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Pacquiao set to call Mayweather’s bluff, trainer says
Published On Mon Jun 28 2010
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A combo of file pictures shows World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (L) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R).
A combo of file pictures shows World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (L) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R).
CHRIS COZZONE/AFP/Getty Images
Morgan Campbell Sports Reporter
Trainer Freddie Roach says pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is ready to drop his objections to pre-fight blood testing and set up a November superfight with Floyd Mayweather.
While Mayweather’s detractors have suggested the five-division champ is avoiding Pacquiao and imposed the extra drug testing demands as a smokescreen, Roach says his fighter is prepared to clear the air.
“At this point I feel that Manny is going to agree to everything,” Roach said. “That’s our bluff. We’re going to call his bluff. We’ll see…I can’t speak for Manny, I can’t speak for (Bob) Arum but I feel the fight will happen because Manny is going to call his bluff and say ‘let’s do it.’”
Roach is in Toronto this week with protégé Ana Julaton, who challenges for the WBO women’s 122-pound title at Casino Rama Wednesday night. He pointed out that Pacquiao, who Monday was sworn in as a congressman in the Philippines, hasn’t officially signed off on the stringent drug testing Mayweather has demanded.
When management teams for the two fighters met in late 2009 to negotiate a superfight in Las Vegas between the two biggest names in boxing, they quickly agreed on everything from the date (March 13) to the purse split (50-50) to which fighter would receive top billing (Mayweather).
But negotiations broke down over drug testing.
Mayweather has said he won’t fight Pacquiao until the seven-division champ agrees to Olympic-style doping control, which allows for random urine and blood tests until the day off the fight.
Pacquiao wasn’t obligated to agree to any testing beyond the post-fight urine and blood tests the Nevada State Athletic Commission requires.
Rather than compromise on blood testing both fighters walked away from what would have been the biggest payday of their careers (estimates ranged from $25 million to $40 million per fighter), and largest boxing spectacle in a generation.
But Roach says now that Pacquiao, 31, is officially a politician, he understands he needs to do what politicians do – give the people what they want.
And right now boxing fans want Pacquiao and Mayweather, even if that means extra drug testing.
“Manny’s now a congressman. He’s going to agree with everything Mayweather wants,” Roach said. “That’s why I think the fight will happen.”
Pacquiao has a fight scheduled for Nov. 13 but has neither a venue nor an opponent, and since dismantling Shane Mosley on May 1 Mayweather has remained silent about his future.
Published On Mon Jun 28 2010
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A combo of file pictures shows World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (L) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R).
A combo of file pictures shows World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (L) and Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R).
CHRIS COZZONE/AFP/Getty Images
Morgan Campbell Sports Reporter
Trainer Freddie Roach says pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is ready to drop his objections to pre-fight blood testing and set up a November superfight with Floyd Mayweather.
While Mayweather’s detractors have suggested the five-division champ is avoiding Pacquiao and imposed the extra drug testing demands as a smokescreen, Roach says his fighter is prepared to clear the air.
“At this point I feel that Manny is going to agree to everything,” Roach said. “That’s our bluff. We’re going to call his bluff. We’ll see…I can’t speak for Manny, I can’t speak for (Bob) Arum but I feel the fight will happen because Manny is going to call his bluff and say ‘let’s do it.’”
Roach is in Toronto this week with protégé Ana Julaton, who challenges for the WBO women’s 122-pound title at Casino Rama Wednesday night. He pointed out that Pacquiao, who Monday was sworn in as a congressman in the Philippines, hasn’t officially signed off on the stringent drug testing Mayweather has demanded.
When management teams for the two fighters met in late 2009 to negotiate a superfight in Las Vegas between the two biggest names in boxing, they quickly agreed on everything from the date (March 13) to the purse split (50-50) to which fighter would receive top billing (Mayweather).
But negotiations broke down over drug testing.
Mayweather has said he won’t fight Pacquiao until the seven-division champ agrees to Olympic-style doping control, which allows for random urine and blood tests until the day off the fight.
Pacquiao wasn’t obligated to agree to any testing beyond the post-fight urine and blood tests the Nevada State Athletic Commission requires.
Rather than compromise on blood testing both fighters walked away from what would have been the biggest payday of their careers (estimates ranged from $25 million to $40 million per fighter), and largest boxing spectacle in a generation.
But Roach says now that Pacquiao, 31, is officially a politician, he understands he needs to do what politicians do – give the people what they want.
And right now boxing fans want Pacquiao and Mayweather, even if that means extra drug testing.
“Manny’s now a congressman. He’s going to agree with everything Mayweather wants,” Roach said. “That’s why I think the fight will happen.”
Pacquiao has a fight scheduled for Nov. 13 but has neither a venue nor an opponent, and since dismantling Shane Mosley on May 1 Mayweather has remained silent about his future.
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