Nov 22 2009
7 Division World Champion Boxer Manny Pacquiao Probably on Steroids Said Rivals
The recent feat of Pound for Pound King Manny Pacquiao did not escape controversies. His rivals continue to hint that his remarkable win was due to some performance enhancing drugs or steroids. The most vocal on this issue is the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. His father previously accused Pacquiao of using steroids when he defeated Ricky Hatton in early rounds and suggests that organizers should check Pacquiao for any performance enhancing substance. Other professional boxers were also riding with the issue being floated by trainer Mayweather Sr.
The trainer hinted again that Manny is on steroids. “If it was me, I wouldn’t fight him. Whether I could whip him or not, I wouldn’t fight him, because things ain’t right. I’m pretty sure that’s what it is,” said Floyd Mayweather Sr. Most sports columnist believes that the accusation of Mayweather Sr. is just a negotiating tactic and could be the result of his sour relationship with promoter Bob Arum. According to Wallace Mathews of Newsday, this could be used as a reason to duck the most awaited fight of the century or just an excuse to a possible first loss for his son.
Floyd Sr. also told SI that he would advise his son not to fight Pacquiao, the current WBO Welterweight Champion. He believed Pacquiao’s ability to absorb Cotto’s shots and keep coming is proof that Pacquiao is taking performance-enhancing substances — an accusation for which he had no proof. “I know Floyd is the best but when [your opponent] uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt,” Mayweather Sr. added. Analyst believes that the next opponent of the 7 division world champion realizes that it would be difficult for him to beat the best pound for pound boxer.
Another professional boxer commented that the win by TKO of Manny Pacquiao over Miguel Cotto could be the result of taking something but did not elaborate on it. In the interview with Boxingscene, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, who has an upcoming rematch on December with Juan Diaz, insinuated that the accusations of Maywearther Sr. could be true. “I think there is something up with Manny Pacquiao. I am not going to get into it. I think people will understand what I am saying. Full blown welterweights don’t take those type of punches from Miguel Cotto the way he took them with total disregard for his power nor do they hurt him with every punch they hit him with. These are full blown welterweights I am talking about. This guy is coming up in weight and doing all these things. There is something up with this guy but that’s as far as I am going to go into it. Floyd Mayweather (Senior) has gotten into it a little bit,” Malignaggi said.
He said that other fighters also mentioned this issue on steroids use but Malignaggi was careful in his statements by avoiding direct accusations. “I am not going to get into no controversy. I am going to leave it at that. There is something that seriously makes me feel weird about Manny Pacquiao. I am going to leave it at that,” he said.
Pro boxer Kermit Cintron also said that Manny Pacquiao was on something. He made this statement before the scheduled WBO welterweight Championship match.
Freddie Roach is always on the rescue of his precious ward. In the interview with Newsday, Roach said that Manny need no steroids and he doesn’t even know what they are. “All these years, the guy was killing himself to make weight,” Roach said. “He couldn’t eat while he was training and he was very unhappy. Now, he can eat breakfast the day of the weigh-in, and it makes a huge difference for him,” the trainer added.
The Nevada Athletic Commission which supervises every fight cleared Pacquiao of his involvement in any performance enhancing substance banned by the organization. Its executive director, Kieth Kizer said that there is no evidence Pacquiao is using steroids. All boxers are required to submit urine samples every fight and being tested for 40 kinds of steroids, masking agents and diuretics. All fights of Pacquiao in Las Vegas returned negative results since 2002. In the SI article, Pacquiao only took whey protein and liver-support supplements and consuming a 6,500-calories-per-day diet.
[...] “Pacman” Pacquiao into Olympic style blood tests for steroids. The accusation that Pacquiao is on steroid was started by Mayweather Sr., the trainer and father of the former pound-for-pound king. In the [...]
[...] Manny Pacquiao firmly claims that he is drug-free and that he feels bad and really disappointed about the steroids allegations against him. He adds that he sacrificed and trained hard for what he has achieved in boxing and feels hurt about these malicious insinuations. He further says that he doesn’t even know and has no idea what a steroid is in the first place. [...]