Earlier this week the buzz on the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout had actually died down slightly, as it was reported that both sides were close to making the contest happen. Recently, however, the news has been flowing in heavily with reports that Pacquiao has been reluctant to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing.
The reports have elicited an unruly action from many people surrounding the fight, whether they are members of either camp?s side or everyday fans looking forward to the contest.
So far there have been many people criticizing Pacquiao and several others defending him. Some feel that Pacquiao should simply go through the tests while others feel that the demands from Camp Mayweather are simply a way to find a way to derail the fight.
I recently looked up some choice opinions on some forums online to get a feel for what everyone is say. Speaking passionately and with much opinion, these are the thoughts of the everyday public?
(Rebel @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?He’ll eventually give in. Otherwise, all of his victories should be questioned!?
(Debeucci @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?I think it’s silly for Pacman to have to adhere to all of Mayweather’s camps’ demands. Nothing wrong with drug testing, but the current tests are just as good as these so called Olympic tests. It’s just mind games. Why does Manny have to kowtow to everything Mayweather asks? How about this? Manny submits the blood test, and if Mayweather comes in an ounce over the agreed weight, he forfeits his entire purse??
(puroylan @ Boxingscene.com)? ?I say to Manny take the test & man up. I am a big Pacman fan but a few ounces of blood is not going to hurt you. Floyd is going to have a difficult time making 147 & if he does then it’s going to be an easy night for Manny. Floyd agreed to Manny’s camps demand, Manny should do his part! Let’s not rob the fans of the most exciting fight in the last 20 years.?
(Big Ham @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?If Manny agrees to the test I would make the doctors come to him privately in his home to draw blood and then have one of his team accompany them to take it back to the NSAC, going to a clinic or hospital or doctors office before the fight is stupid because they are full of sick people and you can catch a flu virus fast catching a flu is not a big deal to a normal person but for a fighter? You have to consider stuff like that. Fighters usually like to be almost in isolation before a fight in a very focused manner, that?s what the issue is, they do not want a special protocol when they have always abided by the conventional protocol.
If Pac takes a blood test right after the fight, it is essentially the same as a day before blood test. In some ways it is even better. Aaron Pryor actually used a drug during a fight with Alexis Arguello the famous “black bottle” scandal. Pryor later admitted to Emanuel steward that it was asthma medicine which is a stimulant type adrenal hormone that boosts your energy and opens up your lungs. Any anabolic agent via blood test would be found within that 3 days period whether it was before or after.?
(Michael Matos @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?If you read the mandate of the US anti-doping agency you will see that it’s mandate deals with Olympic and Para-Olympic competitors. This drug testing request is something that was made by Mayweather’s camp. Secondly USADA will not be conducting or mandating the any tests required of Manny Pacquiao. Thirdly USADA are only involved at any level of testing procedures at the behest of those sports governing bodies or an umbrella of sports governing bodies, such as USOC, AAU etc. The sports governing body is not Mayweather Jr. or Ellerbe.. Lastly the athletes named as complying with USADA testing Armstrong, Bryant, James, Phelps were all tested in that manner because they were Olympians at the time they were tested as was Mayweather Jr which is why those athletes were included in that statement and why it was worded that way.
It’s just an attempt by the Mayweather camp to get Pacquiao to jump through hoops at their behest and to illicit exactly the same responses seen above.?
(Kevin @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?After reading this I am now convinced that Floyd will lose the fight. He is definitely scared of Pacman. First off he fought JMM to prove to people that if he can beat JMM convincingly then it will show Pac won’t be a threat since Pac had a hard time with JMM. Floyd is the bigger and supposedly more talented fighter not to mention his big ego so why would he bring this up??? It just goes to show you he’s scared as hell to have to face a fighter that outclassed ODLH, KO’d Hatton–two fighters that took him a lot longer to beat and TKO Cotto a fighter he avoided. PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!! FLOYD IS SCARED!?
(Freddy Krueger @ Boxingscene.com)? ?Everyone reacts differently physically when blood is taken from their body. It could hurt Pacquiao or Mayweather Jr when blood is drawn from them, but I doubt Mayweather Jr since he has no problem doing it. Everyone?s body reacts differently, some people can be sworn for a couple days. And some people it doesn’t bother much at all.?
(DreDay @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?I will be the first to say that if the “rules” are broken in this sport then you should have to answer for that across the board. But know we are seeing that Pacquiao has some “haters” out there just like Mayweather does.?
(BJ* @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?I told you bitches Pac is taking EPO…everyone is so focused on roids you guys don’t understand there are other performance enhancing drugs that would benefit a fighter…I am certain Pac is on EPO…certain?
(KJ @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?The fact is Manny is object to the randomness of the testing. He wants to know when the tests are likely to occur (so his desire to have none within 30 days of the fight). The fact is Nevada didn’t catch Shane Mosley when he fought DLH with their urine only tests. If Manny has nothing to hide, then giving a few blood samples (they don’t take a tremendous amount) shouldn’t be a problem.?
(Yobbo @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?What are you hiding Manny??
(John Peter Simon @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?PACMAN does not need this fight. Sure boxing could stand without this fight. So we do not have to argue about it. If they can’t agree, to hell with this fight at least the Pacman did his job to at least bring excitement to boxing.?
(Jack1000 @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?More smoke and mirrors. Make the fight already!
The big question I have is this,
Why was blood testing not a problem for Manny’s other fights in the USA such as Hatton and Marquez. The same local commission rules and governing body protocols would apply. Just because it’s Pacquiao-Mayweather, doesn’t mean the rules change. If there is something different, why and why now is testing a problem??
(PourGasolineOnIt @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?Man, if this article is true then I must say this looks very shady for Pacquaio. I never accused him of being on steroids but by declining to subject himself to Olympic Style blood testing makes things seem fishy. Either way, I don?t see how any of you can flip this on Floyd. He and his family voiced their opinions about Pac being on roids for a while now. I don?t see what the big deal is for them to want confirmation. They’re willing to take the same tests. Say what you want about the Mayweathers but they’ve been around the sport of boxing for decades and if they feel something isn?t right then they have every right to requests tests or special blood work to be done. They want to make sure neither fighter has a competitive advantage. As far FMJ fight Marquez at a higher weight isn?t cheating if it was worked into the contract. FMJ came in over weight and paid the penalty. That?s a lot different than taking an illegal substance to increase power or conditioning. That is a disgrace to the sport. Not saying Pac is taking roids but in general terms for anyone using steroids, it’s plain wrong.?
(Hitman @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?This is all horseshit and it won’t amount to anything. I bashed all the goofs that claimed Mayweather was ducking Pac and I will do the same to those accusing Pac of the same. This fight will happen.?
(Ray @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?People in here are saying what does Mayweather have to worry about? WHAT DOES Manny have to worry about should be the real question. Its just a needle prick and a couple drops of blood. People are acting as if they are going to drain Pacquiao of all his “golden” blood. If that were true then it would affect Mayweather as well. Pacquiao faces death and danger all the time in the ring…people label him a monster in the ring then all of sudden he’s afraid of a needle…hahaha.?
(BKING @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?I’ll totally admit that it is weasily on the part of Pacquiao not to comply with the test because he has to give blood. Who gives a shit that it’s within 30 days of the fight?? How much blood could they possibly take?
Very shady reaction on the part of Pacquiao. I hope he goes through with it and does the right thing. If he opts not to comply, he will be subject to the criticism that has been bestowed upon him. A dark cloud will be cast above his biggest wins at the higher weight classes.?
(Blackout @ Eastsideboxing.com)? ?I think this is about principle to Manny. He has had his blood tested before and this would not have been required of him to do had Mayweather not requested it. There is absolutey no evidence or red flags that Manny is using anything. Its all rumors so why should Manny have to acknowledge them at all and have the burden of proving himself to be a clean athlete to anyone. Mayweather didn?t request this for Marquez a couple months ago. Manny shouldn?t be treated like a guilty man.?
(Punk @ Boxingfanatics.com)? ?It’s all mind games on both sides.?
