By Edward Chaykovsky
Former HBO fight analyst Larry Merchant gave his take on the controversy that is still lingering as it relates to a drug testing scandal involving Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather was last in action on September 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. On that night he won a twelve round unanimous decision over Andre Berto. The fight was billed as Mayweather's final bout as a pro and the boxer announced his retirement following the victory.
During that fight week, well-known scribe Thomas Hauser broke a story which detailed Mayweather's use of an IV - following the official weighin to his May mega-bout with Manny Pacquiao - to inject himself with vitamins, fluids and minerals.
Merchant has been following the story and expressed his thoughts on the matter.
"Floyd Mayweather may have actually spoken out of both sides of his mouth [when it comes to drug testing], three or four sides [of his mouth]? No, unthinkable [Merchant said sarcastically]. It is my understanding that the IV is used for two purposes - one is to rehydrate. Many fighters have to dehydrate in order to make weight, and then after a weighin they try to rehydrate," Merchant told Steve Kim during a video interview.
"The other [reason fighters use an IV] is to mask illegal drugs. All I know for sure is - Mayweather has never had trouble making the welterweight limit."
