By Chris Williams: Michael Koncz, the manager for Manny Pacquiao, says Floyd Mayweather Jr declined a $5 million drug-testing penalty should either fighter test positive for drugs for their May 2nd mega-fight. Koncz says he’s surprised that Mayweather declined to agree to the stiff penalty.
Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe thinks that it could be a way for Pacquiao’s management to get publicity, or possibly a way of limiting damages if Pacquiao were to be the one that tested positive.
The $5 million that would be nothing compared to a four-year ban that the USADA might be looking to implement. If either fighter couldn’t fight for four years, they would lose a lot more than $5 million. Whether the USADA could keep the dirty fighter from competing for four years is the big question.
“We have no plan on limiting the liability and damages if Manny tested positive,” Ellerbe said via the latimes.com. “They must be worried if they’re bringing this up. Essentially, what they’re trying to do is put a $5 million price tag if Manny tested positive. It’s awfully suspicious to me. It will cost Manny a lot more than some $5 million if he comes up positive.”
Ellberbe believes Koncz didn’t read the contract before letting Pacquiao sign it.
The USADA will be testing both Mayweather and Pacquiao randomly via urine and blood during the weeks leading up to their fight on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The fight could potentially be halted under the USADA plan if one of the fighters turns up positive. If that happens it would be a huge loss of money for both fighters.
Koncz said “I’m a little puzzled and a little dismayed that they wouldn’t agree to something this simple…If they truly wanted to clean up the sport…they never requested the penalty. Manny was adamant about it.”
What’s interesting is that this stuff is being gone over now well after the negotiations for the fight were already completed. Just why Koncz is bringing up additional stuff like drug testing at this point is anyone’s guess, because the drug testing was already hammered out during the negotiations for the fight.
It’s unfortunate that this stuff is starting up after the two fighters have already signed the contracts for the fight. You can only hope that this won’t continue for the next six weeks up to fight, and somehow pollute the event.
The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight will be televised on HBO and Showtime on pay-per-view. It’s expected to be the biggest grossing fight in boxing history. This is why it’s so important that the fight not be halted due to a positive drug test.
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