Pacquiao adviser: Mayweather rejected agreement to drug test fine
An adviser for Manny Pacquiao says that WBC and WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather declined an agreement to a fine of $5 million if either fighter failed a drug test before or after their May 2 fight in Las Vegas, reports ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
According to Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Knocz, both parties have agreed to the terms of the fight, and the United States Anti-Doping Agency also has an agreement to randomly test both fighters, but the two sides were still discussing terms in case one of the fighters tested positive for any banned drugs.
"They have made derogatory statements for years about Manny [supposedly using PEDs], and now we challenged them by asking for the $5 million fine, and they refused to do it. It's disheartening," Koncz said.
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Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe called Knocz an "idiot," saying that Pacquiao's advisers should have put those specific terms in the contract and that Knocz is just trying to generate publicity.
"Michael Koncz is an idiot, and Manny Pacquiao should be ashamed to have him as his representative, in my opinion,” Ellerbe told ESPN.com. "It's obvious he didn't read the contract. Why would he have his fighter sign something he was not happy with? The deal was negotiated up and down by his promoter [Bob Arum of Top Rank] on behalf of Manny with Floyd and Mayweather Promotions, and it's been well documented in the media for quite some time.”
Koncz said the terms of the fine weren’t in the original fight contract because Pacquiao’s side wanted to get the fight signed and didn’t want to disrupt the negotiations.
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"If Manny Pacquiao tested positive, it is going to cost him a whole lot more than $5 million," Ellerbe said. "All parties signed a contract agreeing to every term. Where has this idiot Koncz been? It sounds like he didn't read the documents they signed. No wonder why his fighter is always confused."
Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), an 11-time world champion, and Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) will square off in a welterweight world unification bout at the MGM Grand.
The fight was signed last month after years of back and forth. Talks between Mayweather and Pacquiao picked up steam in late January, when both attended the same Miami Heat game, were seen talking to each other and reportedly met at a Miami hotel after the game to discuss a deal.
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