Mayweather-Pacquiao: Why it has to happen

Rather, why Pacquiao needs to smarten up and let it happen.

When word first surfaced in early December that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao planned to meet in March for all the pound-for-pound marbles, boxing purists rejoiced, casual sports fans paid attention, and this blog's comment section lit up with readers weighing in on who would triumph.

Then last week came even more news -- that Pacquiao wouldn't sign off on the fight as long as 
Mayweather's camp insisted on Olympic style doping control, which allows for random urine and blood testing from the time to fight is signed until the fighters enter the ring. If Mayweather's people didn't back off of that demand, Pacquiao's team said they would pull out of the fight.

Merry Christmas, fight fans.

Over the weekend Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, offered an alternative to Olympic-style drug testing and gave Mayweather until Monday to accept. But even as that deadline passed Tuesday dawned with the news that both sides are willing to compromise on doping, and that the Nevada Commission hoped to move negotiations forward.

And, really, do any of these plot twists surprise us?

The real surprise came three weeks ago, when important details of the bout seemed to fall into place with minimal wrangling. When egos this large negotiate over an event this big, it's normal to expect one side or the other to hold out long and hard over something, whether it's the contract weight (147 pounds), the type of gloves (8oz) or the purse split (50/50).

Now it's clear that the quick toppling of those dominoes simply concealed the real deal breaker -- drug testing. Mayweather wants to go well beyond standard procedure, while Pacquiao has said he won't consent to a blood test within 30 days of a fight.

Are Mayweather's drug test demands unprecedented?

Of course they are. Up until now the Nevada Commission's testing regimen -- pre-and post-fight urine tests -- have satisied everyone.

But are they unreasonable.

Not at all. Not for the pride at stake for these two fighters, and certainly not for the $25 million (U.S.) each of them figures to earn for the bout. Pacquaio may find the prospect of additional blood tests annoying, but when they double your salary (he made a reported $13 million in his last bout), you forfeit the right to quibble over minor nuisances.

Mayweather seems to understand that.

 

In negotiations for this fight Pacquiao's people pressed hard on the one aspect on which they thought he would bend the rules -- the contract weight. In September Mayweather was scheduled to face Juan Manuel Marquez at 144 pounds, but weighed in at 146 and paid a $600,000 fine. So for this fight team Pacquaio insisted on a fine of $10 million per pound for any fighter (read: Mayweather) who fails to make weight.

A steep demand, for sure, but Mayweather agreed to it.

Meanwhile Mayweather's people realize that Pacquiao's densely muscled physique and unreal punching power at higher weights provide circumstantial (even if flimsy) evidence of chemical enhancement, so to make sure everyone fights fair they impose a steep demand of their own.

 

But instead of agreeing Pacquiao resists, and jeopardizes not just fight of a generation but his own pristine reputation, and as a bonus concedes an edge in the psychological sparring that begins long before the fighters enter the ring.

While Mayweather has shown that neither Pacquiao's demands nor the prospect of increased drug testing bother him, Pacquiao has acted irrationally. 

He threatened a defamation suit against Mayweather, his father, Floyd Sr., and Golden Boy Promotions, even though only Mayweather Sr. has ever accused him of doping.

He and promoter Bob Arum have publicly considered replacing Mayweather with Paulie Malignaggi, even though the Brooklyn-based super lightweight thinks Pacquiao is on steroids and has said so on the record.

And he has maintained that having blood drawn within 30 days of the fight would weaken him, even as his own promoter unearthed video evidence of Pacquiao taking a blood test just two weeks before his May 2009 destruction of Ricky Hatton.

Now, none of this adds up to guilt, or even suspicion of doping (although these days even cheating on your wife can been seen as evidence that you're juicing).

But it's strange behaviour for a guy with nothing to hide.

It's out of character for a fighter who, until now, has only shown an interest in taking on the biggest challenges available.

And it's outright crazy behaviour for a guy who has 25 million reasons to consent to the test and make the fight happen.

Comments

[Apollo]

Excellent points, Morgan. All of this seems either contrived to keep this fight in the headlines from December through to March 13, or ridiculously short-sighted. Mayweather is not asking for anything that high profile Olympians do not have to deal with. Even if it all done as a mind game, Pacquiao should simply agree and let his fists do the talking in the ring.

[RJ]

I would understand if they agreed upon the 14 days (even 7 days would be fair) it took for the Hatton fight for Pacquaio to take blood. Floyd and Golden Boy wants 2 days before the fight, which in boxing is a big deal. If it is in your mind that your weaker, guess what you lose your edge. This mind game is simply a way for Floyd to get an edge.

Morgan, guess you don't realize dollars don't amount to much with Pacquaio. He has shown to be humble and humanitarian with his money, he has his faith and pride which is worth more than dollars. If someone accused you of plagarizing your entire careers worth of work, and therefore said you were unworthy of you place in life I am sure you would be as offended as Manny.

This fight will happen and in the end it will show who is the best. Once Manny wins and PBF's perfect record is ruined, I wonder what his excuse will be then.

[Jack]

I don't agree. I know it's inconsequential but Pacquiao's crown is at stake so why would Mayweather dictate the terms? If Mayweather wants to fight Pacquiao, the Nevada Athletic Commission's handling of the tests should be enough. If he doesn't agree to that, then he is just plain scared.

[Summ Well D]

Pacman made clear already that he don't want a repeat of him giving blood near the fight date which he thinks the reason why he lost to Morales because it affect him psychologically and makes him weak. The word "random" testing that the Mayweahters are insisting is unprecendented and unreasonable because it means USADA can draw Pacquiao's blood anytime even in the dressing room while the Philippine national anthem is being played in the ring and Pacquiao camp cannot do anything about it bec. they agreed to it. What is wrong with giving blood three times: 1)during the press conference 2)30 days before the fight and 3)immediately after the fight? And importantly, people should not shout "Crucify, Crucify Pacquiao" in unison because a loudmouth Maywheather Sr. started so. Pacquiao enjoys the presumption of innocence and whoever alleged otherwise has the burden of proof and not the other way around. Arum should just cancel this fight.

[entradero]

This is about Manny not being an American dominating boxing, Lance Armstrong an American tested hundreds of times by the French and tested clean, was the French satisfied? How can an American dominate Tour de France? If all this accusations are directed to Floyd instead of Manny, NAACP, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton would probably been heard from, then again, the one accused is not a black man. The C in NAACP stands for COLORED , Last time I heard, brown is a color too.

[Emarlito]

Blood testing immediately after the fight is more fair and reasonable... GBP is still bitter thats why he playing for boxing as if he is still the king... this issue is irrelevant where most expert says that steriors is more effecienntly detected by the urine test and why they still pushing blood testing by Olympic style testing... pacman did not refuse this kind of testing he is willing anyway but no on the dictate of this arrogant group which meanly tried to harrash this innocent man...mind games or simply arrogance by team maywheater

[hack__you]

http://www.letsrun.com/2003/epoqa.php
1) EPO is a naturally occurring substance in the body. Could an athlete who lives at altitude or has great genetics and thus might have more EPO in their body naturally than a normal person, test positive for EPO?
No. Currently, to be convicted of an EPO offense athletes must test positive for EPO with the urine EPO test. The urine EPO test is not an indirect test that detects unusually high EPO levels. Rather, it is a direct test that detects the actual presence of recombinant EPO (EPO from a source outside the body). Thus, it would be foolish for an athlete to argue that the test was just showing a naturally high level of natural EPO. As Dr. Catlin said to us, with the urine EPO test the testers "see a footprint of the (recombinant EPO) molecule". The World Anti-Doping Report of March 11, 2003, evaluating the urine EPO test concluded, "the urine EPO test is the only existing test to directly evaluate and prove the EPO abuse of athletes"
2) I've heard a lot about using both a blood and urine test to detect EPO use. Doesn't an athlete have to test positive for EPO on both the blood and urine test to be considered a doper?
No.
Blood testing has received a lot of attention because it is a new concept in the drug testing world. There is a blood test for EPO use, but it is only an indirect test that can be used as a screening measure to save money by determining whether the urine EPO test needs to be conducted. All the blood test does is tell the testers that the athlete has an unusual blood profile that warrants further investigation. The abnormal profile could be caused by the use of EPO, some other blood boosting drug, or just be explained by the athlete being a genetic freak or living at altitude. The testers then perform the urine EPO test to determine whether artificial EPO is the cause of the abnormality.
The blood test does not have to be done in order for the athlete to test positive for EPO.
3) If the blood test doesn't have to be performed, then why does it exist? Not only do you say it is unnecessary, but it seems quite invasive and expensive to test athletes' blood when a simple urine test could be done.
Believe it or not, the blood EPO test is much cheaper than the urine EPO test. The blood test costs somewhere in the ballpark of $60, whereas the urine test costs approximately $400 per test. The reason for this is that conducting the urine EPO test takes up a lot of the time of the technicians in the lab (sometimes up to two or three days) . Thus, the blood urine test can be used in situations to save money.
http://www.boxingtalk.com/pag/article.php?aid=18983
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.

[DaveD70]

When Roy Jones Jr. was asked about this drug testing issue he said something like this:

GL: Do you see anything in Pacquiao that would lead you to feel suspicious?

RoyJones: "No. The kid is strong, he came up in weight and brought his stregth. Nowadays the testing is good enough, they got it to where you can't even take over the counter products. I can testify to that. The testing is very good right now and there's nothing he could really do that they can't find. Why make Pacquiao take the test and not anybody else?"

GL: Would you have made such a concession for John Ruiz or any of your other big fights?

RoyJones: "Hell naw. Why change the rules on me? Because I'm coming up in weight means I'm doing steroids? They're giving you a test for that anyway. It would be something that would aggravate me because then after I beat you, I was on something, don't play with me. Either you want to fight or you don't want to fight.

The above is an unbiased account of a great boxer who says Mayweather is just ducking or playing the mind games.

[reggie]

Manny never failed a drug test, so why should he do something that will interupt his routine? imagine you training and then somebody asking you to give blood. now you mind is like " f u c k! i passed every test, now i gotta give blood just cause this fool said so and not because its required". You picture mayweater laughing his as off, knowing he had the power to make you do it. it takes your mind off of you routine, it gets under your skin. its in your head, cause of all the fights manny had fought, all of a sudden i gotta give blood cause this fool puts lies out there! that would totally get to me. so you do your best and try to focus on training. couple of days go bye and... wait we need more blood(cause they want unlimited testing random testing) man, mayweather jr should have random unlimited tax audits, and SR. should have unlimited random drug searches! atleast they have a history of it

[Foxbat]

A lot of people just failed to understand that the main issue here is not on the details of the Olympic Style of drug testing DICTATED by the Mayweather camp. The main point here is who is Mayweather to dictate the terms of the drug test.Not even Manny who is the champion and the P4P king has the right to dictate. The drug test should be done under the rules of the NSAC which has been administering all boxing matches in Las Vegas for the past 40 years. If the Mayweather camp think that the existing rules are simply ineffective to ensure an even playing field, then they should petition the NSAC to change the rules. As Bob Arum has categorically said lately, Manny is willing to submit himself to blood test even every f@#^$ng day within the 30 days period up to fight night and after if this is what the NSAC requires. So unless this issue is settled first, everything under this drug test issue is simply moot and academic.

[Morgan Campbell]

A few of things to remember, guys:

1. Random doesn't mean inevitable, and just because testers could theoretically ask either fighter to submit to a test right up until they walk to the ring doesn't mean it will happen. And nor does it mean Pacquiao will be the only fighter subject to this type of drug test pestering. Mayweather has already agreed to undergo Olympic style drug testing, so it's not like he's asking for a separate set of rules for Pacquiao.

2. It's Manny's responsibility to step up and sign off on the fight because at this point sports fans and the sports media are skeptical of all athletes. Folks look sideways at physique transformations that seem extreme, and even though Pacquiao's much-discussed pro debut at 106 pounds took place when he was just 16 years old, there's a perception that he developed welterweight muscles overnight. Perception isn't reality, but it's powerful nonetheless, and if Pacquaio wants to dispel the doping doubts and rumours that attach themselves to every athlete who has the kind of success he's had over the last two years, he needs to consent to the drug testing. Yes, it sucks, but thanks to people like Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery (admitted dopers who never failed a drug test) and a decade of juiced-up major league baseball, a clean drug test record simply won't satisfy skeptics. It sucks but these days the burden of proof often falls on the athlete.

2a. By reacting the way he has to this drug testing proposal, Pacquiao has shown he's already playing Mayweather's mind game -- and losing. He has no reason to threaten lawsuits against people who never slandered him, or propose alternative fights against fighters who actually have accused him of juicing. But he's doing it anyway. As I outined above, this is truly strange behaviour for a guy in Pacquaio's position. To me it doesn't suggest that he's guilty of anything, but it show's clearly that he has allowed Mayweather to get into his head -- which is just where Mayweather wants to be right now. Best thing for Pacquaio to do right now is sign the contract, settle things in the ring and collect the biggest cheque of his career.

3. The champion doesn't dictate the terms of the fight -- the fighter who brings the most money to the bout does that. Thats how Pacquiao (challenger) forced Cotto (champion) to defend the welterweight bout at the Pacquiao-friendly weight of 145 pounds. In this case, both guys bring a ton of attention to the fight, so both guys think they can dictate terms. In a fight where the purse is split 50/50, this standoff over testing is just one more test to see which fighter really does have more clout.

[jca]

Because the negotiation has gone way off track and has been argued in the press, each camp’s pride and ego has gotten in the way of any reasonable agreement. No one in either camp would want to look as if they have caved in from either demands. Mayweather’s demand although half of the boxing world may not agree, is in and of itself a reasonable one. He is simply convinced with his doubt that Manny is hiding something that might give him an unfair advantage come fight night. You and I cannot take that away from him and his camp. We have to give him the benefit of the doubt and only when we do can we start to find a reasonable and meaningful solution to this demand. On the same token, Manny who has passed all the drug test the governing body has given him, has the right to say no. After all we cannot accuse him of PED usage without proof whether substantial or consequential. It would be below the dignity of us all to subject him with this horrendous circus and demean his reputation and name. The Mayweather camp should have been mindful of this when they ask for this request (or demand) to begin with. What Irritated the Pacquiao camp was the total disregard for respect taking away the dignity of their own doubt. The doubt in itself is reasonable and true, but the way it was projected was with malice and mischief. You cannot do that to anybody. Nobody in his or her right mind will give in to that request. Whether it was Oscar, or Floyd, or Schaefer, or Floyd Sr. - they all projected an image in public that was so demeaning to Manny and his achievements. We must remember that Manny takes his work seriously on the same level as Floyd. Questioning Manny’s achievement in a very malicious way was the wrong approach. This I believe is the reason why the deadlock. What would be the correct solution? Given the present condition of the negotiation, and the fact that now neither camps will give in to any demands, is to give this to the commission and let them decide what testing must take place. You cannot even move this to arbitration because it will only drag to more days constricting the time for promotion and training. Both camps may give their briefs to the commission and agree to abide to whatever the commission decides. Schaefer made a good point in passing the idea that this cannot be a decision by the commission since this is part of the negotiations for the fight. Yes it is true but because they ask this request wrongly as stated above diminishes this argument. Again the only solution is to give this to a bona fide body who has the authority to alter, modify, and even set aside or relax any rules of boxing within the state of Nevada.

[ronski]

if your not filipino you wouldn't understand why we believe pacman is innocent,just like u guys if someone has an opinion with a celebrity african american,you guys always says you dont understand unless you are black..always defensive etc..bottomline why change the rules now?

[Lary Lachica]

People sell their souls for money.....Manny don't and he doesn't care if he losses 25-40 Million...

Does Floyd and Oscar and Schaffear cares? Better asked them....

Go by the RULES of NSAC and lets get it done....

[ESP]

This is boxing at it's best - one great fighter trying to get the edge on the other great fighter. No one really knows what goes on in the negotiations or what "tactics" either of the camps have in mind to apply next. For all we know, it's a ploy by both promoters (Top Rank & GBP) to hype up the fight even more and eventually sign the contract on the 11th hour as the climax. Everyone can and will have doubts about PacMan and PED's as well as Floyd Jr's true intentions with the blood test. Mayweather Jr. could be trying his luck in overstepping the Commission by asking for more tests (never been done before) on the fight of "his career". You could question why PacMan doesn't want the test done inside the 30 days before the fight or if Floyd Jr is just trying to find ways to get into Manny's head. A lot of reports and blogs have said this is Floyd's way of getting ahead of his opponents. I say, let the promoters do what they want and let Money Jr. and PacMan fight the real negotiations in the ring. Let the Nevada commission decide whether the fight will go on, not Floyd Mayweather Jr. and GBP or Pacquiao and Top Rank. Wow, all this hype and I STILL have to pay $60 for PPV. I wonder if I can ask Floyd Mayweather Jr, Golden Boy Promotions & Top Rank to do an Olympic-style blood test first before I order the PPV. Forget about them making $25mil each. Without me, they'll each only make $24,999,970.00 (no GST, PST).

[Wall $treet]

Morgan,

It's quite clear that the majority of the people who have responded here, especially the ignorant racial comments, fail to recognize, acknowledge &/or point out the painfully obvious: Mayweather has acquiesced to every request & not been a difficult negotiation, as Bob Arum has maintained Floyd would be because PBF left his plantation years ago to be his own boss.

Floyd is subject to the same blood testing, has not accused Pacquiao of anything & eerily enough to many, is coming out looking like the righteous one in this whole escapade. How can Floyd be afraid to fight Manny when he signed the deal first, agreed to the 50/50 split to ensure the fight happened, as well as this retarded 10M per pound over the limit request & yet HE'S the bad guy? Funny...

I love Manny, too, but if he's about to pull a Margarito, I have to question most of his recent accomplishments. While he will present the biggest test for Floyd to date, he cannot beat Mayweather...

Manny...Stop making excuses & make the fight happen. Your lawsuit is frivolous & has only made you look suspicious in the Court of Public Opinion, whether you actually are or not.

Signed,

A Real Boxing Fan!

[justaboxingfan]

Just to inform the Mayweathers and GBP that EPO, HGH and PED can be detected from urine!!!

http://www.wada-ama.org/en/Resources1/Q-and-A/Q-A-EPO-Detection/

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5732723_there-test-detect-hgh-use_.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5502951_tests-performance-enhancing-drugs.html

[Jason Abelson]

I take great umbrage with "a real boxing fan"

First off, if you want to remove race from the discussion, you can't, in the very next sentence, say the Floyd left Bob Arum's "plantation."

Is race an issue, or isn't it?

Second, Manny Pacquiao's crime has been his dominance in the ring, and not any transgression out side of it. Comparing him to Margarito is beyond ignorant. His gloves have never been loaded. He's NEVER tested positive for PEDs. His name hasn't appeared on a BALCO client list, and he's never testified to using PEDs to a grand jury.

I wouldn't want to give any type of credence to Mayweather's hollow, shallow, jealous, and ignorant allegations either, or have to submit to his random blood tests.

This should have been introduced by a governing, or regulatory body, and not by an opponent bent on character assassination.

Happily, it's Mayweather's character that seems to be taking a mortal blow, and not Pacquiao's.

But as much as I want to see the egg on Mayweather's face, his ultimate humiliation (fighting for next to nothing against an opponent other than Pacquiao) would be an even bigger stain on the sport itself.

This fight has to made. Anything less would kill the undeniable progress the sport have made in the last 3 years.

But let it be known, if this fight dies, Mayweather and that hypocrite Richard Schaeffer will be the chief conspirators.

[ayoto]

Oh yes! floyd jr, oskie and richie rich all accused pacman of steroids not just floyd sr and paulie.
So it's just right to sue 'em.

[elizabeth]

that dude is strongggg.