Pacquiao and Mayweather decide to go different directions

Why have a blood test now, Floyd?

Of course, the answer to that question is because the Mayweather camp feels that Manny Pacquiao may have taken Performance Enhancing Drugs(PEDs)in claiming the unofficial title of the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world- the title that Floyd Mayweather used to hold prior to his retirement from the sport of boxing. First of all, let me say that I am for any testing that can ensure a level playing ground. In the past decade, we have had too many outstanding athletic performances brought into question, years after the fact, by claims that the athletes who captivated us by their performances did so with the aid of PEDs. Most of us want to see athletes win, lose, or set a record through a performance that is only enhanced by talent, hard work, superior strategy, endurance, or sheer will to win. With that being said, we also depend on governing bodies over sports, or in our Federal Government when these bodies are not proactive enough for whatever reason, to ensure that the proper testing takes place. We do not expect the athletes themselves to police their sport. That is what Floyd Mayweather is trying to do by insisting that Manny Pacquiao take a blood test before he steps in the ring with Manny Pacquiao. What if we allowed that in all sports. Peyton Manning is having a phenomenal year for the Indianapolis Colts. If his team makes the Super Bowl, should the other team be able to ask him to take a blood test, and if he says no, should we assume he is guilty. No, of course not. That would be unthinkable. The National Football League would have to be responsible for that type of testing, and it would have to be negotiated with the players union. I know that many will say that boxing does not have a governing body, but states have boxing commissions, and they are responsible for overseeing the rules that apply to boxing in their states, and they should be the ones that are responsible for all drug testing. If the boxer feels that the testing is not sufficient, they should petition the commission to change the testing, not negotiate it in a contract.

Pacquiao vs Mayweather Blood Testing Controversy

This is my commentary on the blood-testing controversy that threatens to derail the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

December 12th Fight Card

This is my video commentary on the fights that took place on Saturday, December 12th. Also, I comment on the fights between Cris Arreola and Brian Minto and Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez.

Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto- Post-fight thoughts.

Manny Pacquiao's legend grows with dominant win over Miguel Cotto

Before Manny Pacquiao's fight against Miguel Cotto, nobody disputed that Manny was a great fighter. The argument against him for this fight was that he had gone to a weight class where the power of a true welterweight such as Miguel Cotto would cancel his speed. Wrong- by a long shot. Make no mistake about it. Manny Pacquiao maintained his speed, but he also brought with him an increase in power that was lethal. He also demonstrated that he can take the punches of a welterweight. In interviews prior to the fight, Freddy Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, said that he had discussions with Pacquiao about not getting on the ropes against Cotto. For the most part, Pacquiao adhered to the strategy, but he did allow himself to get on the ropes against Cotto, and he was able to withstand everything that Cotto threw at him. At times while watching this fight, it appeared that Pacquiao's Cotto was fighting a ghost. You could see Cotto's head snap back, but you could not see the punches and where they were coming from. It was only through slow motion that you could see the devastation of Pacquiao's punches. The first round was probably Cotto's best. He was landing punches and seemed confident. The momentum shifted quickly back to Pacquiao, however, in the next few rounds Pacquiao started to connect with increasing regularity, and he scored two knockdowns, one in the third round, which did not seem to seriously hurt Cotto, and another in the fourth that heavily tipped the scales in Pacquiao's favor. The fight would have probably ended in the mid rounds by a knockout if Cotto would not have changed his strategy and started to back pedal. As the old saying goes, however, you can run but you cannot hide. The punishment began to increase, causing Cotto's wife and son to leave the arena after the ninth round. Several in Cotto's corner considered stopping the fight after the eleventh round, but Cotto, ever the warrior, continued. The referee mercifully stopped the fight early in the twelfth round when Pacquiao closed in for the knockout. The talk now turns to the possibility of a mega fight that would occur if Pacquiao fought Floyd Mayweather to determine the best pound for pound fighter in the world. The fight would be huge. I am not sure who would win that fight, but win or lose Manny Pacquiao has cemented himself as one of the all time great fighters, and he is a legend in the Philippians. He is quickly becoming a legend in the United States, as well.

Post Fight Commentary on Abraham vs Taylor and Froch vs Dirrell