Thursday, January 7, 2010
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
I just read today the news about the canceled fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is a big blow not just for the boxing world but to all boxing fans and all other businesses surrounding the mega fight. People always say that this bout could be the biggest earning so far, an estimated $30-40 million for each fighter but unfortunately it was too good to be true.
What made the fight a no-go?
First, Team Mayweather demanded an Olympic style of testing athletes for PED or performance enhancing drugs which athletes use to have an edge during competition. This Olympic style of testing is random blood and urine test, any day and any hour before and after the scheduled fight. According to Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, it is so random, they can get blood test during nights or even hours before the actual fight.
Second, Team Pacquiao refused to undergo Olympic style random testing because Pacquiao has never tested positive in all his fights and believed regulated testing by Nevada boxing associations were sufficient to prove that he is not using PEDs. Furthermore, Team Pacquiao believe that the Mayweather group is asking too much and are way over their heads to dictate such a condition of blood testing before a boxing fight. Olympic style testing was never done before for a boxing fight.
Now, different opinions are beginning to surface on which fighter did not really want to go on with the fight. For Mayweather fans, of course it would be Pacquiao. A good example is a regular writer of Yahoo sports who actually made a statement asking why wouldn't Pacquiao agree with the Olympic style tests, mentioning Pacquiao hates needles and pointing out that he has tattoos all over his body. It is unfair to actually question Pacquiao since having tattoos is totally different from giving blood for test within the same day of the fight. Does it have physical effects? Majority says no, but who are we to actually judge a boxer before one of the biggest fights of his career? Truly no one needs any distraction before a fight of this magnitude. How about Pacquiao fans? Obviously the common reason for the fight to be canceled is Mayweather really doesn't want to fight the smaller Pacquiao. He has avoided big name fighters such as Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Paul Williams or even Antonio Margarito. He asked for an Olympic style of testing just for Pacquiao but not for Marquez, Dela Hoya or Hatton. How could he doubt that Pacquiao is using PEDs? He actually went through the same thing. He started to collect his championship belts at 130lbs, then 135, 140 and 145. Pacquiao went the same road. Even Oscar Dela Hoya. All of them started on a lighter weight.
Anyway, a lot of boxing fans are really disappointed to what happened to the much anticipated boxing fight of the year or possibly for the decade. Who wants Pacquiao fighting Yuri Foreman or Mayweather fighting Malignaggi? Foreman may have a bigger future but Malignaggi? This guy was actually beaten bad by Ricky Hatton who was destroyed by both Pacquiao and Mayweather. Who will watch these fights? No wonder people are turning to UFC and MMA. These guys really fight, no cowards, no conditions. They fight for themselves and their fans. Nobody cares about the money except their promoters. Mayweather should think again and again before walking away from this fight. He will be known as one of the biggest cowards who stepped on a boxing ring. He will not be remembered by his big fights with Dela Hoya, Hatton and Marquez but as a boxer who ran away from his biggest rival. Now everybody thinks that even he himself believes that it is actually Manny Pacquiao who will give him his first loss and give him a beating he will never forget.
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1 comment:
I think, bottom line, Mayweather chickened out. Peace!
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