A bout that we expected to hit a few speed bumps along the way has now came to a halt in what can only be described as a head on collision. Last week the blogosphere went into meltdown after a simple disagreement between the camps of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. over how to handle drug testing for their March 13 mega-fight.
Today things are so out of control that the potential biggest money fight in boxing history is looking unlikely. Manny Pacquiao is reported as being livid at the accusations of him taking performance enhancing drugs. The Filipino and national hero says he brushed aside all the ridicules comments coming from the Money Mayweather camp, but became incensed when people in his native Philippines started asking him if he really took performance enhancing drugs and if he had cheated his way to becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,"
Law suit
Enough is enough. Said Pacquiao, “These people, Mayweather Sr, Mayweather 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," Pacquiao denied that he has ever used any banned substance and has passed all of his drug tests. "I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard."
"I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because “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, and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it. I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years."
Floyd Mayweather Sr., has repeatedly accused Pacquiao of taking illegal substances and points to him rising through seven weight divisions to win titles in a record seven divisions while maintaining his speed and power.
Last night Bob Arum was making plans for an alternative bout for Pacquiao to defend his welterweight title on March 13 against former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi in the event the fight with Mayweather can't be finalized. Ironically, Malignaggi has also repeatedly accused Pacquiao of using performance enhancing drugs, however something tells me Paulie will think twice regarding such comments for the opportunity to face the pound for pound king.
Mayweather insists upon US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) conducting drug tests for the fight under World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) procedures, opening the fighters to random blood tests at any time and in the days before the fight.
Pacquiao does not want blood drawn at any time near the fight, especially the potential for a disruptive early morning call, and wants a private firm such as those who handle US team sports to conduct a compromise set of tests at specific times, not including the days before the fight.
Arum said he is proposing that the Nevada commission handle the testing. It typically conducts only post-fight urine tests and, in some cases, pre-fight urine tests. However, Arum said the commission was willing to conduct additional urine and blood testing if the camps asked for it.
"We're not giving up on this fight, Greenburg said.”We'll just keep the lines of communication open. That's all you can do."
Mayweather, 40-0 with 25 knockouts, was regarded as the world's top pound-for-pound fighter before a 19-month layoff that ended last September.
Pacquiao, 50-3 with 38 knockouts, staked his claim on the pound-for-pound crown in Mayweather's absence by knocking out England's Ricky Hatton in the second round last May and stopping Miguel Cotto in the 12th round last month.
Pacquiao insists he has never used any drugs and his trainer, Freddie Roach, has condemned the opposition camp's demands for heightened levels of testing, stating: "We have passed every test ever given to us. We go by the commission rules, since when does the fighter make up the rules?"
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