WBO welterweight champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao will fight Joshua “The Hitter” Clottey March 13 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs), Ring Magazine’s number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, was tentatively slated to battle former WBC welterweight champion “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather on the identical date that he will now scrap Clottey (35-3-0-1, 20 KOs).
Unfortunately, the glamorous matchup pathetically disintegrated when the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps could not agree on a drug testing protocol for the contest.
“I know Floyd is the best,” said Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr. “But when your opponent uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt.”
Mayweather Sr., a convicted cocaine smuggler and trafficker, offered zero evidence to validate his slanderous allegations that Pacquiao is a longstanding juicehead.
The accusations made by the loony patriarch of the Mayweather clan are further unfounded when one recognizes that Pacquiao has never once tested positive for a banned substance in his career as a professional boxer.
Nevertheless, Pacquiao, 31, will now meet Clottey, 33, and “Pac-Man” can expect “The Hitter” to be a formidable opponent.
Clottey, a native of Ghana who once held the IBF welterweight title, did not require Pacquiao to undergo extensive blood testing and “The Hitter” stated that he believes “Pac-Man” is clean.
However, if Pacquiao is a cheating weasel, Clottey said that, “God is going to solve the problem.”
“I respect him (Pacquiao) so much,” said Clottey, who has never been defeated by knockout.
“I respect that he’s a sportsman. He’s a nice person, and I’m comfortable around him. I don’t think Manny Pacquiao is doing that thing. But if he does that, he’s cheating the sport.”
Mayweather’s draconian request for Olympic-style drug-testing still chaps the ass of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
“My view is that it’s not a topic for negotiation,” said Arum.
“That is something for the commission to decide. Any participant in a boxing match that wants more stringent testing than applicable in that state, should go before the commission, present his case and let the commission decide. It’s not for a bunch of amateurs to start talking about and making demands. That’s wrong. That’s what’s called chaos.”
Perhaps Arum is correct in his belief that Mayweather and his pose didn’t have the authority to make such rigid requests.
Nevertheless, Pacquiao should have begrudgingly accepted the unprecedented testing requirements for both the benefit of his own reputation and the sport of boxing.
If Pacquiao proved he was clean, he could have whooped Mayweather and left “Pretty Boy” with nary an excuse for his loss.
Sadly, rightfully or unjustly, suspicions will now hover over Pacquiao for the remainder of his illustrious career.
In actuality, “The Fighting Pride of the Philippines” shouldn’t blame Mayweather for the public’s baseless distrust.
Instead, Pacquiao should save his ire for his fellow professional athletes who have consistently upset and disappointed sports fans throughout the world.
Comments
I guess its very easy for you to say such a thing. I guess you would do whatever Mayweather says and that is bend over or on your knees. Got it? I guess not.
I respect your opinion Mr. Writer but I dont think you understand the gravity of one's worth. I dont know what is really happening behind the curtain and I dont think you do either. Agreeing to the blood testing that Mayweather asked for is like giving him the first round of the fight. Floyd Jr is clever. He created a reason that will benefit him whether Manny agreed or not. It's like choosing between the devil and the deep blue sea. And as for Manny's decision, if I were on his shoes I would do the same thing. I would rather choose the deep blue sea than the devil himself. At least I may have a chance to live and survive. Nevertheless, still it's your opinion and it's your right same as mine to express what I believe in. Our difference is that you can influence people that reads your column.
You need to understand that not everyone else thinks like an American (ethnocentrism). Mayweather knew what America would think when he conspired against Pacquiao. Without amplifying his reputation as a "ducker", he was able to turn America's attention on Pacquiao.I give him credit for originality(for an excuse). To an average thinker, Pacquiao's reputation became questionable as well. I can't believe that a lot of educated individuals bought a theory from a crackhead. All of us boxing fans need to remember that it was Mayweather who pulled out of the fight and not Pacquiao. Also, Pacquiao was willing to submit to testing immediately after the fight(in the locker room, for crying out loud). So, I ask, "Who's to blame?" I realized that although you were trying to be neutral with your position, you concluded that Pacquiao should've submitted to May's demands. I was suddenly confused. You have to realize that other cultures have supertitious beliefs Americans will never get...& vice versa
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