Steroid claim fuel Pacman-Floyd MANILA – Seven-time world champ Manny Pacquiao has tested clean following his sensational win over Miguel Cotto, despite accusations made by Floyd Mayweather Sr. that the Filipino boxer “used performance-enhancing drugs.”
Keith Kizer, Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) executive director, told SI.com that Pacquiao underwent urine tests before and after the fight “– before and after the fight -- and both came back negative.”
This is the 10th time Pacquiao turned in clean tests in Nevada.
Mayweather Sr., father of former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr., earlier said Pacquiao’s win over the “bigger” Cotto proved his claim that the Filipino boxer was into “something else”.
In an interview with SI.com’s Chris Mannix, Mayweather Sr. said Pacquiao's ability to take Cotto's power punches proved the champion was taking performance-enhancing substances.
His son Floyd is reportedly being eyed as Pacquiao’s next opponent for a mega-buck clash sometime in 2010.
"I know Floyd is the best," Mayweather Sr. said in the interview. "But when [your opponent] uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt."
Mayweather Sr., however, could not present evidence to back his claim.
Even boxer Paulie Malignaggi, who lost to Cotto, hinted that Pacquiao may be “on to something.”
“Full blown welterweights don’t take those type of punches from Miguel Cotto the way he (Pacquiao) took them with total disregard for his power nor do they hurt him with every punch they hit him with… There is something that seriously makes me feel weird about Manny Pacquiao. I am going to leave it at that,” he said in a report by NowBoxing.com.
Pacquiao: I’m clean
Even before the Cotto fight, Pacquiao has denied accusations that he used steroids to maintain his strength despite climbing weight.
He even joked he has no idea how steroids look like.
"Maybe all of them -- they're using the steroids, and not me," Pacquiao said in a report by FanHouse.com. "You know what? I don't even know what a steroid is. I've never done that."
Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach, for his part, said Floyd Sr. is just bitter over his ward’s victories, especially over Ricky Hatton.
“Steroids? Where in the hell did that come from? You know, these guys, they had to come up with a reason why they lost. They lost because [Floyd Sr.] sucks as a trainer and I had the better fighter,” said Roach.
Mayweather Sr. was Hatton’s head coach when the British boxer suffered a second round knockout in the hands of Pacquiao.
Kizer backed the Filipino fighter by saying that Pacquiao has consistently passed every NSAC drug test he underwent.
“All I can tell you is that Pacquiao, every time he's fought here [in Nevada, has] been tested, as well as his opponents,” he said.
Controversy adds drama to Pacman-Floyd
Aside from the “money talk” anticipated in the negotiations, the steroids issue has further heightened the drama in the possible Pacquiao-Mayweather match up.
Both Pacquiao and Mayweather are considered as the best in the sport today. Analysts said a clash between the two fighters will definitely boost the boxing scene.
Pacquiao (50-3-2 with 38 knockouts), the reigning pound-for-pound king, holds the distinction of being the only boxer that held seven world titles in as many divisions.
Mayweather, the No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, remains undefeated in 40 fights.
source
Sponsored Links:
RSS Feed (xml)
