Hypocrisy abounds in superfight fiasco

Gutz16y ago

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AhFCEjBxSv3QkV22jKIZiaeUxLYF?slug=ki-boxmess122909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Things are not always as they seem in boxing, which is par for the course. You’ll understand the confounding events that threaten the hotly anticipated fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao a lot better if you understand that in boxing, what one says publicly isn’t always what one means. Leonard Ellerbe, the chief executive officer of Mayweather Promotions and the unbeaten star’s best friend, said he and Mayweather adviser Al Haymon came up with the idea for the random Olympic-style drug testing as a way to protect their fighter. On the surface, it makes perfect sense. Who, after all, would want to fight someone who has been chemically enhanced? More From Kevin IoleTop boxing stories of 2009 Dec 28, 2009 Megafight talks take another strange twist Dec 25, 2009 ADVERTISEMENT Though Ellerbe vehemently denies suggestions it’s anything but that, one has to wonder. Consider that Haymon is one of boxing’s most powerful figures. He is, in essence, Mayweather’s manager. He’s also the manager of a number of other elite boxers. He operates well below the radar and does not speak to the media, but his influence upon the sport is enormous. Among the Haymon-managed boxers is Andre Berto, who is fighting Shane Mosley in Las Vegas on Jan. 30. It would stand to reason that if Haymon were truly concerned about Berto’s physical well-being, as Ellerbe says he is about Mayweather’s, that he’d have already requested that Mosley submit to such testing. Mosley, after all, actually has used steroids and other performance enhancing substances, which he testified to in a federal court hearing in the BALCO case. Mosley testified that he inadvertently used two designer steroids, known as “the cream” and “the clear,” prior to his 2003 fight with Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas. He also admitted to using Erythropoietin, or EPO. However, Mosley insisted he was misled by Victor Conte, the president and founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative. Conte emphatically denied misleading Mosley and said he disclosed to all athletes who worked with him what he was doing. The facts are that Manny Pacquiao has never been found to use performance enhancing drugs; he denies vehemently any suggestion that he has, though just because he hasn’t been caught doesn’t mean he hasn’t used it. Mosley managed to avoid detection and passed the post-fight urinalysis given to him by the Nevada commission in 2003 because the substances he used were undetectable at the time. Yet, Haymon is insisting upon random testing to protect Mayweather, but he’s not taken the same action to protect Berto, who is fighting someone who is an admitted user. “There has been no discussion at all about that kind of testing for that (Berto-Mosley) fight,” said Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission. Absurdities abound in this fiasco, which has removed much of the luster from a fight that literally had even non-boxing fans captivated. No one in this mess looks good. Pacquiao created much of it himself by simply refusing to accede to the testing, which would include random blood and urine draws. If Pacquiao had agreed, the fight would be signed and he wouldn’t be complaining that his reputation has been damaged. He claims he’s afraid of needles but has tattoos all over his body. He said he fears giving blood close to an event weakens him, but he gave a sample on April 8, about three weeks prior to his May 2 fight with Ricky Hatton, to fulfill his Nevada licensing requirements. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, whose company is representing Mayweather, has consistently spoken out of both sides of his mouth. He’s sounded righteously indignant when discussing Pacquiao’s refusal to agree to the testing, but he flat refused to consider additional testing in 2008 when Zab Judah demanded it prior to his planned fight with Mosley. In a March 25, 2008, interview with the Associated Press, Schaefer said Mosley would only comply with tests required by the Nevada Athletic Commission and nothing more. “Whatever tests they (the Nevada Athletic Commission) want them to take, Shane will submit to that,” Schaefer said in the Associated Press story. “We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires. The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one.” When asked how he could justify his stance given his public comments regarding a partner in his company in 2008, Schaefer said he’s subsequently educated himself. Now, he said, Mosley is willing to take any and all tests requested, when requested, and has no issue with blood draws. “The fact is, I’m not a drug-testing expert,” Schaefer said. “I know many media members don’t know the difference between urine and blood testing, either. The last few days, I really educated myself on this topic. It doesn’t make me an expert, but I know the difference now between blood and urine testing. Some substances are detected more readily in urine and others are more readily discovered in the blood. Now that I have this knowledge I have gained, I believe it’s important that Shane Mosley submit to any tests requested.” Top Rank’s Bob Arum got so frustrated by the demands from the Mayweather camp that he initiated talks with representatives of Paulie Malignaggi. How does that make sense given that Malignaggi is the one boxer who actually has accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing substances? If you’re Arum and you’re convinced Mayweather is using the testing request as a way to either harass or smear Pacquiao, why would you subsequently offer a fight with Pacquiao to the one guy who actually accused him of using PEDs? And then there’s De La Hoya, who talks out of both sides of his mouth so often it’s not even funny. De La Hoya, who is the president of Golden Boy Promotions, continues to use his blog on the GBP-owned Ring magazine website as a personal propaganda tool. He publicly contradicted himself in his Dec. 23 blog in which he questioned Pacquiao’s reluctance to do blood tests. On Dec. 23, De La Hoya wrote in his blog, “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. “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?’ A lot of eyebrows have been raised. This is not good at all.” It would be a good point, if you could believe De La Hoya’s basic premise that punches from Mosley, Fernando Vargas and Pacquiao all felt the same. Both Vargas and Mosley are admitted steroids users and naturally bigger men than Pacquiao. However, De La Hoya’s own words contradict him. Days prior to the Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight, De La Hoya did an interview with Yahoo! Sports in which he said Pacquiao’s punches were not that hard. “Pacquiao is good, there’s no doubt about it,” De La Hoya told Yahoo! Sports in a 1-on-1 interview at the MGM Grand on Sept. 15. “And he’s fast. I thought there were 10 of him in there. I’m looking here and he’s over there. And I’m reacting to a punch from this way and there’s another coming at me from that way. “Truthfully, he didn’t hit hard. He didn’t really hurt me. But the punches were so fast and they were coming from everywhere, it felt like there were 10 of him, seriously.” The point here is that nobody in this mess has clean hands. The best thing to do would have been to clearly and succinctly lay out the position of each side and then work quietly toward a solution. Instead, the endless back-and-forth has given the impression that boxing is a lawless sport run by those looking for what they can take out of it, not how they can build it. Boxing needs Mayweather-Pacquiao. The attention the fight will generate is enormous and it will serve as an exhibition of the many good things that have been occurring, largely unnoticed, in the sport over the last several years. Hopefully, those who stand to benefit the most from the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will remember that, before the rest of us shrug our shoulders and move on."

Comments (20)

rao007

Is Ellerbe not the guy who speaks publicly on behave of Floyd Maywether? Why his team wants the test is not much of an issue if they believe the tests to be a good idea to protect their man, basless speculation or not. I'm simply clarifying that Mayweather Jr. was not the one to ask--it was Al Haymon and Ellerbe who asked--which is cool by the way. It's just funny that Al Haymon didn't ask the blood test for Shane Mosley. Doesn't Al Haymon want to protect his fighter Andre Berto too? :puppy_dog

16y ago

rommel357

That's a good article and he agrees Pacquiao painted himself into a bad corner and should not be complaining. Both sides do have some blame to share but not as much as Manny and his team of advisers. How can you possibly blame Manny's camp more when Floyd's camp started this whole thing. If they didn't asked for the Olympic drug test and If they would've left everything alone and kept it the way it was, then we would have a fight signed already. I understand Floyd's concerns, but no matter how you put it, it is still a baseless accusation. ON the other hand, i do blame Manny for the part of not doing the test, but i also understand why he wouldn't whether it'll be the reason of pride and principle or the fact that he doesn't want blood drawn too close to the fight. Either way, he could've ended this by just doing the test. But let us not forget how this started and who started it, and clearly it was Floyd's camp, not Manny's. ANd another thing, if they don't require Mosley and Berto or anyother fighters in any upcoming bouts to get Olympic drug testing, then it would be quite hypocritical and insulting to Manny.

16y ago

jrosales13

again, what is Mosley doing that is unusal or special? Thats what all of this is about So was Jimmy McClarnin doing something unusual as well? Should we have some doubt? Should we question if he juiced?

16y ago

El_Jesus

Even GBP made themselves look foolish by speaking on the allegations. Some real foot in the mouth shit, if you ask me. You live in the Bay Area, when you turn on KNBR, they arent talking about if mayweathers demands are excessive or GBP put their foot in their mouth, the only questions people have are "why is taking the tests such an issue".

16y ago

MOREBASS

Why his team wants the test is not much of an issue if they believe the tests to be a good idea to protect their man, basless speculation or not. While this is true, it was not a very good idea for any one of their team members to accuse Pacquiao of anything, without proof. It just makes the demand look like harrassment, and its the reason for the pending lawsuit. Even GBP made themselves look foolish by speaking on the allegations. Some real foot in the mouth shit, if you ask me.

16y ago

The_Gambler1981

Wait, didn't Mayweather Jr. say in his twitter account to go and ask Ellerbe and about the tests? It doesn't seem like Mayweather Jr. had anything to do with asking about the additional tests. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=24100 I want olympic drug for these big fights but the way it came about for this specific fight was stupid....Mayweather Sr. should've shut his trap and asked for it behind the scenes instead of publically accusing Pacquiao of steriods. Why the hell do you think Pacquiao is so hesistant of agreeing to all the demands of Team Mayweather regardless of his belief that testing near a fight would drain him. Is Ellerbe not the guy who speaks publicly on behave of Floyd Maywether? Why his team wants the test is not much of an issue if they believe the tests to be a good idea to protect their man, basless speculation or not.

16y ago

El_Jesus

I was just about to post this. Great article by Iole. Both sides are at fault, and will be to blame if this fight falls through for whatever reason. Period. This quote is so true, and why they need to figure this out behind closed doors immediately, for the sake of the sport: Instead, the endless back-and-forth has given the impression that boxing is a lawless sport run by those looking for what they can take out of it, not how they can build it. With no governing body and promoters willing to do whatever it takes to make money off of their star fighter, sometimes not making great matchups either because of grudges or the matchup doesnt favor them, or the risk/reward isnt enough, of course fighters are going to take as much as they can from the sport, its either that, or retire broke. i dont blame fighters for doing that at all. and yes, boxing is largely lawless, its the only sport without an international governing body, which means every fight can have all kinds of different contract/stipulations rules etc. Basically you can negotiatie the rules as you go along, which is why this drug testing thing to me, is just about negotiating the rules as you please. im not against it because the commission doesnt choose glove sizes, contract amounts, minimums or maximums, no salary cap, nothing. the commission provides a certain set of rules depending on the state, but give them enough money, and theyll bend them (see margarito/cotto glove issue)

16y ago

The_Gambler1981

I hear you. Iole insists that it was Haymon who made for the push for additional testing, which is why I would find it odd if he didn't do the same in the Berto fight, being that Shane does have a history of using PED's. Floyd is in a much better position to make that demand, if this figh does not happean for Floyd I am pretty sure Floyd will still be a very well paid fighter in his next fights, Berto on the other hand needs to build his star by any means possible. Maybe they should have asked though, maybe they just doubt that Mosley is taking anymore because he would be kind of dumb to since he did get away with it once and the public doesn't care much about the matter with him.

16y ago

rao007

Well it is Mayweather requesting the extra testing, Golden Boy is only acting on his wishes. Haymon, Dibella and Berto could have asked but they were anxious to get the fight with Shane and didn't want to muck up this rather large oppurtunity. Different fighters in different positions in the sport. Although if FLoyd was to fight Mosley I would be interested to see what his stance would be on the matter. Wait, didn't Mayweather Jr. say in his twitter account to go and ask Ellerbe and about the tests? It doesn't seem like Mayweather Jr. had anything to do with asking about the additional tests. Ellerbe insisted that Mayweather had nothing to do with it and it was the job of Hayman and himself “to protect him and give him the best chance to be successful” although in the same breath he said that inside the ring Mayweather will “have no problem with Pacquiao, none whatsoever. http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=24100 I want olympic drug for these big fights but the way it came about for this specific fight was stupid....Mayweather Sr. should've shut his trap and asked for it behind the scenes instead of publically accusing Pacquiao of steriods. Why the hell do you think Pacquiao is so hesistant of agreeing to all the demands of Team Mayweather regardless of his belief that testing near a fight would drain him.

16y ago

MOREBASS

again, what is Mosley doing that is unusal or special? Thats what all of this is about Well, according to GBP and Team Mayweather, this is about making sure that everyone is on even terms, and playing fair. What your saying is that Pacquiao is being singled out for his accomplishments, which I actually believe is true. If they truly are doing this to 'clean up the sport' as they say...then it shouldn't matter that a fighter is doing anything unusual or special, as you put it. Well it is Mayweather requesting the extra testing, Golden Boy is only acting on his wishes. Haymon, Dibella and Berto could have asked but they were anxious to get the fight with Shane and didn't want to muck up this rather large oppurtunity. Different fighters in different positions in the sport. Although if FLoyd was to fight Mosley I would be interested to see what his stance would be on the matter. I hear you. Iole insists that it was Haymon who made for the push for additional testing, which is why I would find it odd if he didn't do the same in the Berto fight, being that Shane does have a history of using PED's.

16y ago

Gutz