I think I made my thoughts on “bloodtestgate” pretty clear last week, so I won’t beat a dead horse too much. I do have few additional opinions though. It blows me away that folks are taking the position that Manny must be hiding something because he won’t give into Floyd and Golden Boy’s demands. You don’t negotiate with terrorists, and you sure as hell don’t submit to character smearing bullies. It’s a BS position to state that “multiple” people have accused Manny, so he needs to prove himself. The accusations are baseless. Those who have accused Manny are just pulling crap out of the air like, “Manny has looked so good while gaining weight, he must be on something”. Are you serious? That’s just jealously and spite.
There is no smoking gun. Nobody has seen Manny do anything with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). He’s not linked to a shady doctor, or a dirty trainer or stable of fighters who dope up. There is simply no basis for the accusations. None. Manny doesn’t need to prove a goddamn thing.
Also, nobody has given me an explanation for a way Manny can “fool” a blood test done in January, then 30 days before the fight(or 2 weeks if they must), and lastly immediately after the fight. How could Manny cheat for an advantage during such an arrangement? Manny’s a nicer guy than me, but I’d be delighted if a smiling Manny got a blood test done immediately after the fight while sitting on a stool next to an unconscious Mayweather Jr. He could even do his interview with Larry Merchant while the blood is taken, “Pardon me Larry, but they gotta take this blood, so sleeping knucklehead down there knows he got knocked out naturally.” But screw the blood tests, and screw the whole Mayweather and Golden Boy crew.
Imagine if Kobe Bryant decided that there’s no way Lebron and Shaq aren’t on PEDs. Lebron is just too incredibly fast, and athletic for a guy his size. Shaq shouldn’t be able to put up a 10 and 7, at age 37, while only playing a little over 20 minutes a game, after 17 years in the league. What if Kobe says that he wants random blood tests on these two, or he isn’t playing them? What about Dwight Howard? He’s a physical freak. No guy his size should be able to jump like that right? What if Kobe and Laker management picked certain players and refused to play them unless they submitted to extra random blood tests; tests Kobe’s willing to take himself, but not otherwise required by the league? Outside of Kobe groupies, any rational observer will think his position is unreasonable, petty, and full of crap. David Stern would tell Kobe to go blow himself, and threaten to fine him into bankruptcy unless he appeared for the games.
The analogy can go toward any sport, or any situation. It’s a variation of the ole “How long have you been beating your wife, you haven’t?….prove it.”
If Manny and Top Rank have made any mistakes since this issue broke, it’s that they’ve given too many statements and excuses. He should have given one statement, “Dear Floyd Mayweather and Golden Boy, Fuck you. I’ll do whatever is required for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and state sanctioning bodies–no more no less.” Manny should treat these assholes the way President Obama treats the “birther” movement. Treat them like the irrational, desperate, spiteful clowns that they are.
Manny could play dirty himself. He could demand that Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer submit to lie-detector tests about whether or not any bribes, threats, or other shady shenanigans influenced the scoring in Diaz v. Malignaggi I and Funeka v. Guzman. What? Manny just needs a level playing field, right? A fight should be judged fairly. At least with those atrocious scorecards there’s SOMETHING to the accusations. What would Golden Boy have to hide?
By the way, I’m just making a point, but if Golden Boy Promotions wants to sue me for the “allegations”, send the subpoena to 1234 Kiss My Ass Drive, Tampa, Florida 33619.
I have no idea how successful Manny will be with his defamation/slander lawsuit. I am glad he’s pursuing it. You can’t let people bully and smear you. On a completely different set of circumstances, Lou Dibella successfully sued Bernard Hopkins for defamation several years back. I have no idea whether Mayweather v. Pacquiao ever happens in the ring, but round 1 will be in court. Golden Boy and Mayweather have nobody to blame but themselves.
Manny’s Next Opponent
I’m not too excited about the prospect of Pacquiao vs. Malignaggi. Paulie wouldn’t have a shot in hell of winning the fight. It would be a replay of Hatton vs. Malignaggi, except Paulie would receive 2x the punishment. Also, although I think Manny should eventually try for an 8th title in an 8th division against Yuri Foreman, I’d like to see that fight as a career finale. I don’t want to see him mess with his weight too much right now, with big money fights at welterweight still out there. Also, financially, a Malignaggi or Foreman fight makes more sense in New York as opposed to Las Vegas. Both potential opponents have fanbases in the New York area where they reside.
Only one fight makes sense for me right now–Pacquiao vs. Marquez III. If I’m Manny, I’d offer a March, 2010 date to Juan Manuel Marquez (JMM) tomorrow. It would do pretty good money. The storyline is that both past fights had disputed outcomes, and this will close the chapter on their saga. I’d do a 144 lb catchweight, and offer JMM a 60-40 purse split with a shot at the WBO Welterweight Championship of the World.
Manny would stop him within 6 rounds at his proper, higher weight. But it would be yet another “feather in his cap” for down the road leverage with Mayweather if they ever re-open negotiations. He would have done better against 3 mutual opponents (Oscar, Hatton, and JMM).
I also shouldn’t outright dismiss JMM’s chances. One could make the case that he won on both prior meetings. Also, styles make fights. It’s a cliche, but it’s true. Some styles bother certain fighters. Ken Norton may have been cheated out of two more victories over Muhammad Ali. He just had a style that really bothered “The Greatest”. Marquez could be Pacquiao’s Norton. I personally think Manny carries the higher weight naturally while Marquez looks old and pudgy in the 140’s. When they fought at 130, I think Manny had outgrown that weight. I see Manny dominating JMM in the rubber-match, but hey, you never know. It’s a fight that has a storyline between two rivals, and I’d love to see it.
But wait, isn’t Juan Manuel Marquez promoted by Golden Boy? Damnit all!!!!!!! Golden Boy!!!!!!!!!
Bring on Yuri Foreman I guess. Manny could beat him while weighing 148 or so. He’s naturally gifted like that.
Again, this whole Pacman/Mayweather soap opera has new details every day. I have no idea what the status will be by the time this column is published. I just hope Manny rejects all blood testing, sues the smear merchants, and moves on to somebody else if Golden Boy and Floyd want to dick around with this PED garbage any further. Happy New Year.
