Freddie Roach still not in favor of Mayweather’s drug testing for Pacquiao

Roach still not in favor of Mayweather’s drug testing for Pacquiao

January 15th, 2012

By Chris Williams: Just when you thought the drug testing issues were already settled for a potential bout between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. for whenever they do eventually fight, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach had to speak up and question whether Pacquiao should agree to the random blood tests for performance enhancing drugs.
Why Roach would be against the drug testing is unknown but it’s very disappointing that he’s resistant to the tests when it’s something that Mayweather insists on before a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather can take place. Roach told the examiner.com “Why do we have to go by the fighter’s [Mayweather] request? Why can’t we go by the commission rules? The commission is doing a good job. They’ve been doing it for a long time and we are willing to do anything the commission asks us. Floyd Mayweather, he doesn’t make the rules of boxing. Who is he? All of a sudden he is a rule maker. We are willing to go with any commission in the world. We will do any test there is.”
That’s very sad that Roach is taking that stance against Pacquiao being tested for performance enhancing drugs because it could affect whether the fight gets made if Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum fall in lock step behind Roach. It’s interesting that Roach is using the commission as a crutch to try and get Pacquiao out of being tested. The last time they tried to arrange a fight, there was an expensive weight penalty was in the contract for a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and that had nothing to do with the commission.
The drug testing that Mayweather wants is part of the contract, just like the weight penalty was part of the contract. Neither of them have anything to do with the commission. It’s extra stuff, and yeah, Roach and Pacquiao can say no to it, but that would mean no Mayweather fight. Instead of Roach still remaining stubborn and resistant on this issue, he needs to accept it as part of making the fight with Mayweather.
If Roach can’t accept it, then he needs to try and convince Pacquiao to listen to him and not take the fight with Mayweather – whenever they do fight – so that Pacquiao can’t have his blood tested. If Pacquiao not being tested for performance enhancing drugs gives Roach peace of mind, then he needs to talk Pacquiao into it and then the Pacquiao-Mayweather will never get made. I suppose that’s a good thing for Roach because he won’t have to see Pacquiao get beat by Mayweather. Roach can always quit as Pacquiao’s trainer if it hurts to see his fighter agree to testing that he’s against. With Roach out of the way, then there’s no issues. Roach can then keep his other fighters from being tested randomly if that’s what makes him feel good.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/01...vor-of-mayweathers-drug-testing-for-pacquiao/