An interesting new development has been added to the build for Mayweather-Pacquiao. Today, we have learned about some very strict drug testing that both fighters will be subject to.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to a high level of testing to be conducted by the US Anti-Doping Agency. The terms of the agreement allow USADA officials to conduct unannounced blood and/or urine tests of either fighter at any point between today and the May 2 fight.
The camps have also agreed to follow the stipulations set forth by WADA, meaning that a positive test would result in a four year ban from competition. For the 38 year old Mayweather and the 36 year old Pacquiao, that could very likely mean the end of their boxing career.
In the years it has taken us to finally get to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, the need for drug testing has been reported as one of the chief stumbling blocks, with Mayweather's camp often citing Pacquiao's refusal to participate in what they felt was a stringent enough drug testing program. Pacquiao has agreed to random testing for his last three fights.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao takes place Saturday, May 2 live on PPV from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Follow live updates from the Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 11 2015 at 20.00 GMT
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
Mayweather v Pacquiao, LA press conference: Live (8.30pm GMT
start)
Goodbye Roll on May 2. Can't wait. Thanks for joining
tonight.
Great stuff from Floyd, maybe even getting into Pacquiao's
head. Both were even a little nervous today. Perhaps the size of the event is
really dawning on them. Mayweather is a master of psychology. The last time he
lost, by the way, was 19 years ago at the Atlanta Olympics.
Mayweather has also made clear that he has wanted the fight
for a long time. Also says the fight is happening because of him, because he
wanted the fight. The truth is that it is down to Mayweather wanting the fight.
But as he is just saying, he is the face of boxing. Pacquiao, conversely, the
STORY of boxing.
'Expect us to have a great game plan,' adds Mayweather,
deeply confident.
'It's been a long road. But we are here now,' said
Mayweather.
Thanking his entire team, and even appearing as little
emotional. Mayweather added: "May 2, the fight of the century, the best
against the best. And Pacquiao is one of the best of this era. Our plan is to
be smart and take every fight as they come like all 47 fights. I'm i the gym
pushing myself to the limit, because I want to win this more than any other
fight. But I know one thing about sport, and if you lose, it's in your mind. I
have always been a winner." Great psychology from the unbeaten champion.
Floyd up next.
Pacquiao on the dais now, thanking God, of course, for
charting his life, but promises a great fight on May 2, and says the fans have
been waiting for this for 5 years.
'God can make you from nothing to something. That's me,'
says Pacquiao.
Roach 'We are in the toughest fight of our lives. But we are
going to kick Floyd's ass. Sorry Floyd.' Short and sweet.
Arum now talking of the two legendary trainers Freddie Roach
and also mentions Floyd Mayweather Snr.
Arum is back up up on stage. 'You missed me, Floyd ?' he
says.
Espinoza explains he was involved when the 'infamous
drug-testing' clause scuppered the fight talks 5 years ago.
Ken Hershman, of HBO, gives his thanks to all. 'HBO very
proud to be involved.'
Ditto Stephen Espinoza of SHOWTIME/CBS.
Espinoza explains how Mayweather told them he wanted the
biggest fights possible when he joined them 2 years ago. Six fight deal = $240
million US dollars.
Arum is thanking a ton of people now.
Arum: 'With the help of of everyone the entire world will be
watching on May 2 this great event. We are all part of the boxing family.'
Now Bob Arum to the mic. Six decades in the sport. Legend.
He shakes hands with Floyd. Used to promote him. Historically, they really do
not get on. Like hatred in the past.
Mayweather's 11th consecutive fight at the MGM Grand, and
14th time he has fought in the Garden Areina there n his career.
Lenoard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser, speaks first.
Thanking Floyd, and many others behind the scenes for making the fight happen,
promoters, and execs from the tv companies, who are normally rivals.
The face off... two feet away. Both very calm, serious. No
smile from Pacquiao until they are facing out into the crowd.
Floyd Mayweather now, out of the darkness, announced by
Jimmy Lennon Junior, pale blue/grey suit, striped shirt, buttoned to the neck,
no tie. Boy, these boys can afford the best tailors in the world, Mayweather in
to Queen's 'We Will Rock You'.
Manny Pacquiao arrives in blue suit, shirt and tie, looking
pretty serious.
So...let's rumble on stage...
Pacquiao says he wants the fight to please the fans. He
wants 'satisfaction for the fans.' Says he was more worried about the contests
with Antonio Margarito, Oscar De La Hoya, and Miguel Cotto. That is
unquestionably the most destructive period of his career. We are seeing footage
of MP destroying De La Hoya in 2008, in spite of fears that he was far too
small to face Oscar.
Millions are watching from around the world. One man is
prepared to give up his house if Pacquiao loses.
Bob Arum reckons it's 'probably the biggest night in the
history of the city (of Las Vegas).' Promoter speak for THIS IS BIG.
Here's who we will have on the dias today.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, 11-Time, Five-Division World Champion
MANNY PACQUIAO, Eight-Division World Champion
FREDDIE ROACH, Pacquiao’s Trainer
LEONARD ELLERBE, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
BOB ARUM, Founder and CEO of Top Rank
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President & General
Manager SHOWTIME Sports
KEN HERSHMAN, President HBO Sports
RICHARD STURM, President, MGM Resorts International
So here we go, on time... ! They are calling it the Super
Bowl of boxing. Another fight being called 'The Fight of The Century'
The fighters are in the vecinity, and these press
conferences are notoriously late. Who knows, this could be different. Expect a
ton of people to speak, and I'm expecting the two fighters to sound more like
politicians than fighters today, Wouldn't be a bit surprised, nonetheless, if
Roger/Floyd Mayweather Snr razz Freddie Roach up and get some barbs from him.
They are bitter rivals. We might even get a poem from Mayweather Snr. You never
know...
The betting odds: Mayweather started out as the favourite.
But that is changing. Rapper 50 Cent is betting $1.6 Million on Floyd
Mayweather Jr. to win, but Pacquiao is rising in the odds in Las Vegas.
According to odds released this Monday by Station Casinos, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
is a -200 favorite to defeat Manny Pacquiao, meaning that a bettor must put
$200 down to win $100. In other words, if 50 Cent wins his $1.6 million bet, he
would walk away with a profit of $800,000. Bonkers.
Between them, the two men will earn reportedly – Mayweather
$120 million US. Pacquiao $80 million US. Incredible – some might even say
obscene – amounts of money. Where I’d disagree with some saying it is too late,
is that 3, 4 or even 5 years ago, it might have been a fight in their athletic
prime. But arguably it would not have been as big a fight as it is now… in
terms of money, and global reach.
So, here we go... the start of the Big One. The richest
fight in history. Floyd Money Mayweather and Manny PacMan Pacquiao. Two
remarkable many... for many different reasons.
The two fighters and their teams will be on stage in LA in a
few minutes... so I'll furnish you with a few thoughts and some of the thoughts
of others. You can also tweet me @GarethADaviesDT ...
Manny Pacquiao believes he has God on his side. He reckons
'its God's will that I fight'. He's hard at work, too... but says this.
No shortage of observers and pundits have weighed in on the
action. But here are the views of two heavyweight world champions, whose second
fight generated $200 million US dollars, what seems like a very long time ago
now...
Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield plans to
be at the world welterweight unification bout between our two eponymous heroes
of the 'Pacquiao vs Mayweather' event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
"I don't know who's going to win, that's the reason I'm
going to see it," says the four-time heavyweight champion."If I had
to pay, I would pay to see that fight, because that's how great that fight will
be."
Who wins in his view ? "Pacquiao, the only way he can
win is if he corners him off. Can he corner him off? If he corners him off, I
think he will win ... I don't think he can. But that's what makes the fight so
interesting."
Manny Pacquiao arrives with promoter Bob Arum and coach
Freddie Roach (AFP)
His great rival, Tyson (and let's hope there's no ear
chewing in May-Pac) ? “Floyd doesn’t throw nowhere near 100 punches a round,”
he says. “He’s more, you know, scientific about it. He really plots a lot. And
he sits around and he poses. And this guy [Pacquiao] is all over — fading,
moving. That’s just my opinion. I just don’t think [Mayweather] is going to be
able to play that plotting, skill … Floyd gotta fight the first couple of
rounds."
In the view of most analysts, Mayweather may be too skilled
defensively over the course of the fight for Pacquiao to smother with his
attacks. In general, I tend to agree with that, but over the next eight weeks,
I'll be propounding theories like all the other mini boxing Einsteins out there
pedalling theories on this fight.
Who knows ? Jeremy Clarkson might have a theory. Looks like
he might be in training for a boxing match...
Here's what the two fighters are tweeting (latest)
Preview: The world will be watching and craning its neck to
see whether one side walks away today with an early advantage.
The making of "Money" versus Manny Pacquiao dates
back to 2009, when talks first began, but arguments over drug-testing and the
details scuppered talks twice.
But the egos have been soothed, rival promoters have come
together - Floyd Mayweather and his old impresario Bob Arum - and respective
rival broadcasters HBO and Showtime have put down their swords for the
betterment of the sport, and, of course, an obscene amount of money which is
going to be generated.
Tonight will be the only time they come face to face until
fight week, both sides having decided to forego the media tour of several
cities which is normally a part of these pay-per-view Box Office fight events.
Perhaps they are right. This fight is so big, has been
talked about so much already, there was barely the need to publicise it over a
number of days when they could be in camp.
(www.philadelphia.cbslocal.com) PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Are you ready for the fight?
Eleven-time world champion Floyd Mayweather and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao will host a kickoff press conference on Wednesday, March 11th at 4:30 p.m. at Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California to formally announce their welterweight world championship unification bout. The fight will take place on Saturday, May 2nd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The press conference is not open to the public and it’s the only media event scheduled to promote the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight.
ESPN’s SportsCenter will televise live the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao press conference on Wednesday from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Wednesday’s media event is the only press conference for the much-anticipated Mayweather-Pacquiao welterweight championship, which takes place on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. It is not open to the public and only select media are invited to cover it.
SportsCenter’s Lindsay Czarniak will anchor coverage from ESPN’s L.A. studio, and ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas will be on the scene providing his unique opinions. Neil Everett and Stan Verrett will co-anchor coverage from the Red Carpet outside the Nokia Theatre.
In addition, reporters Jeremy Schaap and Bernardo Osuna will be on site to interview both fighters before and after the press conference.
(http://www.bloodyelbow.com/) Floyd Mayweather's on/off friend 50 Cent is putting a cool 1.6 million dollars on "Money" to take out Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd.
50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather have a strange relationship. For a while they were friends and potential business partners, but then both of them went off the rails to try and tear down the other one. Remember 50 Cent saying that Floyd couldn't read? That was fun. Nowadays though, 50 believes that he can make some money off of Mayweather when he faces off with Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd.
(http://www.bloodyelbow.com/) Full fight coverage here for the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao PPV on Saturday, May 2. Check out video, previews, analysis and more on our live update stream.
GMA News: (http://www.gmanetwork.com/) Los Angeles serves as a second home to Manny Pacquiao as he continues his buildup for his bout against Floyd Mayweather on May 2 in Las Vegas. The Filipino ring icon welcomed "Unang Hirit" into his LA mansion that serves as headquarters for Team Pacquiao.
