Pacquiao-Mayweather can and must be saved
Posted Dec. 23, 2009 at 12:06pm
By Michael Rosenthal
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Whoa! Slow down here. The biggest fight in history falling apart over a stupid blood test? C’mon.
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are crazy if they let this dispute scuttle their proposed March 13 mega-fight. Each would lose an unfathomable payday and their images would suffer considerable damage. On top of that, the sport, in need of the big fight to maintain momentum from a healthy 2009, would suffer.
If I’m Pacquiao and Mayweather remains intractable, I take the damn blood test even if I’m squeamish about needles or believe it would weaken me. Some people – in and out of boxing –already suspect the Filipino idol has been taking some form of performance-enhancing drugs in light of his super-human accomplishments. This is a chance for him to lift those suspicions as well as save the fight.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has said that the fighter is willing to take tests required of professional athletes in the United States but not random Olympic-style tests conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the latter of which Mayweather is demanding.
Pacquiao has agreed to urine testing at any time and blood tests before the first news conference and after the fight.
The problem for Pacquiao is this: People will ask why he would refuse any test at all. Whether it’s fair or not, they’ll wonder whether the sport’s biggest star is trying to hide something. That’s just the reality these days; no elite athlete is above such scrutiny when it comes to drugs.
So I say Pacquiao’s takes the test, makes an enormous amount of money, beats Mayweather (if he can) and becomes a bigger hero than ever in the Philippines and beyond. If he doesn’t take the test or come to a compromise with Mayweather, he’ll have to live with much less money, a less-compelling fight and those suspicions.
To me, the choice is obvious.
Pacquiao’s handlers insist that Mayweather is making the demand to get out of a fight he never truly wanted. That’s garbage. Arum and Co. are merely taking a poke at Mayweather’s pride in an effort to get him to alter his position. They know Mayweather isn’t afraid of Pacquiao or anyone else.
Still, here’s the problem for Mayweather: A lot of fans WILL question his courage if the fight falls apart because of the blood-testing issue. Mayweather already is perceived by many as a boxer who has carefully chosen his opponents to avoid real challenges.
The fact that he could’ve saved the fight by dropping his demand but refused to do so would only enhance that perception. Whether it's fair or not, people will ask: Could he really be afraid of Pacquiao?
Frankly, I don’t blame Mayweather for making the demand even if there’s some gamesmanship involved. All fighters try to gain any advantage they can going into a fight. And, after all, he too would have to take any test Pacquiao takes. That seems fair enough.
That said, If I’m Mayweather, I drop the demand. I have no doubt whatsoever that he believes he can beat Pacquiao under any circumstances. This is his chance to prove it on the biggest stage imaginable in the sport.
And contrary to what Mayweather might believe, he would be perceived as the bigger man if he were to give in.
I’m a firm believer that money will rule the day in the end. Pacquiao and Mayweather will take a deep breath and find a way to put their pride aside and make this fight happen because it makes too much sense from a business standpoint.
I’m convinced that common sense will prevail. If I’m wrong, one of the greatest opportunities in the history of sports will have been wasted.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are crazy if they let this dispute scuttle their proposed March 13 mega-fight. Each would lose an unfathomable payday and their images would suffer considerable damage. On top of that, the sport, in need of the big fight to maintain momentum from a healthy 2009, would suffer.
If I’m Pacquiao and Mayweather remains intractable, I take the damn blood test even if I’m squeamish about needles or believe it would weaken me. Some people – in and out of boxing –already suspect the Filipino idol has been taking some form of performance-enhancing drugs in light of his super-human accomplishments. This is a chance for him to lift those suspicions as well as save the fight.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, has said that the fighter is willing to take tests required of professional athletes in the United States but not random Olympic-style tests conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, the latter of which Mayweather is demanding.
Pacquiao has agreed to urine testing at any time and blood tests before the first news conference and after the fight.
The problem for Pacquiao is this: People will ask why he would refuse any test at all. Whether it’s fair or not, they’ll wonder whether the sport’s biggest star is trying to hide something. That’s just the reality these days; no elite athlete is above such scrutiny when it comes to drugs.
So I say Pacquiao’s takes the test, makes an enormous amount of money, beats Mayweather (if he can) and becomes a bigger hero than ever in the Philippines and beyond. If he doesn’t take the test or come to a compromise with Mayweather, he’ll have to live with much less money, a less-compelling fight and those suspicions.
To me, the choice is obvious.
Pacquiao’s handlers insist that Mayweather is making the demand to get out of a fight he never truly wanted. That’s garbage. Arum and Co. are merely taking a poke at Mayweather’s pride in an effort to get him to alter his position. They know Mayweather isn’t afraid of Pacquiao or anyone else.
Still, here’s the problem for Mayweather: A lot of fans WILL question his courage if the fight falls apart because of the blood-testing issue. Mayweather already is perceived by many as a boxer who has carefully chosen his opponents to avoid real challenges.
The fact that he could’ve saved the fight by dropping his demand but refused to do so would only enhance that perception. Whether it's fair or not, people will ask: Could he really be afraid of Pacquiao?
Frankly, I don’t blame Mayweather for making the demand even if there’s some gamesmanship involved. All fighters try to gain any advantage they can going into a fight. And, after all, he too would have to take any test Pacquiao takes. That seems fair enough.
That said, If I’m Mayweather, I drop the demand. I have no doubt whatsoever that he believes he can beat Pacquiao under any circumstances. This is his chance to prove it on the biggest stage imaginable in the sport.
And contrary to what Mayweather might believe, he would be perceived as the bigger man if he were to give in.
I’m a firm believer that money will rule the day in the end. Pacquiao and Mayweather will take a deep breath and find a way to put their pride aside and make this fight happen because it makes too much sense from a business standpoint.
I’m convinced that common sense will prevail. If I’m wrong, one of the greatest opportunities in the history of sports will have been wasted.
Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com
