Pacquiao Wilting Under Steroid-Gate
The Manny Pacquiao - Miguel Cotto fight wasn't an hour old when the drums started beating for the biggest fight since Ali - Frazier 1 . Although coy at the post-fight press conference,Manny knew that the hype machine was warming for a clash with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the spring of 2010. Manny's promoter Bob Arum threw out the first taunts when asked about the potential scrap, continually doubting that Floyd would ever set foot in a ring with the Phillipine tsunami. Arum has repetitively stated that Mayweather is too afraid of losing his unbeaten status to meet a machine like Pacquiao, regardless of the gigantic purses to the participants. Arum's opinions do have a solid foundation of truth to them, as Floyd has been very studious in his choice of opponents since the Castillo fight at lightweight. The former 'Pretty Boy' side-stepped all of the top welterweights (a prime Miguel Cotto,Shane Mosley & Antonio Margarito). Instead of establishing a legacy meeting the best fighters in his weight class,Floyd met a faded Oscar de la Hoya and a belt-holding plugger with a dozen pro losses in Baldomir. Since then 'part-time' - Mayweather has been the best welterweight fighting in the jr. welterweight division. Beating the one-dimensional/smaller fighter in Ricky Hatton and a talented but much smaller lightweight titlist in Juan Manuel Marquez does provide legitimate legacy issues for Mayweather. The announcement of the negotiations for the Pacman - Pretty Boy clash lit up boxing websites as well as mainstream media outlets. The battle to be the hosting venue (Dallas Cowboys Stadium vs The MGM Grand theater) was covered daily by (really) the print media dailies. Then the shoe dropped.
Floyd 'Money' Mayweather would agree to all terms for the fight but wanted one. Floyd wants both fighters to be tested for all enhancements by 'Olympic standards'. This seems reasonable to most people, but could be problematic for Manny. If one has kept an eye on his career since his pro debut at 106 Lbs.(!) it is peculiar to see how his head has grown with his punch. Make no mistake, Manny is a two-fisted slugger with a slippery/lefty style who has improved his technique in the eight years that he has trained with Freddie Roach. My problem with Pacquiao's career since his loss to Erik 'el Terribile' Morales in 2005 is more than his physical growth in size/strength/cranium (all earmarks of HGH use). It has more to do with Manny's enhanced ability to take more punishment and to have more energy later in fights than even four years ago. Experts state blood-doping (transfusions of fresh blood before competition) helps athletes raise their red blood cell levels. This allows the fighter a greater oxygen uptake, and more importantly, more stamina in the later rounds of a fight. Four years ago Pacquiao was affected by the punches of wiry 126 Ib. Erik Morales, but was able to shake off repeated heavy hooks by the MUCH bigger and stronger Miguel Cotto. It is exactly what it seems it is. I don't blame Floyd for ensuring that he is meeting a fighter that is not being assisted to perform like an energizer bunny. Team Pacquiao is flat refusing un-announced USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) testing for the biggest money fight in history. If you are not relying on these prevalent methods of cheating, one would never have a problem with mutual testing of this nature - and the THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS that it would bring. Enough said.
Bawdy Shots:
It was good to see Kelly Pavlik shake some rust and break down the game but out-gunned Miguel Espino. Credit to Kelly for clearly issuing a challenge to Paul Williams to sign the offer sheet for a date in the New Year during his in-ring interview.
Manny Pacquiao's alledged lawsuit for defamation against the Mayweather clan is a diversionary strike to distance himself from a greater issue. In time Manny will agree to fight Mayweather, and with testing to appease Floyd.
I am not interested in a fight involving Pacman versus Yuri Foreman or Paulie Maglinaggi, but Bob Arum is using them as a contingency plan if Floyd doesn't budge on his legitimate stance. Manny will not be matched against Sugar Shane, Joshua Clottey or Margarito because of the dangers that would bring (and loss of Mayweather $$).
Looking forward to a great slate of boxing in the coming months. A Happy New Year to all TFN readers!
