Floyd Mayweather refused to agree to failed drug test penalty?
By Steve DelVecchio
Last month, we learned that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to pay Floyd Mayweather Jr. $5 million if the Filipino fighter fails a drug test before the big fight on May 5. Is Mayweather refusing to do the same?
On Thursday, Pacquiao’s advisor Michael Koncz told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com that Mayweather has not agreed to the same failed drug test policy. For whatever reason, Floyd has not agreed to pay $5 million to Pacquiao if he fails a test.
“Today we were informed that Mayweather turned down the request,” Koncz said. “Manny had requested that there would be a reciprocal fine of $5 million for a failed drug test.”
Agreements for the fight have already been signed, including one with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to oversee blood and urine testing leading up to the bout. Mayweather’s people are claiming Floyd simply won’t agree to the $5 million penalty because it was not negotiated into the original fight contract.
“Michael Koncz is an idiot, and Manny Pacquiao should be ashamed to have him as his representative, in my opinion,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said. “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.
“If this moron didn’t convey his fighter’s wishes when the negotiation was going on, that’s their problem. This is a lame-a-- attempt to generate publicity.”
As many of you know, a potential fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather fell apart several years because of disagreements over drug testing. Mayweather is the one who accused Pacquiao of being a cheater (and was later sued for it), so it’s ironic that Floyd wouldn’t agree to the same failed drug test penalty to prove he has nothing to hide.
“It’s a simple thing — if you fail, you pay the other guy $5 million,” Koncz said. “The issue is simple — are you willing to agree to a penalty of $5 million? The drug-testing terms and any penalty, that’s between the fighters not the promoters.
Since the contract has already been signed, it’s highly unlikely that the fight will fall through. But we wouldn’t blame you for being nervous. We thought verbal sparring contests like this ended when a date was set for the fight.
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