Manny Pacquiao may indeed fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 13, but the opponent may not be Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Promoter Bob Arum on Thursday made an offer to former world champion Paulie Malignaggi for a fight with Pacquiao on March 13. Arum extended the offer to Malignaggi promoter Lou DiBella, who could not be reached for comment on Christmas Eve.
“Lou liked it, but he was having trouble getting a hold of Paulie to discuss it with him because of the holiday,” Arum said.
While the offer hardly means the proposed Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is off, it makes resuscitating it that much harder. The fight, which is expected to be the highest-grossing bout in boxing history, has come to a halt over a dispute over drug testing.
Mayweather is insisting upon testing administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which requires random urine and blood testing up to and including on the day of competition. Pacquiao is willing to submit blood samples, though he doesn’t want to give blood too close prior to a fight because he believes it weakens him.
Arum said Pacquiao would submit to testing, but wants it under the auspices of the Kansas City, Mo.-based National Center for Drug Free Sports.
“All we’re asking is to get a different agency other than (USADA) because they’re clearly inflexible,” Arum said. “We can go with this other one and they’ll come up with a protocol and get it done in an organized way and we’ll still achieve the desired results. “The bottom line is that the (National Center for Drug Free Sports) could do it and wouldn’t interfere as intrusively as USADA.”
Arum said there appears nothing left to negotiate with the Mayweather side, because it will not back off its demand for testing by USADA. Arum said he spoke with Pacquiao’s attorney, Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, on Thursday and said Gacal told him Pacquiao’s position had not changed.
Arum said he decided to make an offer to Malignaggi because Pacquiao wants to fight before he begins his campaign for a seat in the Filipino congress.
“(Team Mayweather) has their position and we have ours and it looks like we’re on different paths, so I made the offer to Lou (for Malignaggi),” Arum said. “No big deal.”
Arum landed an unlikely ally on Thursday when super lightweight world champion Timothy Bradley spoke out in favor of his position.
Bradley was brought into the fray when his promoter, Gary Shaw, issued a news release saying that Bradley was willing to fight either Mayweather or Pacquiao if the fight between them fell apart.
But Shaw then did an interview with Boxingscene.com after his release became public and said Bradley wouldn’t fight Pacquiao unless Pacquiao submitted to the same testing as Mayweather was requesting.
That would make little sense, because if Pacquiao were to accept such testing, he’d do it to fight Mayweather in what would be the richest fight in history.
And Bradley said that’s not his position anyway. He said he hoped the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight was made.
“This whole thing with Pacman and Mayweather is baloney with the steroid and blood testing thing,” Bradley said. “The fans want to see this fight. Everyone wants to see the fight. I want to see it. This is the fight that should be made. But this testing stuff is crazy.
“I’m not worried about Manny Pacquiao. He’s not on steroids. Just because he’s destroying guys, you want to say he’s on steroids? Come on. He’s just that good. He’s been tested how many times and he’s never tested positive. Neither has Mayweather.”
Bradley said he would fight either man if he were given an offer and said he wouldn’t demand tests, as Shaw said he would.
He said he has confidence in commissions like the Nevada Athletic Commission and the California State Athletic Commission to properly administer testing.
“These are big-time commissions and they have a track record of doing the right thing and protecting fighters,” he said. “They clearly take their jobs seriously. You have to do a lot to satisfy their requirements. I don’t get why anyone would be asking for these blood tests above and beyond what Nevada or California might do.
“Neither guy has a history and I think history shows you that the boxers who have tried steroids find it doesn’t work. Look at (Fernando) Vargas. When he fought Oscar (De La Hoya), it turns out he was on steroids and he got tired. Look what happened to him. He got knocked out.”
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Friday, December 25, 2009
Do the test, Oscar urges Pacquiao
Oscar De La Hoya said on Wednesday that if Manny Pacquiao insists he is clean, he must submit himself to Olympic-style drug testing.
“C’mon. It’s only a little bit of blood. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test,” said De La Hoya in his blog in the on-line edition of The Ring magazine a day after it was announced that the proposed March 13 showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather was in danger of being scrapped for the Filipino’s disagreement with a drug-testing procedure being demanded by Mayweather.
De La Hoya, who lost his farewell fight to Pacquiao in December 2008, says Mayweather is submitting himself to the same tests to show that he doesn’t use performance-enhancing substances.
De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is representing Mayweather in negotiations with Pacquiao’s promotional banner Top Rank, wonders why Pacquiao, regarded as the world’s best boxer pound-for-pound, “is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons through random testing in the three months leading up to the fight.”
“If Pacquiao, the toughest guy on the planet, is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons of blood drawn from his system, then something is wrong. The guy has tattoos everywhere; he’s tattooed from top to bottom. You’re telling me he’s afraid of needles?”
Pacquiao says the urine test being conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission is more than enough to determine if he is drug-free or not, but De La Hoya says it is not so.
“And the idea that urine tests can detect HGH [Human Growth Hormone] is wrong. I talked to Travis Tygart, CEO of the USADA. He testified before Congress that anyone who says HGH can be detected by a urine test is mistaken. It can only be detected by a blood test.”
For the fight to be saved, De La Hoya advises Pacquiao to agree to undergo such tests.
“So you have to do the blood work. If Pacquiao doesn’t want to do this and risk a possible $40-million payday because he’s afraid of needles or believes he’ll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks,” said De La Hoya, who has fought two fighters who have tested positive for banned substances, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas.
“Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, 'Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same.' I’m not saying yes or no [about whether Pacquiao might be taking performance-enhancing drugs]; I’m just saying that now people have to wonder: 'Why doesn’t he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal.'”
De La Hoya, who had once inked Pacquiao to a promotional contract that was later rescinded owing to a technicality, stresses that Pacquiao’s refusal is being looked at differently.
“A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all.”
If Pacquiao says he is deathly-afraid of needles, De La Hoya has a piece of advice.
“I believe Mayweather wants to do the right thing, to get tested properly. He’s not doing it to harass Pacquiao; that’s garbage. I would say to Pacquiao:
“'Do the test. Do it because it’s only a couple of tablespoons. Needles don’t hurt. Just look away when they put the needle in your arm.'” Besides, De La Hoya articulates, “he’ll probably lose more blood in the fight than the blood being drawn for the test.”
Source: .mb.com.ph
“C’mon. It’s only a little bit of blood. If you have nothing to hide, then do the test,” said De La Hoya in his blog in the on-line edition of The Ring magazine a day after it was announced that the proposed March 13 showdown between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather was in danger of being scrapped for the Filipino’s disagreement with a drug-testing procedure being demanded by Mayweather.
De La Hoya, who lost his farewell fight to Pacquiao in December 2008, says Mayweather is submitting himself to the same tests to show that he doesn’t use performance-enhancing substances.
De La Hoya, whose Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) is representing Mayweather in negotiations with Pacquiao’s promotional banner Top Rank, wonders why Pacquiao, regarded as the world’s best boxer pound-for-pound, “is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons through random testing in the three months leading up to the fight.”
“If Pacquiao, the toughest guy on the planet, is afraid of needles and having a few tablespoons of blood drawn from his system, then something is wrong. The guy has tattoos everywhere; he’s tattooed from top to bottom. You’re telling me he’s afraid of needles?”
Pacquiao says the urine test being conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission is more than enough to determine if he is drug-free or not, but De La Hoya says it is not so.
“And the idea that urine tests can detect HGH [Human Growth Hormone] is wrong. I talked to Travis Tygart, CEO of the USADA. He testified before Congress that anyone who says HGH can be detected by a urine test is mistaken. It can only be detected by a blood test.”
For the fight to be saved, De La Hoya advises Pacquiao to agree to undergo such tests.
“So you have to do the blood work. If Pacquiao doesn’t want to do this and risk a possible $40-million payday because he’s afraid of needles or believes he’ll be weakened by blood tests, then that raises question marks,” said De La Hoya, who has fought two fighters who have tested positive for banned substances, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas.
“Now I have to wonder about him. I’m saying to myself, 'Wow. Those Mosley punches, those Vargas punches and those Pacquiao punches all felt the same.' I’m not saying yes or no [about whether Pacquiao might be taking performance-enhancing drugs]; I’m just saying that now people have to wonder: 'Why doesn’t he want to do this? Why is it such a big deal.'”
De La Hoya, who had once inked Pacquiao to a promotional contract that was later rescinded owing to a technicality, stresses that Pacquiao’s refusal is being looked at differently.
“A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all.”
If Pacquiao says he is deathly-afraid of needles, De La Hoya has a piece of advice.
“I believe Mayweather wants to do the right thing, to get tested properly. He’s not doing it to harass Pacquiao; that’s garbage. I would say to Pacquiao:
“'Do the test. Do it because it’s only a couple of tablespoons. Needles don’t hurt. Just look away when they put the needle in your arm.'” Besides, De La Hoya articulates, “he’ll probably lose more blood in the fight than the blood being drawn for the test.”
Source: .mb.com.ph
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Testing issues could derail Mayweather-Pacquiao
Nearly every detail is finalized for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas but one. That one detail, though, may kill the fight.
Negotiations are at an impasse over Pacquiao’s failure to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing, said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, on Tuesday.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter is willing to comply with strict drug-testing standards, but Roach won’t allow Pacquiao to have blood drawn 48 hours before the fight.
Ellerbe said he would not let Mayweather enter the ring unless Pacquiao agreed to it.
Both sides agreed that the drug testing issue is the only hurdle preventing the fight from being finished. Earlier Tuesday, Golden Boy Promotions officially requested March 13 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host the show.
“As Floyd’s management, we are insistent that there be a level playing field,” Ellerbe said. “This is in the best interests of the fighters, the fans and the sport. If you want a level playing field, the best way to do it is to have Olympic-style, random drug testing administered by the premier agency in the world, the [United States Anti-Doping Agency].”
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said the demand is “absolutely crazy,” done simply to harass Pacquiao, who is squeamish about needles, and is proof that Mayweather doesn’t really want the fight.
Arum said the request has been an unsettled issue since the first day of negotiations last month.
“We’re not going to agree to have Manny give blood in training, because that’s stupid,” Arum said. “Every doctor in the world will tell you that is stupid. He’ll give his blood at the beginning of the year and he’s willing to be urine-tested 24/7, but blood doesn’t show [expletive] and he’s not going to do it.”
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser and de facto manager, said Pacquiao believes drawing blood so close to a competition harms the body, but the boxer is willing to have his blood drawn a month away from the fight as a compromise.
Koncz said Pacquiao was willing to pass on the fight if it came to that.
“Manny has a lot more options than Mayweather does,” Koncz said. “Manny is clean and he’s never done a thing, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to prove it. It’s my understanding that this stuff doesn’t just leave your system overnight.
“He’ll take a blood test immediately after the fight, if that’s what they insist upon. But Manny believes very strongly that it would be harmful to him to draw blood that soon before the fight and he plain and simple isn’t going to do it.”
In a statement released by his publicist, Mayweather said he is willing to submit to the testing. There was never any suspicion that Pacquiao had ever taken banned substances until earlier this year, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. suggested he was on steroids.
Pacquiao has passed every urine test he’s been given in connection with boxing matches.
“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in his statement. “But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
“It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA.”
Blood tests for illegal drugs and banned substances are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would have regulatory control of the bout if it is held in Las Vegas.
In Nevada, a fighter is required to submit to a blood test that screens for HIV and Hepatitis B and C, as well as other blood-borne diseases, as part of the requirement to gain a license.
A license in Nevada is good for one year. In Pacquiao’s case, he received his 2009 license shortly before he fought Ricky Hatton in May. He submitted his blood to the commission between April 5 and April 20, said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.
Kizer said all fighters who fight in Nevada are subject to random urine tests as well as any other medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, that the commission deems necessary. Arum said Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing by an outside agency but won’t give his blood. Roach said it’s an issue because Mayweather’s side has been insisting Pacquiao give blood as close as 48 hours within the fight.
“We’ll accommodate their requests and do urine testing up the wazoo and we’ll agree to have them done by an outside agency,” Arum said. “Manny has nothing to hide. But he’s not going to give blood because that’s crazy. He’ll do it at the beginning and he’ll do it at the end. That’s how it is done. Ask some former Olympic boxers how many times they give blood.”
Ellerbe said having the testing administered by USADA would quell suspicions about the procedures or the result.
“This is no rooty toot organization,” said Ellerbe, who noted that such testing was accepted by elite athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong.
Roach scoffed at such talk and said it won’t matter to him if the fight is not held.
“I really don’t care, because Manny doesn’t need Floyd Mayweather,” Roach said. “The tests he’s requesting are not commission tests, they’re not boxing tests and this is not an Olympic sport. A urine test is just as qualified as a blood test. [Human growth hormone] is not detected by blood or urine.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency successfully used blood testing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to test for HGH.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Negotiations are at an impasse over Pacquiao’s failure to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing, said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, on Tuesday.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter is willing to comply with strict drug-testing standards, but Roach won’t allow Pacquiao to have blood drawn 48 hours before the fight.
Ellerbe said he would not let Mayweather enter the ring unless Pacquiao agreed to it.
Both sides agreed that the drug testing issue is the only hurdle preventing the fight from being finished. Earlier Tuesday, Golden Boy Promotions officially requested March 13 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host the show.
“As Floyd’s management, we are insistent that there be a level playing field,” Ellerbe said. “This is in the best interests of the fighters, the fans and the sport. If you want a level playing field, the best way to do it is to have Olympic-style, random drug testing administered by the premier agency in the world, the [United States Anti-Doping Agency].”
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said the demand is “absolutely crazy,” done simply to harass Pacquiao, who is squeamish about needles, and is proof that Mayweather doesn’t really want the fight.
Arum said the request has been an unsettled issue since the first day of negotiations last month.
“We’re not going to agree to have Manny give blood in training, because that’s stupid,” Arum said. “Every doctor in the world will tell you that is stupid. He’ll give his blood at the beginning of the year and he’s willing to be urine-tested 24/7, but blood doesn’t show [expletive] and he’s not going to do it.”
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser and de facto manager, said Pacquiao believes drawing blood so close to a competition harms the body, but the boxer is willing to have his blood drawn a month away from the fight as a compromise.
Koncz said Pacquiao was willing to pass on the fight if it came to that.
“Manny has a lot more options than Mayweather does,” Koncz said. “Manny is clean and he’s never done a thing, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to prove it. It’s my understanding that this stuff doesn’t just leave your system overnight.
“He’ll take a blood test immediately after the fight, if that’s what they insist upon. But Manny believes very strongly that it would be harmful to him to draw blood that soon before the fight and he plain and simple isn’t going to do it.”
In a statement released by his publicist, Mayweather said he is willing to submit to the testing. There was never any suspicion that Pacquiao had ever taken banned substances until earlier this year, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. suggested he was on steroids.
Pacquiao has passed every urine test he’s been given in connection with boxing matches.
“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in his statement. “But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
“It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA.”
Blood tests for illegal drugs and banned substances are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would have regulatory control of the bout if it is held in Las Vegas.
In Nevada, a fighter is required to submit to a blood test that screens for HIV and Hepatitis B and C, as well as other blood-borne diseases, as part of the requirement to gain a license.
A license in Nevada is good for one year. In Pacquiao’s case, he received his 2009 license shortly before he fought Ricky Hatton in May. He submitted his blood to the commission between April 5 and April 20, said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.
Kizer said all fighters who fight in Nevada are subject to random urine tests as well as any other medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, that the commission deems necessary. Arum said Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing by an outside agency but won’t give his blood. Roach said it’s an issue because Mayweather’s side has been insisting Pacquiao give blood as close as 48 hours within the fight.
“We’ll accommodate their requests and do urine testing up the wazoo and we’ll agree to have them done by an outside agency,” Arum said. “Manny has nothing to hide. But he’s not going to give blood because that’s crazy. He’ll do it at the beginning and he’ll do it at the end. That’s how it is done. Ask some former Olympic boxers how many times they give blood.”
Ellerbe said having the testing administered by USADA would quell suspicions about the procedures or the result.
“This is no rooty toot organization,” said Ellerbe, who noted that such testing was accepted by elite athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong.
Roach scoffed at such talk and said it won’t matter to him if the fight is not held.
“I really don’t care, because Manny doesn’t need Floyd Mayweather,” Roach said. “The tests he’s requesting are not commission tests, they’re not boxing tests and this is not an Olympic sport. A urine test is just as qualified as a blood test. [Human growth hormone] is not detected by blood or urine.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency successfully used blood testing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to test for HGH.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Pacquiao-Mayweather an even match
According to oddsmakers, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are evenly matched.
Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.
Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.
Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.
“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.
The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.
Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
Sportsbook.com, one of the leading on-line betting stations, has installed Mayweather a – 130 favorite, meaning a bettor has to come up with a wager of $130 to win $100.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, is listed as even money.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters are working hard the last few days so a venue can be named so it could host the March 13, 2010 super showdown at welterweight.
Leading the growing list of candidates is the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, while attempting to secure the right to the fight are the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas as well as venues in Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is set to announce this coming week which city will stage the World Boxing Organization 147-pound title fight.
Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, which Mayweather tapped to represent him in the negotiations, are co-promoting the fight although it is Top Rank that is the lead organizer.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the celebration of Pacquiao’s 31st birthday on December 17.
Bren Evangelio, Pacquiao’s administrative assistant, said personalities from the world of politics, showbiz and sports are expected to fly to General Santos City.
“Presidentiables, senators, and congressman are among those who have confirmed their attendance,” said Evangelio.
The KCC Mall, which also hosted Pacquiao’s 30th birthday, will be spruced up once again for the deluge of big shots.
Miguel Cotto, the Puerto Rican fighter Pacquiao beat last November 14, has also been invited to come.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
Floyd camp wants drug tests
The camp of Floyd Mayweather will make sure Manny Pacquiao — and even the American fighter himself — undergo an Olympic-style drug testing to make sure both fighters are “clean” when they collide on March 13, 2010.
Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe told the Grand Rapids Press over the weekend that the random drug test would be done in the weeks leading up to the fight and that he and another adviser, Al Haymon, said they acted without the consent of Mayweather.
“Al and I made sure this will be implemented. It is going to be done,” said Ellerbe.
“It’s not a one-way thing, it’s both fighters who are subject to testing. And this is not Floyd saying this.
This is me and Al. This is one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport and the fans deserve it to be fair.”
Ellerbe denied that the decision to mandate that Pacquiao be tested extensively was based on suspicions that the Filipino has been using performance-enhancing drugs the last few fights as he has been looking sensational as if he is not going up in weight each fight.
“Floyd’s got nothing to do with this. It’s our job to protect him and give him the best chance to be successful.
Inside the ring, he’s got that. He’ll have no problem with Pacquiao, none whatsoever. Our job is to take care of things outside the ring.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which holds office in Montreal, Canada, is the main agency that administers such tests but Ellerbe did not say whether another group will do the job.
“With the standard commission testing, they only test for specific things. The Olympic-style testing tests for everything. The commission testing is nowhere near as sophisticated,” added Ellerbe.
Pacquiao’s camp found the move to tap an anti-doping agency “amusing.”
“We’ve got nothing to hide so if that’s what they want, no problem,” said Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz.
Source: mb.com.ph
Mayweather adviser Leonard Ellerbe told the Grand Rapids Press over the weekend that the random drug test would be done in the weeks leading up to the fight and that he and another adviser, Al Haymon, said they acted without the consent of Mayweather.
“Al and I made sure this will be implemented. It is going to be done,” said Ellerbe.
“It’s not a one-way thing, it’s both fighters who are subject to testing. And this is not Floyd saying this.
This is me and Al. This is one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport and the fans deserve it to be fair.”
Ellerbe denied that the decision to mandate that Pacquiao be tested extensively was based on suspicions that the Filipino has been using performance-enhancing drugs the last few fights as he has been looking sensational as if he is not going up in weight each fight.
“Floyd’s got nothing to do with this. It’s our job to protect him and give him the best chance to be successful.
Inside the ring, he’s got that. He’ll have no problem with Pacquiao, none whatsoever. Our job is to take care of things outside the ring.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which holds office in Montreal, Canada, is the main agency that administers such tests but Ellerbe did not say whether another group will do the job.
“With the standard commission testing, they only test for specific things. The Olympic-style testing tests for everything. The commission testing is nowhere near as sophisticated,” added Ellerbe.
Pacquiao’s camp found the move to tap an anti-doping agency “amusing.”
“We’ve got nothing to hide so if that’s what they want, no problem,” said Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz.
Source: mb.com.ph
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Pacquiao fight date announced Monday
NEW YORK (Reuters) — An official announcement of a Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao fight is expected to come on Monday after a venue for the world welterweight title fight is decided, according to Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum.
“I'm very optimistic that everything will come together and we'll have an announcement by next Monday,” Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “I think it's going to be the biggest fight of all time, certainly from a revenue standpoint. It could gross a couple of hundred million (US dollars).”
The pair is considered the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
American Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 record. Filipino Pacquiao improved to 50-3-2 when he became the first to win titles in seven classes when he stopped Miguel Cotto last month to win the WBO welterweight crown.
Arum said both fighters were on board for a March 13 clash that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become the biggest ever boxing promotion.
''We don't want to do an official announcement until we know where the fight's going to be held,'' said Arum. ''That's what we're exploring this week.
''Tomorrow we'll be in Dallas visiting with (NFL Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones at Cowboys Stadium and hopefully by Monday of next week we'll have a venue and a deal in place.
''I know that Jerry Jones has really worked on the possibility and that's why we're meeting with him tomorrow.''
The new $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium seats about 73,000.
Arum said there were other contenders to host the bout.
''There's the MGM in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, that is the only possibility because the outdoor stadium will not work in March.
''We have heard but haven't really explored the (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
“I'm very optimistic that everything will come together and we'll have an announcement by next Monday,” Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “I think it's going to be the biggest fight of all time, certainly from a revenue standpoint. It could gross a couple of hundred million (US dollars).”
The pair is considered the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
American Mayweather, who has won titles at five different weight classes, has a 40-0 record. Filipino Pacquiao improved to 50-3-2 when he became the first to win titles in seven classes when he stopped Miguel Cotto last month to win the WBO welterweight crown.
Arum said both fighters were on board for a March 13 clash that could generate hundreds of millions of dollars and become the biggest ever boxing promotion.
''We don't want to do an official announcement until we know where the fight's going to be held,'' said Arum. ''That's what we're exploring this week.
''Tomorrow we'll be in Dallas visiting with (NFL Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones at Cowboys Stadium and hopefully by Monday of next week we'll have a venue and a deal in place.
''I know that Jerry Jones has really worked on the possibility and that's why we're meeting with him tomorrow.''
The new $1.3 billion Cowboys Stadium seats about 73,000.
Arum said there were other contenders to host the bout.
''There's the MGM in Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, that is the only possibility because the outdoor stadium will not work in March.
''We have heard but haven't really explored the (Louisiana) Superdome in New Orleans and the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Roach sees easy win by Pacquiao
Freddie Roach doesn’t mind going to the Philippines to begin training camp with Manny Pacquiao, who faces Floyd Mayweather in what could turn out to be boxing’s most expensive fight set in March next year.
“I can’t wait for the fight,” said Roach on Wednesday morning (Tuesday afternoon in the US).
The confident Roach he doesn’t see his boy losing.
“We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass,” said the tough-talking Roach, who has guided Pacquiao to an incredible 16-1 record on US soil, including memorable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Roach remains in seventh heaven as he had just steered another major fighter under his wing - British star Amir Khan - to a 76-second knockout win over Dimitri Salita over the weekend in Newcastle, England.
Roach said he doesn’t have any concerns about setting up the first half of training camp in Baguio, where Pacquiao had worked out for a month in preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight that the Filipino won in stunning fashion last November 14.
Roach is so thrilled about Pacquiao clashing with Mayweather that he has named Khan and welterweight hotshot Andre Berto as sparring partners of Pacquiao although Roach stressed that Berto will only be tapped in the second half of training, when they’ve already returned to the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Berto, who has a 25-0 record with 19 knockouts, is scheduled to face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas and if Berto emerges unscathed, he will be asked to give a helping hand to Pacquiao.
Roach said he has a few more fighters lined up in the remaining weeks but is looking forward to starting Day One of training camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
“I can’t wait for the fight,” said Roach on Wednesday morning (Tuesday afternoon in the US).
The confident Roach he doesn’t see his boy losing.
“We’ll kick Mayweather’s ass,” said the tough-talking Roach, who has guided Pacquiao to an incredible 16-1 record on US soil, including memorable victories over Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Roach remains in seventh heaven as he had just steered another major fighter under his wing - British star Amir Khan - to a 76-second knockout win over Dimitri Salita over the weekend in Newcastle, England.
Roach said he doesn’t have any concerns about setting up the first half of training camp in Baguio, where Pacquiao had worked out for a month in preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight that the Filipino won in stunning fashion last November 14.
Roach is so thrilled about Pacquiao clashing with Mayweather that he has named Khan and welterweight hotshot Andre Berto as sparring partners of Pacquiao although Roach stressed that Berto will only be tapped in the second half of training, when they’ve already returned to the familiar confines of the Wild Card in Hollywood.
Berto, who has a 25-0 record with 19 knockouts, is scheduled to face Shane Mosley on Jan. 30 in Las Vegas and if Berto emerges unscathed, he will be asked to give a helping hand to Pacquiao.
Roach said he has a few more fighters lined up in the remaining weeks but is looking forward to starting Day One of training camp.
Source: mb.com.ph
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