There’s history of this sort of thing happening before
Boxing fans have been waiting for a long time for one of the most eagerly awaited fights in history, but it seems that an old issue that scuppered previous plans to get them in the ring has reared its ugly head again.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are finally getting it on in Las Vegas on May 2nd, but they almost agreed a deal to fight a few years ago until Pacquiao backed out. It’s believed that at the time that Pacquiao would not fight under WADA rules, with Mayweather being sued by the Filipino after suggesting he was taking PEDS.
Now it seems that Mayweather is getting cold feet after a proposal by his opponent to fine either fighter $5million if they failed a drug test not being agreed by the American. Both have signed up to be tested at random intervals and give samples of blood and urine, before and after, the fight as per World Anti-Doping regulations. However the cost of being caught cheating seems to be a step too far for the American, who has previously been incredibly chatty about ridding boxing of doping.
The request has come after the contract was signed between both parties. We’re no legal experts but unless both agree to the deal,and it was in the original contract, then there won’t be any financial penalty if someone does end up failing a test. Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser, is reported to have said
‘We can’t force Floyd into something. But we gave them an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is and they wouldn’t. Manny was surprised. He can’t figure out why they wouldn’t agree to it when Floyd is always talking about cleaning up the sport of boxing.’
Mayweather’s advisors have responded and feel that the issue is a mere distraction and have questioned the timing of releasing such information. Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions isn’t happy with the comments from Koncz,
‘It’s obvious he didn’t read the contract. Why would he have his fighter sign something he was not happy with?
There has been plenty of trash-talking between the fighters before now but this is the first shot in what we expect to be a long-running war of words leading up to May 2nd.
