PACQUIAO-RIOS TO UNDERGO RANDOM DRUG TESTS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 10 May 2013
For the first time, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao has requested for random drug testing prior to his scheduled ring return against Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios at the Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau on November 24.
Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz confirmed in an exclusive conversation with boxingscene.com that the Pacquiao camp had requested the US Anti Doping Agency or USADA to handle the drug testing protocol.
While Koncz gave no reason for the request one fact that has emerged is that controversial strength and conditioning coach Angel ?Memo? Heredia who was known to have been involved in peddling performance enhancing drugs is now in the camp of Rios who is trained by Robert Garcia.
Prior to Pacquiao?s crushing 6th round knockout by Juan Manuel Marquez last December 8 that the Mexican showed off a previously unseen muscular body and demonstrated brutal power which was absent in his three previous fights with Pacquiao, rumors spread that Marquez was potentially using performance enhancing drugs.
Heredia himself denied in an interview with the Manila Standard that Marquez was on illegal drugs and that he himself was clean while Marquez insisted that his rigorous training program under Heredia was the reason for his muscular body and punching power.
Koncz sought to downplay the random drug tests as a result of Heredia working with Rios stating "We just want to give the fans a clean fight and avoid any type of speculation or accusations once this fight is done."
Pacquiao is taking the Rios fight very seriously and according to the ABS-CBN reporter in his hometown of General Santos City will train for three months which is longer than his usual 6 to 8 week preparation for a fight pointing out that Rios is ?a good fighter and very aggressive and throws a lot of punches.?
Pacquiao said he would train in the Philippines although he said he hasn?t thought too much about the fight because of Monday?s elections in which wife Jinkee is running for vice governor of Sarangani province which Pacquiao represents in congress and is running unopposed while brother Rogelio is seeking a congressional seat in General Santos City.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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