MOST DEPRESSING
Pacquiao-Mayweather impasse: The negotiations for the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super fight on March 13 in Las Vegas seemed to have gone more smoothly than anyone could’ve expected. It was too good to be true. Something that should’ve been uplifting -– the making of the biggest-possible fight –- turned into something ugly. Mayweather demanding Olympic-style testing for performance-enhancing drugs, Pacquiao refusing to comply, Pacquiao threatening to sue Mayweather and Co. for impugning his character … ugh. We can only hope that the acrimony translates to feverish intensity in the ring if they’re able to come to terms and actually fight.
MOST-OMINOUS NEWS
Arum’s final offer: Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, on Sunday issued what he called his final offer to save the fight. Arum told The Associated Press that he wants to leave the testing in the hands of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which could kill the fight because there are no guarantees that blood testing would be done. Mayweather is still demanding that Pacquiao agree to random blood tests, Richard Schaefer, Mayweather’s promoter, confirmed to Yahoo! Sports. The NSAC wouldn’t make a ruling on how it would handle the testing until it meets on Jan. 19. Nevada normally conducts only urine tests. Arum said he will open negotiations with Paulie Malignaggi as a replacement opponent if a deal with Mayweather isn’t reached by Monday.
MOST MISTAKEN
Playing the anti-Filipino card: Some people seem to think that Pacquiao is being victimized because he’s a Filipino fighting in the United States. Nothing could be further from the truth. Americans (including every boxing writer I know) have tremendous respect for Pacquiao because of who he is and what he’s done in the ring. That’s why he one of the most-popular athletes in this country. You think Americans care that Albert Pujols is from the Dominican Republic? Or that Alexander Ovechkin is from Russia? Or that Manu Ginobili is from Argentina? Of course not. Calling this an anti-Filipino thing is as unfair as accusing Pacquiao of taking PEDs without any proof.
MOST UNFAIR
Accusing Pacquiao of taking PEDs: Pacquiao doesn’t deserve this. The man lifted himself out of poverty to become the greatest boxer in the world and a hero to his countrymen, an inspiring story if there ever was one. To suggest that he did it with the help of performance-enhancing drugs with absolutely no proof –- as Floyd Mayweather Sr has done -– is a gross injustice. By all accounts, Pacquiao is one of the hardest workers ever to step into a gym. We have to assume that his work ethic and his natural gifts are responsible for his success unless concrete or even anecdotal evidence to the contrary emerges. So far, none has. Thus, we must assume that Pacquiao is perfectly clean and should celebrate his profound success.
MOST UNFAIR II
Vilifying Mayweather Jr.: I’m not in the habit of defending the younger Mayweather because he’s not my favorite person. However, those who are skewering him for demanding that Pacquiao take random drug tests are not being entirely fair. If you believe a fighter as dangerous as Pacquiao is taking performance-enhancing substances -– and I think Mayweather truly does –- then you too would want the most-effective testing available before you exchange punches with him. And remember: Mayweather would be subjected to the same testing. Also, to be clear, I don’t believe Mayweather Jr. has accused Pacquiao of actually taking illegal substances. Only his father has done that. The elder Mayweather is the one who should be criticized.
MOST EFFECTIVE
USADA testing: Pacquiao and his handlers refused to allow the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to do the testing because, as they put it, the organization is too inflexible. They didn’t want the fighter to be subjected to random blood tests too close to the fight because he believes it weakens him. One thing should be made clear, though: The USADA is inflexible for a reason. According to experts, Olympic-style testing –- which the USADA employs -– is the most-effective in the world. It’s also very expensive, one reason Nevada uses a less-stringent -– and less-effective -– form of testing. One example: Nevada doesn’t test for the hormone Erythropoietin (EPO), about which former ring doctor Margaret Goodman said: “In certain respects, I think EPO is the perfect drug for boxing. … It’s going to get you the most bang for your buck.”
MOST IRONIC
Pacquiao vs. Malignaggi: The choice of Paulie Malignaggi as a possible replacement for Mayweather has left me shaking my head. Let me get this straight. Pacquiao-Mayweather hits a monumental snag over drug testing, after which Pacquiao threatens to sue Mayweather and Co. for suggesting he has taken performance-enhancing drugs. So who does Pacquiao turn to? The one fighter who openly expressed his suspicions that Pacquiao has used such drugs, Malignaggi. Amusing. I actually think Malignaggi deserves the opportunity and could give Pacquiao more trouble than anyone since Juan Manuel Marquez because of his boxing ability and toughness. However, if he’s the choice, the drug issue could remain front and center.
MOST ORCHESTRATED?
Pacquiao-Mayweather impasse: The thought crossed my mind (as it did some readers) that the blood-testing snag was orchestrated by the promoters to drum up publicity. I normally wouldn’t put anything past Arum and Schaefer, two of the smartest people I’ve ever met. I don’t think they planned this, though. Pacquiao, a proud man, wouldn’t approve of anything that would bring his integrity into question, which unfortunately has been the result of this sad situation. The fact remains that the fight has received profound exposure in just about every media outlet, which can’t hurt in the long run if the sides somehow come to terms.
BEST QUOTE
Bob Arum, giving what he called his final proposal to save the Pacquiao-Mayewather fight: “We will go along with what the Nevada commission decides. We will give them a blank check. We want this fight to go forward.” Arum was speaking to The Associated Press
