The boxing world was shocked that a fight between the top two boxers today, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., went kaput over disagreement on how to conduct the Olympic style drug testing demanded by the latter.

Manny has expressed anger over accusations or insinuations, mostly from Team Mayweather that his incredible success in the ring of late was aided by performance enhancing drugs.

His statements in the media and the defamation suit he filed against those he perceives responsible is a proof of his sentiment on this.

What is not played up in the media, however, is how Floyd was the more incensed of the two that the March 13, 2010 bout did not happen.

Floyd was looking forward to his biggest payday and perhaps his greatest achievement in the ring after laying out a brilliant idea and game plan on how to ensure victory against Manny.

Not that he did see he can easily beat Manny as rumors coming out from his camp early on seem to indicate he is scared to fight the Filipino champion who just scored devastating victories over Oscar Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto in succession in a span of one year.

But Team Mayweather’s research and study of Pacquiao’s previous fights, particularly the ones he lost, may have given them an idea on how to have a much-needed crucial advantage come fight night.

What followed were the accusations and insinuations made in the media of Pacquiao possibly on steroids or PEDs before the negotiations and then Floyd, the usually demanding fighter immediately agreeing for a fight with Manny on even terms, easily approving the other fighter’s demand like purse split, use of gloves, even the staggering $10 million per pound penalty for over weight.

Then as everyone in the sport has become ecstatic and looking forward to the event, Floyd unleashed his ace, a seeming simple request for both of them to undergo Olympic style random blood testing.

The undefeated American did not foresee Manny walking away from the mega buck mega fight and was thinking the Filipino boxing superstar would be forced to accept his terms.

But as things have turned out, even a potential $40 million earning can’t make Manny agree on the so called blood testing scheme that’s just a cover for their strategy to put the Filipino fighter in a weakened physical condition like he was during his first bout with Mexican Erik Morales.

And so two months after the aborted megabout and after Pacquiao moved on to face another tough challenge in African Joshua Clottey, Mayweather Jr. is still furious because not only did the biggest payday of his life went down the drain, he was forced to fight another tough welterweight champion in Shane Mosley for much less.

And so don’t be surprised that even if Floyd is supposed to hype his coming fight with Mosley, he’d rather talk about Manny, unfavorably, of course.

Source: http://www.theboxinghistorian.com/news/6151_pacquiao88.html

I’m sure you’ve heard it plenty of times before. It started from Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s camp down to Teddy Atlas and now the die-hard Mayweather fans and brownnosers. And the question goes, “Why would Manny Pacquiao throw away 50 million dollars over some blood tests?”

Usually that question is followed by a statement pointing out that if any person would be offered a huge amount of money to do his job and turn it down over some blood tests that there is something wrong with that person. And the prestige goes, “So why won’t Pacquiao just take the tests?”

Order in the court of truth! Judge dSource is now presiding over this case that has been blown out of proportion in the court of public opinion and press manipulation.

Let’s lay down facts shall we.

It’s been several months since Floyd Mayweather Sr., the convicted drug smuggler, former trainer of Money Mayweather, first made his steroids accusations public and yet Team Mayweather has failed to proved any form of tangible proof that would implicate Pacquiao other thank Roger Mayweather’s Philippine history lecture on how bullets used to bounce off Filipino soldiers 500 years ago because they were on a drug called A-Side Meth. And I quote in the exclusive I first published at the Examiner, Roger said “they (the Filipinos soldiers) weren’t even dying.”

Pacquiao has no ties with the people Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were connected with. No history of any failed tests that were administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The same tests and commission that caught fighters like Fernando Vargas riding dirty. I repeat, there’s been no evidence of Pacquiao’s doping, no connections with shady people and nothing except a Roger Mayweather fictional tale. I say fictional because America didn’t even exist 500 years ago so how in the world will they try to invade the Philippines on top of drugs causing bullets to bounce and people not dying? Must be watching too much of that Twilight crap Roger.

But there’s much evidence on the fact that Pacquiao has had a history with blood tests and felt weak afterwards. I have written at length in the past on that topic, you can click this link if you want to read it.

And so the real deal is, Floyd Mayweather Jr. turned his back on 50 million dollars because of an urban legend from Uncle Roger? Okay, let’s incorporate all their other baseless assertions like Pacquiao’s getting bigger and him not getting knocked out by Cotto and saying he is knocking out people since he climbed upwards of 130. Fact is, Pacquiao was knocking people out before he turned 130 and that his overall weight gain in the past 5 years is about 4 pounds. Again you want to read facts about that,

So who turns his back on 50 million dollars based on baseless hunches and made up rules and demands not being given in to? If you were to be paid a lot of money to work at a place where there are baseless rumors about, would you walk away from it? And the prestige: “Why won’s Floyd just fight Pacquiao like he did everybody else?” Again, I got 3 letters for you.. K.. F.. C.
Source: http://philboxing.com/news/story-34800.html

In a recent interview, Freddie Roach shared with the public how the allegations of steroids had really affected Manny Pacquiao. Roach described this experience as a first for him and Manny. Let’s examine these comments further.

Sharon Jones Sacramento, CA “How has the steroids accusations affected Manny Pacquiao?”

“He’s got a reputation, of course, and it’s the first time I’ve seen Manny angry at another fighter. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him like that.” Freddie Roach, FoxNews.com

In Roach’s own words, Manny was angry. It was the first time he’s ever seen Manny get angry at another fighter. I don’t see how that would bode well for Mayweather if they ever fought. Manny goes into fights without anger, imagine what it would be like if he actually disliked his opponent. I think he would destroy that opponent.

 think this is another reason why Roach made the challenge to Floyd to fight for free, winner takes all. Because it really did frustrate Team PacMan and the only way to truly shut up Floyd would be to make this challenge. Notice how Floyd or GBP have not even commented on “Roach’s Challenge” yet.

Roach went on to also discuss the pending lawsuit that Manny has against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions.

“Pretty much the allegations are unproven and there’s a lawsuit pending and I think he’ll lose that lawsuit. You can’t go around saying stuff like that without evidence.” Freddie Roach, FoxNews.com

Brian Hilton Fair Oaks, CA “Are there any updates on the defamation lawsuit?”

Ok here’s all I have so far in response to the lawsuit. I have personally emailed Manny’s attorney and have not heard anything back. So, I placed a call to his law office in the Los Angeles are and left a voice message. I also spoke to his secretary but she was unable to provide me any updates. So, until Manny or his attorney Dan Petrocelli makes an official comment, we are in the dark. If anyone has heard of any updates through others sources, please forward it to me so I may check it out. Otherwise, I will post an article as soon as I can pin down Dan Petrocelli.

Conclusion

Can you really blame Manny for being angry? He was attacked and publicly embarrassed with unfounded accusations by the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions. He was treated like a common criminal. This should upset any decent human being. Hopefully, Manny will have the opportunity to win in the ring or in court against Floyd to get some measure of justice. 

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-21442-Sacramento-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2010m2d23-Floyds-allegations-anger-Manny-Roach-The-first-time-Ive-seen-Manny-angry-at-another-fighter

Out of all the fighters out there in and around Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s weight division, Manny Pacquiao has the best chance of beating him.

Stylistically, Manny matches up well against Mayweather. If you take a look at the Floyd Mayweather Jr./Zab Judah fight, you’ll notice how Judah caught Mayweather with some good shots early on and in the middle stages of the fight. Zab Judah, like Manny Pacquiao is a south-paw with speed. But unlike Manny, Judah doesn’t have the stamina, chin or discipline.

Judah’s best weapon in that fight was the left hand – a punch Manny Pacquiao lands often against his opponents. There is no doubt that Manny would be landing a few of these powerful left hands on Mayweather’s chin in the course of the fight; how many can Floyd Mayweather absorb before he falls? Or the better question probably is, can Mayweather avoid the left hand all night? Possible. But doubtful.

Mayweather has a great defense, but Pacquiao has the offensive firepower, speed, activity and stamina to capitalize. Even if Manny doesn’t stop Mayweather, he certainly has the aggression and overall style to make it difficult for Mayweather, possibly out pointing Floyd in a close fight. Remember, most judges will favor aggression and activity. There is no doubt in my mind Manny will be more active, the only question will be how effective he will be.

It’s certainly not a foregone conclusion that Manny Pacquiao WILL beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. if these two fight – I see a slight edge in favor of Manny – and that’s the reason why this fight is so attractive… but if anyone can beat Mayweather, it’s Manny Pacquiao! 

Source: http://www.braggingrightscorner.com/miltzpacquiaowrap022310.html

Don’t miss what the always controversial James Toney had to say about a potential fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.!

James Toney: “I grew up with Floyd Mayweather… we all came from the same block in Michigan. Me, the Mayweather family, Buster Mathis, Tony Tucker… The ‘Hall of Fame’ block, you know what I’m sayin? I love Floyd and I’m glad he’s doing what he’s doing… but if you claim to be the best fighter in the world in the world pound-for-pound… fight! Don’t make no excuses.”

“Pacquiao’s going to knock Floyd out… and Floyd knows it. Floyd’s my man and I love him but I’m going to call it like I see it. The thing is this: Do you know what a rabbit does when it gets backed into a corner? It faints. And that’s what Floyd’s doing.”

Source: http://fightfan.com/2010/02/james-lights-out-toney-id-put-my-money-on-manny-pacquiao-to-knock-floyd-mayweather-out/

Manny Pacquiao

Nike

Once again, the world’s greatest boxer had to come out and set the record straight on blood testing. It’s not a matter of doing it, it’s a matter of when. Unfortunately, the non-stop criticism and false accusations from the Mayweathers and GBP have muddied the waters so much that Manny has to constantly answer questions about taking blood tests. Let’s examine Manny’s latest comments:

• “I’m not against Blood testing. Just not the day of the fight. I’ve had that happen in the (first) Morales fight. I lost that fight and my body felt very weak. I don’t feel I recovered. That is why I don’t want blood testing close to the fight.” Manny Pacquiao, Fightfan.com

So, to all of the Manny critics, once again Manny has come out and publicly stated that he’s not against blood testing. He never was. It was all about the timeframe of when the tests would be taken. He truly believes that he had problems in his first fight with Morales due to the taking of blood so close to the fight. It’s time to stop all the ignorant comments that he’s afraid of taking the “$25 million dollar” test. If you critics are so willing to believe Mayweather’s comments in the media that Pacquiao is scared, then you have to believe Manny’s comments to the same media, that he’s willing to take blood tests. Otherwise, you critics are truly being like your idol Floyd, which is a hypocrite.

• “I’m not disappointed because I know I’m not the one who didn’t want the fight and I have to defend myself.” Manny Pacquiao, Fightfan.com
  

It’s sad that we live in a country where a guy has to prove he’s innocent because another guy makes false accusations. Manny has never failed a drug test. In fact, Keith Kizer Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission specifically told me that “Manny Pacquiao has never failed a drug test in the state of Nevada” or anywhere else that he’s aware of. Manny has been fighting in the state of Nevada since 2001.
Why does Manny have to prove his innocence when he’s never been guilty? This country has gone backwards. It used to be “innocent until proven guilty”. It’s now become “guilty until proven innocent”.
Jenny Bronson Sacramento, CA “Why do people assume Manny’s guilty based on what Floyd says?”
Jenny, because they are either die-hard Floyd fans, ignorant, anti-foreigners, hypocrites, or all of the above. Manny has no track record of being arrested or beating women like Floyd does. Manny doesn’t live the lifestyle of “money and fame” but one of “country and God”. It’s absurd the amount of time that Manny has to spend fighting off false accusations. This is also why he filed a defamation lawsuit.
Candice Robbins Sacramento, CA “Is there any truth to what Floyd says bout Manny not wanting to take the blood tests?”
Candice, I hope this article answers your question. Manny is not afraid to take these blood tests. Hopefully, these false claims of Manny being scared can stop sooner rather than later. All we can do is constantly remind those who claim otherwise. 

Source:  http://www.examiner.com/x-21442-Sacramento-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2010m2d16-Manny-Pacquiao-Im-not-against-Blood-testing

Floyd Mayweather is not especially intelligent but he understands he can’t beat Manny Pacquiao inside the ring, so he must embark on a smear campaign to try to defeat the Filipino outside the ring – in the arena of public opinion.

Floyd knows his fists and his skills are just not formidable enough to get the highly dangerous job done. He knows his mind is inferior and not smart enough to out-think Pacquiao under pressure. And Floyd realizes his will is not strong enough to subdue the ferocious intensity to win a 12-round boxing match against Pacquiao.

But there is a single quality where the dishonorable American pugilist does hold an advantage over Pacquiao: he has a bigger mouth which can tell repeated lies and mistruths without a sense of shame. As we know, if a lie is repeated enough, it will eventually be believed by many.

So that’s all Mayweather can do now – is use his mouth to try to do the job his frail fists and faltering confidence can not accomplish – defeat Pacquiao by spreading lies and falsehoods.

As you may have noticed, Mayweather has been hanging around major sporting events like the Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game. The fork-tongued double-talker has double intentions – to promote his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley on May 1 and to discredit Manny Pacquiao in every possible way he can think of.

Mayweather wants you to believe Pacquiao is the one who pulled out of the fight in January because he wouldn’t agree to all of Floyd’s – NOT the Nevada State Commission’s – but Floyd’s personal demands for excessive random blood testing. But the little-known truth is, Mayweather advisor Al Haymon’s associate George Peterson told me the decision to cancel the Pacquiao-Floyd was made as far back as early December – obviously, because Team Mayweather concluded a boxing match against Manny Pacquiao was a “no win situation.” Yes, a severely brutal knockout loss at the fists of a smiling Asian man is a no-win situation indeed for an arrogant pretender like Mayweather.

As if ducking Pacquiao once wasn’t enough, after the Super Bowl and NBA All Star Game, now we have learned Mayweather aspires to duck Pacquiao again. Even if Pacquiao were to agree to Floyd’s 14-day random blood testing demands, that might not be enough now, says Floyd. And Floyd also stated that the 50-50 split may not work if Floyd-Mosley does bigger pay-per-view numbers than Pacquiao-Clottey.

Only the dim-witted wouldn’t be able to comprehend this is Floyd’s way to lay the foundation to duck Pacquiao for 2010 and perhaps the rest of his career.

Floyd may think he’s successfully pulled off the greatest duck in boxing history and that he has won the media war of words with the humble, quiet man from General Santos City. But one must understand that the mighty truth shall always destroy the ugly false.

“The lie of the emperor is always believed before the truth of the peasant.” -unknown

“If you bury the truth and bury it under the ground it will but grow and gather itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everthing it its way.” -Emile Zola

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it’s violently opposed. And third, it’s accepted as self-evident.” -Arthur Schopenauer

Source: http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/floyd-trying-to-talk-his-way-to-victory-over-pacquiao/

Floyd Mayweather Jr

AP

Over the last few months, rarely a day went by without Floyd Mayweather Jr making comments about Manny Pacquiao. Even today, if you scroll through Pacland for articles on Floyd Mayweather Jr, you will find some harsh comments from Floyd about Manny. There’s no other logical conclusion about these obsessive comments other than Floyd is jealous and here’s why:

What Shane Mosley fight?
The first evidence of Floyd’s jealousy is the fact that he spends more time talking about Manny Pacquiao than he does his upcoming fight with Shane Mosley. You’d think Floyd would actually focus most of his energy on his fight with Mosley, who’s looking to knockout Floyd. Instead, Floyd continues to talk about drug tests and paydays that involve Manny Pacquiao.

• Feb 6th 2010 – All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather. I don’t need Manny Pacquiao. For him to get his biggest payday he needs me. FMJ, Boxingscene.com
• Feb 8th 2010 – “Manny Pacquiao didn’t want to take a 25 million dollar drug test. FMJ, SportsRadioInterviews.com
• Feb 13th 2010 – “Instead of 20 or 25 (million dollars), he may have to drop to 15, or 17,” Mayweather said. “And you know me, they may have to throw that extra five or 10 on mine, and we can rock and roll. Take it or leave it.” FMJ, Grand Rapids Press

Pound for Pound Best Fighter
Sharon Collier Sacramento, CA “Rick do you think Floyd is jealous of Manny being the world’s pound for pound best fighter?”
Sharon, Floyd Mayweather is jealous of Pacquiao being rated the best pound for pound fighter in the world. When asked about it, he went off saying that people are entitled to their opinions but then says that he basically could care less what the fans think because he lives for himself. In another interview, Floyd goes on about how Manny has 3 losses and questions Manny’s greatness.

• February 8th 2010 – “Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. I live my life the way I live my life and I’m happy with what I do. I live for Floyd Maywetaher. I don’t live for the fans.’ FMJ, SportsRadioInterviews.com
• February 6th – “How can you be indestructible with three losses and he’s been knocked out twice?” FMJ, Boxingscene.com

Manny is the People’s Champ
Floyd is also extremely jealous of the fact that the public embraces Manny more now than Floyd. In fact, Manny has an entire country that shuts down for his fights, Floyd probably has an entire “Folsom prison block” shut down for his fights. Here’s Floyd’s view on life and here’s Manny’s view on life. You can clearly see why more people want to follow Manny.

• February 8th 2010 – “I live for Floyd Mayweather. I don’t live for the fans. I love the fans but I live for myself. Self preservation is first. I must be happy first before I can make anybody else happy.” FMJ, SportsRadioInterviews.com
• February 4th, 2010 – “For me, it’s Boxing and God. I think what I have done in boxing is because of my sacrifices and my faith in God.” Manny Pacquiao, BoxingScene.com

Mainstream Attention
Floyd is all about the hype. But it’s Manny who’s getting the Mainstream attention. For a guy like Floyd, this lack of mainstream attention probably kills him. You see, Manny doesn’t have to go to the Superbowl or to the NBA All-Star game to generate attention; Oh no no, Hollywood’s celebrities, 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America are all coming to him.

• February 7th, 2010 – “CBS is going to start shooting material next Sunday at Coach Freddie Roach’s funky Wild Card Gym. Good Morning America on the ABC network is also going to do something on Manny.” Bob Arum, interview with Michael Marley, Examiner.com

In addition to the big TV news shows, celebrities like Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, Jeremy Piven and Mark Wahlberg have all recently stopped by to pay their respects and show their support.

Davey Johnson Sacramento, Ca “Rick, with all the celebrities stopping by to see Manny, do you think anyone will stop by Mayweather’s training?” Danny, I think the only people who will stop by are criminal associates of the Mayweather clan and the defense attorney for Roger Mayweather.

What other things do you think Floyd Mayweather Jr is jealous of when it comes to Manny Pacquiao?

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-21442-Sacramento-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2010m2d15-Jealousy-rears-its-ugly-head-in-the-form-of-Floyd-Mayweather-Jr

The Holy Grail of boxing is to be found deep inside the minds of the blood brotherhood and within that labyrinth the Pacman is defeating the Money Man without them throwing so much as a single punch at each other.

From the rooftops of the Las Vegas casinos in which he treats dollar bills like confetti, Floyd Mayweather Jr screams denial of Manny Pacquiao’s claim to be the supreme pound-for-pound fighter in the world today. But in the esteem of the congoscenti he is just whistling into the desert wind.

America’s boxing writers have spoken, voting Pacquiao as not only their fighter of the year but their boxer of the decade just ended.

Not only that, but 2009 represents the third time in four years that they have bestowed their Sugar Ray Robinson Trophy upon the Filipino phenomenon who has now won world titles in an unprecedented seven weight divisions.

In direct comparison, Pacquiao obliterated and concussed our own Ricky Hatton while Mayweather took longer to inflict an orthodox stoppage. But clearly the Pacman’s willingness to meet the toughest rivals virtually regardless of differential in poundage weighed most heavily on the ballot.

Pacquiao receives his latest awards at a New York dinner in June. By then, on March 13, he will have fought – and by most predictions defeated – Ghana’s dangerous world welterweight champion Joshua Clottey in the first boxing event to be staged in the Dallas Cowboys stadium.

Such is Pacquiao’s popularity that the venue will be configured for a 50,000 seat sell out. This, in the wake of his stunning 12th round KO of two time world champion Miguel Cotto last autumn which drew such huge crowds to the Strip that it is credited for kick-starting a post-recession recovery of the Las Vegas economy. Then, in May, Pacquiao is expected to win another election, this time for a seat in the Philippine congress.

Mayweather, meanwhile, will confine himself to his hometown Vegas and a May 1 encounter with the veteran Shane Mosley, which would have been one helluva fight had it taken place when the now 38-year-old Sugar Shane was five years younger.

While there is no doubting Mayweather’s mastery of the noble arts, this is in keeping with his apparent preference for taking on opponents who are either past their prime or smaller than himself.

Of course, the Pacman and the Money Man should be making an even more massive fortune by fighting each other. That match was made for next month and, naturally, each is blaming the other for its cancellation.

Mayweather called for constant dope testing. Pacquiao, who has no history in that regard, resented the insinuation that he was guilty of malpractice.

The terms of this dispute have been documented exhaustively and will be delved into yet deeper if and when Pacquiao’s libel action goes to court.

Only Mayweather can tells us whether it is really the undiminished punching power which the smaller Pacquiao, quite exceptionally, has carried up with him through the weight classes which is preying on his mind.

It does not convince us to the contrary when he keeps carping on about how his next fight will be subject to an Olympic-standard drugs regime. Not when Mosley has tested positive in the past.

But if Mayweather wants to challenge the Boxer of the Decade for the mytholgocial pound-for-pound title, there is only one place he can do so. He will have to meet Pacquiao face-to-face in the ring…and sooner rather than later.

That is the best news from our boxing writing colleagues in the US. By honouring the Pacman they apply moral pressure on the Money Man to meet that date with destiny, perhaps as early as September in what would be the first candidate for Fight of the new Decade.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-1249424/America-honours-Manny-Pacquaio-leave-Floyd-Mayweather-staring-date-destiny.html

Boxer looks toward bout with Joshua Clottey but still wishes he was facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. instead.

Manny Pacquiao is back in town. Boxing is like phases of the moon, and Pacquiao is in the training phase.

There will be a fight, all right. But not the one the world wanted, nor Pacquiao and his trainer, Freddie Roach.

“I wanted Mayweather bad, real bad,” Roach says.

“I’m not angry at Floyd,” Pacquiao says. “I just feel disappointed in his allegations.”

It is a Monday afternoon at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. The air is stale, the noise often deafening and the entire place decorum-challenged, unless you are into wrinkled 1972 boxing posters. That’s as it should be. They train boxers here, not ballerinas.

Pacquiao prepares for a March 13 fight that was to be between him, recently acclaimed fighter of the decade in a vote by the U.S. Boxing Writers, and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who would tell you the boxing writers got it wrong. Now, the fight will be between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey.

Once Pacquiao and Mayweather parted ways in the well-documented drug-testing dispute, Mayweather agreed to fight Shane Mosley on May 1 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Mosley has signed the contract deal, but as of Monday night, Mayweather had not.

Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, says he expects the Mayweather signature any minute. He also says that Mosley agreed to all the Olympic-style random testing , including blood testing right up to fight time, that Pacquiao had rejected.

There are attempts from all camps to portray this fallback outcome as just fine for boxing, maybe even better.

Roach says Clottey might give fight fans a better show than the tactical, defense-minded Mayweather because “Clottey comes forward and it could become a war.” Pacquiao refers to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where his fight will be held in front of an expected 40,000 people, as “a beautiful place” and the Top Rank camp of Bob Arum characterizes the new venue as an important step in bringing new fans to the sport. Schaefer says that, as great as the 40-0 Mayweather is, Mosley’s stunning domination of Antonio Margarito 13 months ago at Staples Center proves how dangerous he is.

Still, the loss of the Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight, one that could have put as much as $40 million in each fighter’s pocket, hangs in the Wild Card Gym like the smell of body odor.

“In the end,” Roach says, “if we had given in on the blood testing, it would have been like giving Mayweather the first round. Why would we do that?

“Manny hates needles. He said that’s what cost him the first [Erik] Morales fight [March 2005]. We made a mistake on that one. Nevada has every boxer give blood once a year, and Manny hadn’t done that, so we had to do it the night before the fight, just like Mayweather wanted. Manny said it made him weak for three days. Even if they took blood from him 14 days before the fight, that would have meant I lose him on key sparring days 14, 13, and 12 days out.”

The Mayweather camp will read that and chuckle. Those theorizing that Pacquiao must use steroids or he would have agreed to the extra drug testing will not be moved.

There is the issue of time running out on Pacquiao’s boxing career. He will run for Congress in the Philippines in mid-May. Roach has said he doesn’t think Pacquiao can be a marquee boxer and a politician at the same time. Asked about that Monday, Pacquiao says, “Why not?”

There is the issue of how much these next fights could mess things up. Were Clottey to win, might not Pacquiao see that as a perfect time to retreat to politics full time? Were Mosley to win, might that not do the same thing?

“Shane came to the gym twice to ask me to let him fight Manny,” Roach says. “I told him no both times, and both times for the same two reasons: First, there isn’t enough money there, and second, you’re too good a fighter.”

There is the issue of Pacquiao’s current lawsuit against the Mayweathers for defamation. Pacquiao’s attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, says that the case is in federal court in Nevada, is moving at full speed and can be in trial by year’s end.

But the real issue remains lost money for the boxers and lost opportunity for the sport. For now, Pacquiao-Mayweather has gone away, but probably not forever.

Pacquiao is asked whether he is so angry at Mayweather that he will never be able to bring himself to step into the ring against him.

“No, I can fight him,” Pacquiao says. “I’m just not sure he ever really wanted the fight.”

Roach is asked whether the fight that didn’t happen has now become like a burr in his saddle.

He nods.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre-pacquiao2-2010feb02,0,3406797.column