Manny Pacquiao confirmed yesterday he is to start legal proceedings against Floyd Mayweather Jr, his father Floyd Sr, who is also his trainer, and Golden Boy Promotions for accusations against him that he used performance-enhancing drugs to further his career. The Filipino's proposed super fight with the American next March has hit the buffers with Mayweather's camp demanding the WBO and IBO welterweight champion undergo Olympic-style dope testing in the run-up to any fight.
However, a fuming Pacquiao has now pulled out of the fight and says he will sue all parties concerned for the damage caused to his reputation. "Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr, Jr, and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs," Pacquiao said. "I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard."
Mayweather's father in particular has suggested that Pacquiao would have struggled to move up seven weight divisions, claiming titles in all of them, without the aid of performance-enhancing drugs, a claim Pacquiao vehemently denies. Mayweather's camp had called for random blood and urine sampling prior to and after the highly anticipated fight as mandated by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Pacquiao agreed to have blood taken for testing before the initial media conference and immediately after the fight but would not agree to have blood drawn within 30 days of the bout.
"I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc, to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No 1 boxer in the world," said Pacquiao, who along with Mayweather is regarded as the sport's best, pound-for-pound. "I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it."
"I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years." Arum said on Wednesday that using blood tests was unprecedented for professional fights in Las Vegas, the venue mooted to host the eagerly anticipated bout, but more extensive testing agreeable to Pacquiao could have been arranged. "We don't object to more extensive drug testing, even though it's certainly not required in Nevada," said Arum. "What we're saying is that the drug testing he [Mayweather] is proposing is intrusive and would disturb Pacquiao's training if it's done within 30 days of his fight."
Arum had suggested the testing demands by Mayweather were a way of ducking a fight in which Pacquiao was due to defend the WBO title he won in November by stopping holder Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas. * With agencies