LET THE MIND GAMES BEGIN!
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Dec 2009
To borrow the famous quote, “Only in America”, I say: “Only in boxing” where mind games get center attention so much so that they may even lead to cancellation of a fight.
Case in point:- The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight that is supposed to happen on March 13th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Team Mayweather started it all.
The mind games comes in form of several demands . Some are within reason, but one in particular is just so mind-boggling that there is just one word to aptly describe it.
Out-of-this-world!
Team Mayweather is demanding “Olympic-style drug testing” insinuating that Pacquiao is on something that needs to be tested.
That has never been done in professional boxing!
Why create a precedence for a sport that until lately has been struggling for survival?
With the Team Mayweather insisting so strongly, surely there must be a covert reason they can use to their advantage.
The Mayweathers know that Pacquiao is very superstitious and would never agree to random blood testing all through the whole training period. They know it because Freddie Roach stated it so. And, Pacquiao himself has demonstrated such beliefs in the past like not wanting to fly to Vegas from LA where he trains and refusing to stay at a different hotel other than the room he always stayed at the Mandalay Bay during fight week.
Roach said Pacquiao will never agree to random testing. But, he would gladly submit to it at the initial press conference to announce the fight sometime early January. And, he has no objection about doing it again right after the fight.
So what’s wrong with that?
A blood test during the initial press conference is reasonable enough particularly for a fellow like Pacquiao who passed all the testing conducted by the State of Nevada. Admittedly, they are only urine tests. But, they are reliable and should be enough.
Probably Team Mayweather is hoping that Pacquiao would not agree to the random testing.
Then they can go out there and say all the things they are saying before. That is, Pacquiao is on something and is scared to be caught by the random testing. (In fact, latest reports did indicate that Pacquiao is refusing the random testing.)
But, in all probability that is just a smoke screen.
The Mayweathers will “reluctantly agree” not to have the random testing and look good before everybody particularly in the eyes of the fans and the media. And, Pacquiao will certainly look bad.
Score one for psychological advantage in favor of Junior.
But, there is something else. The ulterior motive, remember?
Not having random testing opens the door for everybody to use drugs, Junior included.
And, it would not be a surprise if he does because he simply would not be outdone by Pacquiao.
And, with Junior running scared, I am sure he will do everything to keep the “playing field equal” no matter the consequences.
If he believes that Pacquiao is on drugs, he too will take them on the mistaken belief that it will equalize things.
And, if Pacquiao is not on drugs as he claims, them Junior will have all the advantage due to the drugs.
A smart move by Team Mayweather? I don’t think so.
Exposed? No doubt about it!
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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