Floyd sets record straight

Nevada State Athletic Commission order tests within 48 hours

Last updated: 30th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Floyd sets record straight

Mayweather: Statement

Let the record be clear; Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum are threatening to walk away from the largest fight in history.

Team Mayweather statement
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Floyd Mayweather believes Manny Pacquiao's refusal to submit to blood testing is a sign that the Filipino doesn't want to fight him.

The bout between the two had been scheduled for March 13 but the deal is in danger of collapsing after a difference of opinion between the two camps.

Mayweather's team have insisted on US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) protocols, including random blood tests at any point beforehand.

However Pacquiao has refused to be subjected to testing 30 days before the fight, believing that doing so would weaken him so close to the bout.

Statement

Now Mayweather's camp have hit back, releasing a statement, in conjunction with Golden Boy Promotions, claiming that Pac-Man and his promoter Bob Arum are failing to see the benefits from testing.

"Let the record be clear; Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum are threatening to walk away from the largest fight in history," the statement read.

"It is disappointing for us to see that the benefits of blood testing, and the fact that many different substances and procedures can only be detected by blood testing, are still not fully understood at all.

"Their 'take it or leave it' approach, where blood testing would stop 30 days prior to the fight unless the Nevada State Commission (NSAC) approved differently, is another indication that they may not want this fight."

Pacquiao had threatened to take legal action in a statement he released on Boxing Day, while also assuring everyone that he had not taken "any form or kind of steroids".

Team Mayweather have looked to defuse the row, though, adding: "Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything.

"But the reality seems to be that, for whatever reason, Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to, prior to and during competition.

Concession

"Also, when told that Pacquiao feels that the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is an agent of Golden Boy Promotions - which is in and of itself a ridiculous accusation - we moved swiftly and made yet another concession by stating that we would be perfectly fine to retain another agency which would do the random urine and blood tests and jointly agree on a reasonable cut-off prior to the fight, but which would still maintain the integrity of the results.

"Let it be clear that this procedure was declined by Pacquiao as was the proposal to bring in an independent mediator such as Senator John McCain, a suggestion that was in fact embraced by Bob Arum, but also declined by Manny Pacquiao."

The Nevada State Athletic Commission have reacted to the disagreement by ordering both boxers to submit to tests within 48 hours.

"That at least starts the ball rolling," said Keith Kizer, the commission's executive director.

"I don't know if this will help the chances of the fight happening. But with all this talk of drug tests, let's actually do one."

Comments (20)

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John Almond says...

It is now clear to me that Manny would win a popularity contest against Mayweather Jnr any day and twice on Sunday. What is sure to me though is Mayweather Jnr would beat him in the ring any day and twice on Sunday! I think Manny has improved since his two fights against Marquez. I would like a rematch between the two though. If that happens it will be the same old story. Saw how FMJ won so easily against Marquez? I so badly want the match between Manny and Mayweather Jnr to take place. It will so shut all these haters up that all they will claim is "boring Mayweather Jnr". All Manny has is true lion heart. But you need more than that to win against pure talent like Mayweather Jnr, his big mouth not withstanding. I can't wait!

Posted 07:23 31st December 2009

Ger Doolan says...

mayweather is a disgrace. pacman forget this loser and go fight a real person not a coward

Posted 01:45 31st December 2009

Kal D says...

This doesn't make sense either way. Manny is happy to do the test straight after the fight so it is unlinkely he's cheating. But doesn't want to do them before, and it is a bit far fetched that giving blood 30 days before a fight is going to make any difference at all. I guess it's just politics. Mayweather wants to get under manny's skin by making demands (and had this demand been accepted, he would have just made more until something did work) and the manny camp probably had enough. Nothing to do with drugs

Posted 01:34 31st December 2009

Prince 1407 says...

if manny has nothing to hide , let him take the test, we have had too much drug scandals in sports of late, remember marion jones.. she was the best b4 the falcogate.. for the spirit of sportmanship, i supports money in this issue

Posted 00:24 31st December 2009

Muneer Khan says...

mayweather is a great fighter with an excellent stance. manny has speed and power greater than floyd. this rubbish about blood testing is a mental tactic to break mannys concentration and mess up his head. this will be a great fight. i believe manny will knock out floyd, if not then mayweather will win on points. all you out there stop stressing this fight will happen.

Posted 23:50 30th December 2009

Mike Wilson says...

Come off it .... manny , scared ? No way . manny has already conceded to floyds camp the glove size , weight parameters and let them dictate a lot of the finance side of the fight - why should manny let floyd dictate when he is tested and how often - this is a nonsense and do not think for one minute floyd would let manny force him into extra tests ??? get real . Its a ploy , pure and simple - mayweather wants to slink away with his 0 intact and claim some sort of moral victory over the manny camp - plus ol man mayweather snr - is scared as hell of losing to roach again . though last time out it was all hattons fault for being naive .

Posted 23:40 30th December 2009

Robbie Herd says...

I am a great fan of boxing however I am absolutely gobsmacked by these two so called hard men. Mind games from Mayweather and a refusal of a little injection from Manny Pac. I think both fighters are so waery of each other that they don't want to fight at all. Floyd is trying to throw a spanner in the works and I am sure if the boot was on the other foot he would react the same. Pac man is not endearing himself as a hard man if he can't give a blood sample and get over it. Everyone else has a little lie down for half an hour and a cup of sweet tea then they are right as rain. Get over it your pair of wusses and crack on fighting, people are saving their asses off to try and get tickets for this fight and these two girls are bickering over nothing. Makes me sick.

Posted 23:20 30th December 2009

Josh Howard says...

I dont get why all you people in these comments are hating on Mayweather so bad????? Mayweather has proven himself in the ring against some of the best : Hatton, De La Hoya, Marquez..... Do i need to say anymore?? I dont dislike Pac-Man at all, ill be honest to say i prefer Money Mayweather yeh, but this is set to be ONE OF THE GREATEST fights in the history of boxin. Should we not just be glad its happening. Im only 14 and i've been doing boxing since i was 4, and i've been wanting this fight to happen since they both beat De La Hoya and now its finally here!! COME ON MAYWEATHER..WE LOVE YOU..EVEN IN ENGLAND :P

Posted 22:44 30th December 2009

John Alty says...

I would like to know why Mayweather has never asked for this in any of his previous fights, I think he is trying to protect his unbeaten record, and seeing what Manny has done to De La Hoya, Cotto, and Hatton, I think Maywether is using the blood testing as a reason to get out of the fight, he knows he will get stopped by Manny and his unbeaten record will go, the blood testing is a smokescreen to show he does not want this fight. If he is as good as he talks just take the fight (earn loads of money) and show the world that you really are the pound for pound best boxer in the world Mayweather

Posted 20:06 30th December 2009

Andy Williams says...

Mayweather is clearly trying to dodge this fight in my opinion, he knows his unblemished record is going to be severely threatened at the very least. Whose he really been in there with??? a much lighter Marquez ,a De la hoya who had seen far better days & Hatton, who as much as we all love him,was always a bit out of his depth. The guy just wants to make it look like Manny is runnin' scared but the majority of us know the truth!

Posted 18:58 30th December 2009

Ayo Odumade says...

Floyd Mayweather has always claimed that he has not got the repsect he deserves but how can anyone respect him after his latest stunt? I do not think Mayweather ever had any intention of fighting the Pacman. I think Mayweather needs him more than the pacman needs him. If this fight is ever made it will only motivate the Pacman more to knock out this classless Mayweather as soon as possible!

Posted 09:59 30th December 2009

Will United says...

I really don't know why Manny is running scared. If it were Floyd that is refusing to take the test, all you floyd haters and the media would have labeled him a cheater. Manny please take day the test if you got nothing to hide. You can't be scared of neddle and blood when you got all those tattoo all over your body.

Posted 13:50 29th December 2009

Wajid Bhatti says...

Manny should not even fight Money May. Mayweather doesn't even deserve to share a ring with a fighter like Manny. Mayweather does not really want to fight Manny hence why he has got in contact with M.Hatton, a fighter that Mayweather would clearly beat no disrespect to M.Hatton. Mayweather choose's fighters that he knows he would beat. Manny is the TRUE P4P, you only have to look at his record to see the fighters that he has beat. Manny has never said no to any opponent or tried to riggle his way out. Mayweather on the other hand has declined to fight fighters such as A.Margarito, M.Cotto, P.Williams, S.S.Mosley, any real boxing fan would know Mayweather protects his unbeatin record with fighters he 100% knows that he cant lose. He's got no heart, and if he where to dare step in the ring with the P4P champ, I personal think that Manny will finish Mayweather inside 10 rounds. Mayweather will do what he normally does in the ring which is "run" but Manny will catch and destroy him. Manny in the ring finds the true you.

Posted 13:36 29th December 2009

Beano Smalls says...

manny has agreed to blood testing immediately after the fight so why can mayweather not accept this? he is all about the money and this is the most he will ever make but for the first time realizes this is the one he will lose. as bob arum said mayweather is afraid of losing his zero. he is trying to get out of this fight while at the same time looking as if he wanted it all along. go ahead and fight a few losers like matthew hatton then by the time u are finished with them manny may have retired if u r lucky

Posted 13:10 29th December 2009

Ryan Smith says...

To me, the fact that Pacqiao is unwilling to do blood tests leading up to the fight, suggests one of two things, as has been mentioned. 1) Pacqiao is using it as an excuse not to fight Merryweather and is scared of Merryweather. 2) that Pacqiao is using banned substances. I hope somehow the fight still happens, would love to watch it. and my money is on Merryweather.

Posted 12:57 29th December 2009

Adam Stead says...

Enough of all this childs play, im pretty sure both of them want this fight simply because of the pay check both will earn! the fight is an inevitability in my opinion, just sign the contract and give the boxing fans of the world what they want! Im sick and tired of hearing mayweather say this and pacman saying that! just get it on

Posted 11:59 29th December 2009

Paul Johnson says...

Absolute rubbish Floyd!!! more like he won't play your childish games. The commission rules are fine, the Pacquiao camp is just not going to let Mayweather dictate drug testing rules to the detriment of their fighter.

Posted 10:46 29th December 2009

Simon Mullarkey says...

If this fight doesnt happen, it will hurt boxing in a bad way.

Posted 10:41 29th December 2009

Roy Padayachy says...

Since its not an Olympic boxing match, the fighters should not be subjected to Olympic-style testing, bottom-line - there are other tests involved and that should be sufficient for this fight too. In the condition they are in, blood tests so close to the fight will weaken the boxer. If Floyd is so concerned about drug/substance abuse, I don't think Pacquiao would decline a lie detector test ... I think we can see where this is going ... get in the ring and fight guys, the world is watching !

Posted 10:40 29th December 2009

Mick Boyle says...

c'mon lads sort out your differences and get this fight on now. It would be a travesty if it doesn't happen, the two best fighters in the world since leonard-hagler. Im just gonna go for Manny to shade it because he's been more active

Posted 10:38 29th December 2009
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