This is the fight that boxing needs. This is the fight that boxing wants. This is the fight that the people want. Yet, the fight that needs to happen may not because of a disagreement between the two camps over, of all things, drug testing.
Let’s face facts; boxing isn’t the sport it used to be. Over the course of time, somewhere between the end of the 20th century and the start of the 21st, boxing has fallen out of favor while professional wrestling and mixed martial- Pacquiao Steroid Squabble Giving Boxing Another Black Eye arts have come to the forefront to take its spot on the Pacquiao Steroid Squabble Giving Boxing Another Black Eye podium. Boxing lost its luster after years of squabbles between which belts actually belonged to the champion and the complete lack of a people’s champion who would carry the sport.
Now, on the cusp of being thrust back into the limelight, the sports two biggest fighters cannot come to an agreement on the frequency of drug testing leading up to their proposed bout. Mayweather’s camp wants to have the pre-fight testing done and also wants random blood-testing done at any time leading up to the opening bell. Pacquiao’s group wants to submit to just three tests; one now, one 30 days prior to the fight, and one immediately following the fight. As of right now, this argument has lead to back and forth exchanges between the fighters’ promoters, including the threat of lawsuit by Pacquiao’s camp for defamation of character. On top of that, the Nevada Athletic Commission is now ordering immediate testing to take place for both fighters.
But why do we even have to listen to a disagreement over drug testing during a day and age where so many records and events have been tainted by the use or suspicion of use of illegal substances? If the Lance Armstrong, BALCO, MLB, and other steroid controversies have taught us anything, it is that all sports must remain vigilant about the testing of athletes to make sure that competition remains clean and fair for all parties involved. We cannot make exceptions, even if one party believes the means to be unfair.
