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LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquaio said he injured his right shoulder in training several weeks ago and was hindered by the pain during his unanimous-decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday at the MGM Grand.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said at the post-fight press conference that the Nevada State Athletic Commission “was well aware” of the injury days before the fight. However, Commission Chairman Francisco Aguilar said he learned of the injury at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, a few hours before the fight.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said the team considered postponing the fight but Pacquiao became comfortable enough with the injury to go through with it. The fighter said he began to feel pain in the fight in the third round, which made it difficult for him to throw his right hand.

Pacquiao’s representatives evidently submitted a form to the Commission early this week indicating that he was taking pain medication, which was approved by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. But, according to Aguilar, the injury was not disclosed. The Commission learned of the injury when a member of Pacquiao’s team asked Nevada officials whether he could receive a numbing injection before the fight, a request that was rejected.

“I didn’t train good because I couldn’t use my right hand,” Pacquiao said. “We planned to fight with a shot for numbing my shoulder. I respect the decision of the Commission. ÔǪ My shoulder got better and better but it wasn’t really 100 percent recovered. At least I could use it.”

Arum was asked whether it was fair to charge $99.95 (high definition) for the pay-per-view broadcast knowing Pacquiao was injured.

“Athletes always fight hurt,” he said. “We felt that the work that was done on the shoulder during training gave him the opportunity to use the right hand. We were disappointed when, in the third round, the injury kicked up again.

“This is always the case with sports. A guy is injured in training. He then deals with the injury. He thinks he conquers it and then it gets re-injured in the game. It happens in football; it happens in every sport.”

Maywether, who arrived at the press conference after Pacquiao, was asked for his reaction to Pacquiao’s claim that he fought injured. He wasn’t pleased.

“I’ll answer the question the best way I know how,” he said. “I had injuries also going into this fight. If he came out victorious, the only thing I would’ve said is he was the better man. Both my hands were injured. But like I said before, you always find a way to win.”

Video by Daniel Morales