Manny Pacquiao doesn't want Olympic-style drug testing before Mayweather fight

[OnePimpTiger]

Testing fuss jeopardizes Pacquiao-Mayweather fight

The Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather welterweight title megafight, tentatively scheduled for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is in jeopardy because of the camps' failure to agree on the manner of drug testing for the fight.

In an interview late Tuesday with the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told the newspaper that the fight is off.

According to Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Mayweather, Pacquiao refused Tuesday to agree to the Olympic-style drug testing procedures the sides had been negotiating.

Mayweather requested that the drug testing for the fight be in compliance with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which handles testing for Olympians, "to ensure fair play and sportsmanship by both fighters."

"We're going in a different direction," Arum told the Grand Rapids newspaper. "What I believe is that Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao.

"We appeased Mayweather by agreeing to a urine analysis at any time, and blood testing before the press conference and after the fight. Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in. He knew that Manny gets freaked out when his blood gets taken, and feels that it weakens him. This is just harassment and, to me, just signaled that he didn't want the fight."

Olympic style testing is more rigorous than the drug testing performed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and other state commissions. It would involve random blood and urine testing before and after the fight. Nevada commission testing only tests urine for banned substances, once just before the fight and once immediately following the fight.

Floyd Mayweather Sr., the fighter's father, has repeatedly accused Pacquiao of taking illegal substances, even though Pacquiao denies it and he has never failed a drug test.

According to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who is negotiating the deal with Top Rank president Todd duBoef, Pacquiao refuses to have his blood drawn within 30 days of the bout based on his superstition of testing so close to a fight.

"Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight," Schaefer said. "He, Pacquiao, would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight."

Does anybody else even follow boxing? This has the potential to be a HUGE fight and to see it threatened by something like this is irritating. All I'd heard last night and in a few other articles is that Pacquiao refused Olympic-style testing before the fight, which obviously makes you think he's trying to hide something. But, this article points out that he is fine with testing any time up until 30 days before the fight AND right after the fight. To me, if it's in his blood before the fight, it will be there after the fight and testing would find it then just as easily. If he's willing to do that, I don't think there should be a problem and now I can see the point that Mayweather is just trying to get in his head. Thoughts?

[shortking98]

I also heard Pacquiao is somewhat afraid of needles and it is somewhat of a superstitious thing as well with taking blood close to the fight. Bottom line though is there is way too much money on the line for both parties to call it off over something like this

[windmortal]

Can boxing become any more pathetic ...

MMA is the combat sport now.

[tutall]

I love boxing and can not wait to see this fight... that said, i would be shocked if any major boxer is involved in this stuff... testing is way too advanced in my opinion for someone to chance it.

[dfr52]

Heard about the story today and it does seem like Mayweather is just doing this to rattle Pacquiao.

[OnePimpTiger]

I watched Around the Horn, PTI, and some Sportscenter tonight and only Adande mentioned the fact that Pacquiao was fine with testing after the fight. It seems like they're glossing over that fact, which does make it look like Pacquiao has something to hide. Of course all of it is just buying in to the hype building that this is really all about. They're reporting the fight is "likely off." Really? They're estimating 3 million PPV sales at around $50 each...that's $150 million on PPV sales alone. There's no way this fight isn't happening, this has to be just a ploy to draw more attention and go for 3.5 mil PPV.

[Rybowski]

I think that if you have nothing to hide, then agree to it. Mayweather to me just wants a fair fight, and I would too if this is going to be the strongest opponent I ever fought. The best fight ever should have a level playing field. If Pac-Man is afraid of needles, punch him in the nose and get blood the old fashion way.

[OnePimpTiger]

But doesn't consenting to a blood test after the fight show he has nothing to hide? I say if he'll take a blood test that night or the next day, that's just as good as taking it the day before.

[tutall]

taking blood can have an affect on people and different people different ways... i know i wouldnt want to have blood taken the day of or the day before a basketball game when i was in high school. I gave blood one time and passed out from it, and yes i know donating blood and giving a sample for blood testing is different but like OPT said... if you give a sample the night after the fight you will still test positive if you are on anything.

[OnePimpTiger]

Not to mention he has agreed to urine tests any time, it's just the blood tests that he doesn't want in the 30 days up to the fight. Urine tests don't show HGH, but if he's on that, it would show up in a post-fight blood test too.