MANILA, Philippines – Despite his repeated drug use claims against Manny Pacquiao, controversial boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. said he holds no personal grudge against his closest rival from the Philippines.
In a video interview on FightHype.com, Mayweather said he wanted to clarify the issue with Pacquiao, which began when his camp insinuated that the Filipino boxer uses performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
“I have nothing against Manny Pacquiao,” Mayweather said.
Efforts were being made for a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight back in 2009. Negotiations, however, broke down when Mayweather demanded an Olympic-style drug testing.
Mayweather said that all he was asking for is Pacquiao and his camp to “just be honest.”
“They have to take the test cos’ there’s so much cheating going on. Period,” he said. “And I’m not saying that my opponents have to take random urine and random blood tests, I have to too.”
The PED claim prompted Pacquiao’s camp to file a defamation suit against Mayweather and his camp.
Apart from other defendants included in the lawsuit are Mayweather’s father Floyd Sr., adviser Leonard Ellerbe, and Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).
Floyd hits Arum
Mayweather said he was frustrated by how Top Rank’s Bob Arum treated him after he left the promotional outfit.
“It’s like when I was with Bob Arum, I was the greatest fighter,” said Mayweather, whose fights are now being promoted by GBP. “When I was with Bob Arum, ‘Floyd Mayweather was just a great fighter, he’s the best thing we seen… At some people, he’s even better.’”
Mayweather, who remains unbeaten in 41 fights, things turned different when he decided to man his own business.
“All of a sudden, when I was doing my own business, when I was being my own man… they say I’m a ducking fighter,” he added. “’Floyd Mayweather is scared of this fighter and that fighter. But the only fighters they said I was scared of, they were all promoted by Top Rank.”
Arum fires back
Arum, meanwhile, ignored Mayweather’s statements, saying that nobody believes Floyd Jr.
“Even the lunatic fringe doesn’t listen to him (Mayweather) now. Are you talking about someone who is normal?” Arum said in Examiner.com.
Arum also cited Mayweather’s legal troubles as a sign of someone who is simply “not normal”.
“Who else has so many (criminal cases) incidents like he does?” said the veteran boxing promoter.
Arum said Mayweather may have been trying to act repentant with his accusations against Pacquiao.
He claimed Mayweather now directs the attack on him.
“He can’t target Manny so he goes after me, the old fart. I’m an easier target in and out of the ring,” the Top Rank honcho said.
The professional world of boxing is so corrupt, Floyd should retire and stay retired. Mosley cost many blacks and minorities millions of dollars through his being corrupted to lose against Pacquiao. MAYWEATHER SHOULD RETIRE AND STAY RETIRED!