FightHype's exclusive Mayweather After Dark series sparked a ton of reaction, both good and bad, from fans and media alike. From diehard fans who were eager to hear more from the undefeated pound-for-pound champion to members of the media who had their own series of questions, the email has not stopped pouring in since the first video went up. Although I don't have all the answers, I do have some, so check out what I had to say to inquiring minds who want to know all about Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and much more.
My question is simple. I wanted to know why you think the test is still a big issue given the fact the pacman himself stated that he would agree to all terms given by money? Also do you think the fight between money and pacman compares to Ali/Foreman or Ali/Fraser? Thanks SGT B
BT: The tests are still a big issue because, thus far, Team Mayweather has not been presented an offer which states, on paper, that Pacquiao has agreed to take the random blood and urine tests that they require. I think what's getting lost in translation here is that regardless of what people think Manny himself has stated, his promoter, Bob Arum, has yet to come to the table with an offer, on paper, stating that Pacquiao will agree to the testing. Arum has done a masterful job of making it appear as though he's doing everything in his power to make the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao. So long as fans continue to believe that he's trying to make the fight, then it's okay for him to put Manny in with Joshua Clottey, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and now Juan Mauel Marquez again, all the while keeping the majority of the profit from those fight as opposed to the cut he would get from the Mayweather fight. Don't get me wrong, he'd make A LOT of money from Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, HOWEVER, is it going to be more than what he's been pocketing from some of these past events? Opponents like Clottey, Margarito and even Mosley came at a cheap price in the grand scheme of things. That means less money out of Arum's pocket, and you can bet that he's perfectly content with that, especially if it means that he doesn't have to see a big chunk of the money going to Mayweather. At the end of the day, Bob Arum is in the business of making money, so if he felt that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao would make him that much more money than what he's currently making, believe me, he would have bent over backwards trying to convince Manny to take the tests and get the deal done. I mean, it's not exactly like he exhausted all efforts to make the fight a reality. Keep in mind, back in December of 2009, Arum was quick to try and walk away from negotiations and called the fight off on more than one occassion. Even after that, he seemed content with just passing notes to Ross Greenburg in attempt to "negotiate" with the other side. Those aren't exactly the actions of someone who's doing everything in his power to make the fight happen. It's what I like to call the art of non-negotiation. As for the fight itself comparing to Ali/Foreman or Ali/Frazier, no comparison to Ali/Frazier at all, but it's bigger than Ali/Foreman in my opinion. After all, if I remember correctly, going into the fight, Foreman was expected to smash Ali.
Hi Ben, I enjoy reading your articles. Keep up the good work. And have you seen this video (Pacquiao agrees to fully random blood testing)? What's your take on it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5ns-kQqYrI -Jose
BT: Thanks for the kudos, Jose. Yeah, I've seen the infamous "Manny Pacquiao Agress to random Blood Test and Wants Floyd" video. Here's the thing though, in that video, I didn't hear Manny say that he'll agree to random blood tests leading all the way up until the fight. What I heard him say was, "We agree all his, you know, demands." The question is, which demands is he agreeing to? Is he agreeing to his current request of random drug testing leading all the way up until the bout? Or is he agreeing to Mayweather's original offer of a 14-day cut-off when the two sides entered into mediation in early 2010? The guy asking the questions was trying to lead him a bit by specifying that he did not require a cut-off date, which prompted Manny to simply agree and say, "Yes," but that still isn't a definitive answer in my opinion, especially considering how quickly the question was brushed off. Furthermore, that video was recorded in the weeks prior to his fight with Antonio Margarito. The funny thing is, there's another video that came out in the weeks prior to his fight with Margarito, except this one aired on HBO. In the first episode of HBO's 24/7 Pacquiao Margarito, while commenting on the mysterious second round of negotiations, Pacquiao's own advisor, Michael Koncz, states, "We pretty much agreed to anything on the drug testing except not within 7 days." Take a look at this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXBIh_NDPss, and let me know what you think. To me, it looks like Team Pacquiao is having a hard time keeping their stories straight. The bottom line, however, is that thus far, Team Mayweather has not been presented an offer which states, on paper, that Pacquiao has agreed to take the random blood and urine tests that they require, so it really doesn't matter what he may or may not say.
Ben, I would like to know if the effect of PEDs to the body makes the boxer invincible? If a boxer takes PEDs 2 or 1 week before the fight the effect of its performance can still be felt on his fight day? If yes, so the boxing commissions should list all kinds of PEDs and conduct a thorough examination on the blood and urine test to all boxers. If not, so the purpose of PEDs is to be used during the fight otherwise its purpose is useless, so a test before and after the fight is more than enough against all pre-tests. more power! - Jerome
BT: Invincible? LOL. No. But yes, there are PEDs that a fighter can take 1 week before a fight which will have an impact on their performance come fight night. How much of an effect they may have depends on what it is, but I'm no expert on PEDs, so I suggest visiting Google and doing some research for yourself. Here's a link to get you started: http://tinyurl.com/6gcphkh. Boxing commissions actually do have a list of banned substances. In fact, you can get more information about what the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) prohibits at this link: http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-467.html#NAC467Sec850. The problem with most commissions, however, is that their testing procedures for some of those substances are inadequate. For example, NSAC did not discover that Fernando Vargas was using steroids until AFTER his fight with Oscar De La Hoya. Another example, NSAC did not discover that UFC fighter Thiago Silva's urine sample was "not human" until AFTER his fight with Brandon Vera. Maybe it's just me, but in my opinion, getting caught AFTER the fight has already taken place is a little too late. Some of these guys aren't getting caught until after the damage has already been done, so clearly, just doing a test before and after the fight, like they're currently doing, is not even close to being good enough.
Hi Ben, although any boxer can impose their own option leading to the fight like catch weight, glove weight, etc.it's unthinkable for anyone to dictate the testing procedure of NSAC. If it's true that Keith Keizer had admitted in an interview that NSAC is ill equipped at the moment to take reliable tests, then why don't they modify their protocol or hand over their responsibility to the USDA or adopt the OLYMPIC style of drug test for all future fights. Mayweather has no right to compel his opponent to take such test just for the sake of fighting him as long as the NSAC drug testing is still imposed. I'm not saying that Manny is taking or may not be taking Peds, but for Manny to subject himself to the same Olympic test style right after the fight clears anybody's doubt. It would be a stupid move on Manny's part to turn GOLD into GARBAGE if he knew he's going to be caught right after the fight. For Mayweather to dictate his own testing procedure, it means he can also dictate his share on the purse of the fight. This time he's saying he's getting closer to 40 and he'll deliver the goods expected by fans. Sounds too good to be true. Of course Mayweather is a gifted and a genius fighter, but he rarely fights toe to toe. I just wonder why another testing procedure is required by Mayweather to the one he calls a "midget". Will NSAC modify their testing protocol or they will just remain as boxing's "doubtful commission".pls reply. Thanks, malic
BT: First and foremost, Floyd Mayweather isn't trying to dictate the testing procedures of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. What Mayweather is saying is that the testing procedures of all the commissions are inadequate (see the examples I gave above regarding Fernando Vargas and Thiago Silva), therefore, he's requesting additional testing procedures outside of the commission. He's not telling NSAC that they have to do this or they have to do that. They can still implement their own testing procedures in conjunction with USADA if they so choose. He's simply requesting that an outside agency that specializes in more thorough testing, like USADA, be involved. As the person who is stepping inside the ring and putting his life on the line, Mayweather has EVERY RIGHT to make such a request. Likewise, any potential opponent has every right not to agree to the request. It's no different than Manny Pacquiao requesting that certain opponents fight him at weight limits that don't actually exist in the sport. Pacquiao is the one putting himself at risk by stepping into the ring with the naturally bigger men, therefore, he has every right to ask them to meet him at a weight lower than the limit of the division they're fighting in. That doesn't necessarly mean that the opponent has to agree to the request, but if they want to fight Pacquiao and make the payday, then they'll do it. Special requests happen all the time in boxing in order to make a fight. I mean, even Pacquiao demanded an incredible $10 million per pound penalty should Mayweather not make weight. Whether it's where the fight takes place, who walks out to the ring first, who is announced first, the split of the purse, the weight limit, the glove size, or even the ring size, special terms are brought up all the time during negotiations. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, wasn't it Sugar Ray Leonard who demanded a bigger ring size and 12 rounds, instead of 15, when he fought Marvin Hagler? Didn't Lennox Lewis request a separate press conference, separate weigh-in, and additional security inside the ring prior to his showdown with Mike Tyson? Fighters, particularly those in the driver's seat, have the right to demand whatever they want. Whether or not the opponent agrees to it, however, is a totally different story.
Ben Thompson did you read this article? the title of the article say it all. LOL. IF MAYWEATHER IS THE STAR, WHY DOES HE USE PACQUIAO'S NAME TO STAY RELEVANT?
BT: Nope, never read it. I don't have time to read opinionated articles from writers who don't actually speak to anyone in the industry. I'm far too busy getting the truth from the fighters themselves. The irony here though is that you're emailing me about Floyd Mayweather, who you claim is irrelevant. If he's so irrelevant, then why did that person write the article about him in the first place? On top of that, why are you even emailing me about him? Now THAT'S funny. LOL. Thanks for supporting the site though. We appreciate it.
Floyd's drug crusade is believed only by Mayweather fans. Accept it, he wants to avoid Pacman. US President, Nike, Hewlett Packard doesn't believe in this nonesense. Your'e one helping destroy boxing by believing in a criminal, a wife beater, a security guard poker, a tax evader etc.
BT: Destroying boxing? I didn't know I was that powerful. LOL. Look, if Mayweather wanted to "avoid" Pacquiao, as you suggest, he wouldn't have come up with the idea of random drug testing in order to do it. He could have simply continued to demand the bigger share of the purse. Instead, he agreed to the purse split and he agreed to all of Pacquiao's demands. Truth be told, when they orginally begain negotiations, it was Pacqiuao's promoter, Bob Arum, who tried, on several occassions, to walk away from the fight. Mayweather, on the other hand, appeared to be going out of his way to make the fight a reality, even suggesting mediation and then offering Pacqiuao a 14-day cut-off date for drug testing. That seems like a lot of effort for Mayweather to go through if he was really trying to avoid the fight.
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but who paid for the funding of the random drug testing for the Mayweather vs Mosley fight, and why can't that funding be used in coersion with the NSAC? - Reno
BT: The promoter pays for the random testing. The USADA testing is something that's done outside of the NSAC, so those fees are incurred by the people who are requesting their services. NSAC does their own testing, using their own third-party facilities. I honestly couldn't tell you if funding is an issue for NSAC, as I'm not sure how much money they're spending on the third-party facilities they're using.
Hello Ben, Did it ever occur to anyone that if Pacquiao is indeed a PED user, he would not have the temerity to file a lawsuit to clear his name? In court, he could very well be subjected by the defense to all sorts of tests, random or not, even on the night of his next fight to prove or disprove his point and innocence! I'm certain his lawyers forewarned him of that possibility... What say you, Ben? Thanks, tito
BT: I'm no lawyer, and I could be wrong about this, but just because you go to court, it doesn't mean you're going to be forced to take any tests in order to prove your innocence. In this case, Pacquiao is on the prosecuting side, therefore, he doesn't have to prove anything other than the fact that Mayweather has somehow damaged his reputation. I'm not sure why you would think Pacquiao might be subjected to a drug test just because he filed a lawsuit. You lost me on that one. LOL.
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