When the expected bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr collapsed because of a row over blood testing, there was no shortage of accusations being thrown around.
Amir Khan has even found himself involved, because he is trained by Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s trainer.
Paulie Malignaggi, against whom Khan defends his WBA light-welterweight title here tomorrow, is never short of an opinion or two and was quick to point the finger at Pacquiao and then turned his focus on Khan.
?Paulie brought it up that Amir might be on something because he trains with me,? Roach said. ?My guys are clean. It annoys me. It?s an insult, but more so to my fighters because my guys just work hard. That?s what their success is down to.
?I feed them, we cook for them. Alex [Ariza, the conditioning coach] makes their food. We know what they put into them every day. It does sadden me.?
Having guided Pacquiao to incredible heights, Roach believes that Khan is well on the way to achieving great things himself.
?He has only fulfilled 50 per cent of his potential so far so the rest is up to him,? Roach said. ?It is not like we are reinventing the wheel with him, we are just improving what we have got.
?He is a great student. He absorbs, he listens and he wants to learn. He picks up things very quickly. He is just such an all-round athlete that he would probably excel at any sport. He chose boxing and is very good at what he does.
?I think we can move a little bit quicker in this fight and I want him to put the pressure on straightaway. That?s his nature ? to be aggressive and attack. I just said that Amir would knock him out in three rounds to wind Paulie up because he talks so much s***.?
Bob Arum, Pacquiao?s promoter, has revealed, meanwhile, that the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and Cowboys Stadium, Dallas, have been reserved for November 13 as potential venues for the Mayweather bout.
? Ricky Hatton?s website, brandhatton.com, will stream tonight?s ABA finals from York Hall, Bethnal Green, after no television company picked up the broadcasting rights. The action begins at 7.30pm and is free but viewers must register in advance.
Shinny Bayaar, from Mongolia via Oldham, makes his first defence of the British flyweight title against Ashley Sexton in Dagenham, East London, tonight. David Price, the 2008 Olympic super-heavyweight bronze medal-winner, goes for his sixth win as a professional when he faces Daniel Peret, of Russia, on the bill.
