret." Such as the fight becoming "The Fight?"
So is there or isn't there a "Secret" that explains a bunch of strange moves by Mayweather, Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions?
Is it totally crazy that Mayweather, Jr. could owe a certain casino a ton of money in the form of loans and gambling markers and in return, deliver this or any other fight he's involved in as some form of medieval collateral?
Not so crazy if you consider his huge IRS debt and self-stated gambling habits. If NBA referees can sell out, why not a boxer in major debt?
But could it be "The Secret" is the explanation for a bunch of isolated, peculiar Mayweather, Jr. and GBP moves?
Perhaps time will tell, but for now, we can all just guess something made them defy sports logic and balk at a real Super Bowl venue (and the biggest live gate guarantee in boxing history) without hesitation or consideration. And that same possible dark secret logic may be the very reason they can't blow this fight.
Can I prove it? No. It's just my opinion.
MGM Grand (16,200) vs. Cowboys Stadium (100,000) will be a new required course as part of the Harvard Business School curriculum this spring.
But back to Floyd. When he told Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer this two weeks ago, Schaefer, no fool, the "Swiss Banker" had no reason to fly to Texas even though he knew he would be publicly humiliated for pulling out at the 11Th hour.
This would explain a lot of things to my satisfaction. This "blood vs. urine" is now just window dressing. It's just to screw with Pacquiao's head.
But "The Secret" explains a bunch of isolated, peculiar Mayweather, Jr. and GBP moves.
I'm waiting for the next turf war.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Pacman’s Holiday Greetings for Floyd: Merry Christmas and I’ll See You in Court
Former pound-for-pound best Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have finally overplayed his hand in the continuing saga over his proposed superfight against reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao as the Pacman has finally decided to respond by filing a case against them as reported by popular Filipino boxing website Philboxing.com.
Featured Videos
5:20
...
4:10
Free weight loss program on How-to Lose 50...
By 5min Life Videopedia
Yes! Stick it to the heart of those pompous, arrogant, malicious, scheming bullies and their spin doctors, and score a point for the low-key, humble, and patient little guy who refuses to bow down to the harassment put up by his detractors who are insisting on an overly stringent self-serving drug testing procedure while at the same time continuing to malign his good name with their false and baseless accusations.
Former pound-for-pound best Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have finally overplayed his hand in the continuing saga over his proposed superfight against reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao as the Pacman has finally decided to respond by filing a case against them as first reported by popular Filipino boxing website Philboxing.com, taking the high road by choosing to answer the trial-by-publicity blacksmear campaign employed by the Mayweathers in the proper forum.
In a statement prepared on Christmas Day from his hometown in Sarangani, Philippines, Pacquiao announced that he will be filing libel, slander and defamation charges against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Golden Boy Promotions in the next few days.
"Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard", said Pacquiao.
He really wasn't under any obligation to explain his success especially considering that the allegations were purely unsubstantiated and coming from sources who are themselves questionable with their own ulterior motives. But seeing how the issue has continued to snowball into absurd proportions through the constant yapping of the Mayweathers and their cohorts, Pacquiao went on to explain:
"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it".
As may be recalled, the steroid insinuations were started by the elder Mayweather a few months back while Pacquiao was in the midst of his preparations for his November 14 fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto. According to his statement, Pacquiao contemplated on taking legal action then but decided against it because he did not want to get distracted during that time as he was preparing for one of the toughest fights of his career.
But holding out hope that their megafight tentatively scheduled on March 13 can still push through, Pacquiao issued this feisty challenge, "Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don't be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring", said Pacquiao. "Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don't even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back".
Those are words that don't usually come out of the mouth of the soft-spoken Pacquiao who doesn't normally engage in trash talks. There is a chance that it was issued in hopes of trying to salvage their titanic showdown, as there may still be a chance if the Mayweathers get to their senses, but most definitely it sounded like a man who has clearly been wronged and out to get his just revenge, whether in the ring or out of it. Either way, Pacquiao stands to gain a windfall off the Mayweathers whether Floyd decides to fight him in the ring or not as the defamation suit is sure to cost the Mayweathers millions as well.
Pacquiao made it clear however that he is not against any form of drug testing as long as it is mandated by any athletic sports commission. He just finds it funny and stupid that a system which has been in place for decades will be changed just because Floyd Mayweather said so. He further stressed that he has undergone all kinds of drug testing and medical examinations before and after every fight for the past fifteen years and he has never failed any of them.
Not forgetting the yuletide season however, Pacquiao closed out his statement by sending some holiday cheers to his detractor, "to Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon".
As a fan, as much as I want to see Paquiao and Mayweather get it on in the ring, and I do believe it will eventually happen at some point whether on March 13 or not, it cannot be overemphasized how important this move is for Pacquiao's career and legacy. Having followed his career even before he made it big in the world stage I firmly believe that he is clean of all the insinuations hurled against him and I would want nothing more than to see him clear his name and prove to all the world that he is.
Pacquiao provides so much inspiration with his fairytale back story, his ring exploits, and his classy and humble disposition outside of it. But this defamation suit strikes a different chord with ordinary people especially those who at one time or another have been wronged for whatever reason. When all humility and patience have been exhausted, do not stoop to the level of your detractors but instead make your stand in the court of law even at the expense of a potential $40 million payday. Once again Pacquiao distinguishes himself not only as a champion inside the ring but a true champion of what is good and decent left in humanity.
Featured Videos
5:20
...
4:10
Free weight loss program on How-to Lose 50...
By 5min Life Videopedia
Yes! Stick it to the heart of those pompous, arrogant, malicious, scheming bullies and their spin doctors, and score a point for the low-key, humble, and patient little guy who refuses to bow down to the harassment put up by his detractors who are insisting on an overly stringent self-serving drug testing procedure while at the same time continuing to malign his good name with their false and baseless accusations.
Former pound-for-pound best Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have finally overplayed his hand in the continuing saga over his proposed superfight against reigning pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao as the Pacman has finally decided to respond by filing a case against them as first reported by popular Filipino boxing website Philboxing.com, taking the high road by choosing to answer the trial-by-publicity blacksmear campaign employed by the Mayweathers in the proper forum.
In a statement prepared on Christmas Day from his hometown in Sarangani, Philippines, Pacquiao announced that he will be filing libel, slander and defamation charges against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., and Golden Boy Promotions in the next few days.
"Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard", said Pacquiao.
He really wasn't under any obligation to explain his success especially considering that the allegations were purely unsubstantiated and coming from sources who are themselves questionable with their own ulterior motives. But seeing how the issue has continued to snowball into absurd proportions through the constant yapping of the Mayweathers and their cohorts, Pacquiao went on to explain:
"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it".
As may be recalled, the steroid insinuations were started by the elder Mayweather a few months back while Pacquiao was in the midst of his preparations for his November 14 fight against Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto. According to his statement, Pacquiao contemplated on taking legal action then but decided against it because he did not want to get distracted during that time as he was preparing for one of the toughest fights of his career.
But holding out hope that their megafight tentatively scheduled on March 13 can still push through, Pacquiao issued this feisty challenge, "Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don't be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring", said Pacquiao. "Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don't even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back".
Those are words that don't usually come out of the mouth of the soft-spoken Pacquiao who doesn't normally engage in trash talks. There is a chance that it was issued in hopes of trying to salvage their titanic showdown, as there may still be a chance if the Mayweathers get to their senses, but most definitely it sounded like a man who has clearly been wronged and out to get his just revenge, whether in the ring or out of it. Either way, Pacquiao stands to gain a windfall off the Mayweathers whether Floyd decides to fight him in the ring or not as the defamation suit is sure to cost the Mayweathers millions as well.
Pacquiao made it clear however that he is not against any form of drug testing as long as it is mandated by any athletic sports commission. He just finds it funny and stupid that a system which has been in place for decades will be changed just because Floyd Mayweather said so. He further stressed that he has undergone all kinds of drug testing and medical examinations before and after every fight for the past fifteen years and he has never failed any of them.
Not forgetting the yuletide season however, Pacquiao closed out his statement by sending some holiday cheers to his detractor, "to Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry and I will see you in court, soon".
As a fan, as much as I want to see Paquiao and Mayweather get it on in the ring, and I do believe it will eventually happen at some point whether on March 13 or not, it cannot be overemphasized how important this move is for Pacquiao's career and legacy. Having followed his career even before he made it big in the world stage I firmly believe that he is clean of all the insinuations hurled against him and I would want nothing more than to see him clear his name and prove to all the world that he is.
Pacquiao provides so much inspiration with his fairytale back story, his ring exploits, and his classy and humble disposition outside of it. But this defamation suit strikes a different chord with ordinary people especially those who at one time or another have been wronged for whatever reason. When all humility and patience have been exhausted, do not stoop to the level of your detractors but instead make your stand in the court of law even at the expense of a potential $40 million payday. Once again Pacquiao distinguishes himself not only as a champion inside the ring but a true champion of what is good and decent left in humanity.
Friday, December 25, 2009
The Mayweathers Carry The Burden of Proof
The burden of proof.
During my stint as a debating class student, we were told that anyone who has the guts to make serious accusations, claims, and other pieces of information that could prove vital and add more validity to his argument must present evidences to support such claim.
Such is the burden of proof.
In what is now a halted negotiation for the Pacquiao-Mayweather super fight, it is clear where the snag in the agreement process stems from. Right after Pacquiao scored a devastating second round-knockout victory over Ricky Hatton last May, Hatton’s then head trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., made some serious comments that implied the probability of Pacquiao using illegal substances that could have boosted his performances and helped him campaign successfully through various weight classes.
As time went by, the accusations grew bolder and stronger and have recently hit fever pitch when the Mayweather camp insisted on an Olympic-style series of random drug test to “level the playing field.” For Pacquiao and his people, this demand is outrageously ridiculous and does not warrant any merit at all.
I agree.
See, the burden of proof falls on Mayweather Sr.’s shoulders. After all, it was he who made such accusations in the first place.
But did they show any evidence that Pacquiao is indeed taking performance-enhancing drugs? No. Did they have any charts or papers or test results that reveal any signs of steroids in Pacquiao’s system? No. Was there a point in time that they present a witness that says Pacquiao is indeed taking steroids? No, they did not.
The point being driven here is that the Mayweathers are pressing a claim that is unfounded and lacks substantial evidence. Unless they can present the boxing public with just a proof to support the allegations, then Pacquiao needs not to explain himself why he does not want to undergo any other drug tests other than those required by the Commission.
And if this was a debate, which in some way it is, the Mayweathers have a heavy burden on their shoulders right now.
During my stint as a debating class student, we were told that anyone who has the guts to make serious accusations, claims, and other pieces of information that could prove vital and add more validity to his argument must present evidences to support such claim.
Such is the burden of proof.
In what is now a halted negotiation for the Pacquiao-Mayweather super fight, it is clear where the snag in the agreement process stems from. Right after Pacquiao scored a devastating second round-knockout victory over Ricky Hatton last May, Hatton’s then head trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., made some serious comments that implied the probability of Pacquiao using illegal substances that could have boosted his performances and helped him campaign successfully through various weight classes.
As time went by, the accusations grew bolder and stronger and have recently hit fever pitch when the Mayweather camp insisted on an Olympic-style series of random drug test to “level the playing field.” For Pacquiao and his people, this demand is outrageously ridiculous and does not warrant any merit at all.
I agree.
See, the burden of proof falls on Mayweather Sr.’s shoulders. After all, it was he who made such accusations in the first place.
But did they show any evidence that Pacquiao is indeed taking performance-enhancing drugs? No. Did they have any charts or papers or test results that reveal any signs of steroids in Pacquiao’s system? No. Was there a point in time that they present a witness that says Pacquiao is indeed taking steroids? No, they did not.
The point being driven here is that the Mayweathers are pressing a claim that is unfounded and lacks substantial evidence. Unless they can present the boxing public with just a proof to support the allegations, then Pacquiao needs not to explain himself why he does not want to undergo any other drug tests other than those required by the Commission.
And if this was a debate, which in some way it is, the Mayweathers have a heavy burden on their shoulders right now.
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