Mayweather
vs. Pacquiao in Jeopardy
December 23, 2009
LOS ANGELES, CA The mega-fight
between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is now in jeopardy after
Golden Boy Promotions, on behalf of Mayweather Promotions, learned today
that Manny Pacquiao is refusing to comply with Olympic style drug
testing as outlined and mandated by the United States Anti Doping Agency
(USADA) and as requested by Mayweather's management to ensure fair play
and sportsmanship by both fighters.
Early today Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, was
contacted by Top Rank President Todd duBoef, who informed Schaefer that
Pacquiao would not agree to have his blood taken within 30-days of the
bout based on the fighter's superstition of testing so close to a fight.
Schaefer commented, "Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with
taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight. He,
Pacquiao, would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press
conference and after the fight."
Olympic style drug testing involves random sampling of the athlete's
blood and urine prior to and after the fight. The USADA procedure
includes both blood and urine sampling so that all banned substances,
some of which do not show up in urine alone, are tested for thoroughly.
"It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao's representatives,
particularly since, as of today, both parties had worked out all other
issues related to this fight," said Schaefer. "Team Mayweather is
certainly surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would
refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and
have been agreed to by many other top athletes such as Lance Armstrong,
and Olympians Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."
Mayweather, who was informed of Pacquiao's reluctance shortly after
Schaefer received word of the impasse, feels Pacquiao has to explain
himself immediately or be faced with accusations from the media and the
public regarding his own status as a clean and drug free athlete.
"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because
frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said Mayweather. "But in a
fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject
ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed
to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be
facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some
miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and
allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great
athletes, to be performed by USADA."
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions said, "We hope that Manny
will do the right thing and agree to the testing as it is an egregious
act to deny the testing and hence, deny the millions of fans the right
to see this amazing fight. We just want to make sure there is a level
playing field in a sport that is a man-to-man contest that relies on
strength and ability. I still hope this decision is coming from someone
in Pacquiao's camp and not Manny himself as it would be a shame that an
athlete of his stature and who represents his whole country would not be
able to show the public or his fellow athletes that he agrees to the
highest standards in sports competition."
