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The Pacquiao-Mayweather level playing field By Epifanio M. Almeda PhilBoxing.com Sun, 16 May 2010  The first negotiations for the much sought after Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao intriguing fight to settle who the present P4P top guy is failed to materialize. Floyd wanted a blood testing procedure which is beyond the concerned boxing commission requirement supposedly to have a level playing field. Floyd and company assert that Manny was on PEDs when he badly beat Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey. Floyd would fight Manny only if he is not on PEDs. Manny denies he was taking PEDs when he fought and dominated his past four opponents. It is not accurate to say that Manny didn?t want to take the tests. He just didn?t agree to the timing when the tests should be made. He even agreed to have his blood taken to be tested immediately after the fight. This test would reveal any PEDs if Manny was on it during the fight. But Floyd would not agree. He wanted to have it his way which makes some suspect Floyd didn?t really want to fight Manny in the first place. This also makes others think the random blood test condition was just a way to unsettle Manny. But Manny wouldn?t crack. Manny wouldn?t allow Floyd to take over control of the fight as early as the negotiations stage. The concerned boxing commission should regulate and not one of the fighters involved. Both fighters had to fight separate live opponents and scored lopsided wins. The set aside negotiations had to resume. The boxing world all the more salivates to see the fight. For the fight to not happen is a disservice to boxing. Great fighters who were born on different eras are matched in fantasy fights and avid boxing fans discuss with relish in boxing forums who would beat who. Roberto Duran vs. Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins vs. Marvin Hagler, Etc. Leonard fought Thomas Hearns, Hearns fought Hagler, Duran fought Leonard, Hearns fought Duran, Hagler fought Leonard, Dela Hoya fought Shane Mosley, Mosley fought Cotto, Pacquiao fought Marco Antonio Barrera, Mayweather fought dela Hoya. These match ups are discussed as actual fights. Boxing will have a want if a Mayweather vs Pacquiao match up will years from now be discussed merely as a fantasy fight. The fight should happen as both fighters live in the same era. But the ?level playing field? Floyd wants remains as the roadblock. Level playing field means the competition is fair where either side has no undue advantage. And Floyd insists Manny has it. Hasn?t he? In fact Floyd holds the advantages in size, height and reach. To be fair, Manny should also insist to have a level playing field in these areas. But since Floyd?s height and reach couldn?t be cut shorter, his size should be reduced to be on the level with Manny?s who is natural the smaller guy. Floyd will retain the height and reach advantages. If they really are willing to make the fight a reality, the Mayweather camp should make the proposal to the boxing commission concerned to adapt the blood testing procedure it wants. Since he is concerned, the commission should give Manny the chance to be heard before the commission decides what blood testing procedure it will incorporate in its regulations henceforth. Manny had declared that he will submit to the tests if this is the say of the commission and not that of Mayweather. When the blood testing procedure is settled, Manny and Floyd should be weighed-in barely hours before the fight. They are fighting as welterweights and they should climb the ring as such. If Manny climbs the ring at 147 lbs, so should Floyd. If Floyd climbs the ring as a middleweight while Manny does so at or below 147, the ?level playing field? Floyd wants will not be the level playing field as it should be. It will be as how Floyd defines ?level playing field?. The Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez unlevel playing field should not be replayed in the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight. Mayweather was 2 lbs over the agreed catch weight at weight-in and did not allow himself to be weighed-in on fight night. The bloated lightweight JMM fought a middleweight Floyd but Floyd still was accorded credit for his win. Now here comes Floyd saying that a fight with Pacquiao will only happen when there is a level playing field. Let the concerned boxing commission perform its regulatory function as regards blood test procedure and keep Floyd from cheating on weight to really have a level playing field. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda.  |
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