By Edward Chaykovsky
Following Saturday's twelve round decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao claimed that his performance was hindered by a right shoulder injury. He had an MRI and a tear was found.
Pacquiao and his team claimed he injured the shoulder about two weeks back or so. They felt the injury was getting better, but during the third round it came back.
"In the third round, I felt pain in the shoulder," Pacquiao told reporters. "We didn't throw a lot of combinations because it hurt. The thing is, what we wanted to do we could not do because of my (right) shoulder."
Mayweather and his team are not buying the story. Most fight fans are also skeptical of the shoulder injury, because Pacquiao's team were predicting a dominating knockout victory on a daily basis in the pre-fight promotion.
One of Pacquiao's sparring partners, former UFC fighter Dashon Johnson, came out in support of the fighter and says the injury is legit.
Johnson came out on the social networks and stated:
"I just want to feel everyone in on all the rumors! We were asked not to mention anything to anyone but yes Manny got hurt during this camp with his right shoulder and it was messed up pretty bad! So bad his sparring partners including myself were asked to go home a few weeks out before the actual fight, which means a lot of work he could have put in for this fight was brought to a halt due to the fact that he could not spar really anymore and didn't wanna mess it up more than he already had."
"Manny no matter what wasn't going to let his family, fans and friends down by postponing the fight so he was gonna just fight through the pain! I take my hat off to him because even faced with the adversity he had going into this fight, in my mind he had the better action moments in the fight and still tried to engage with a messed up shoulder and still went 12 rounds with the greatest fighter in the world today!"
"No shame at all, Manny you did what you had to do and you are still the people's champion also at the end of the day you put your family in a better position and made your countrymen proud! If everyone knew what I knew you would be loved even more than how you are now! Thank you again for the experience and making me a part of this historic event, memories I will cherish forever! No excuses at all being made. The injury was real! Hats off to Mayweather for another victory in his already luxurious career! GOD bless both fighters and the world appreciates you both!"