Pacman back, scoffs at doping yarn

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao went out jogging yesterday morning and did some shopping later in the evening as he tried to shake off false and baseless allegations that he’s into steroids.

Pacquiao flew in at around 3:30 in the morning after a whirlwind press tour with Miguel Cotto in the United States, and the first question he faced was about his alleged steroids use.

It was Floyd Mayweather Sr. who said, “I believe he’s (Pacquiao) on some type of supplements. They need to start checking him, man.”

Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, said they might consider filing a libel case against the father of Floyd Mayweather Jr. but Mike Koncz, the adviser, thinks otherwise.

“I asked Manny to leave it alone because we don’t need this kind of b....s’. When you’re a celebrity people talk a lot about you and they can say a lot of things,” said Koncz.

“Politicians and celebrities are the same. They are always the targets of attacks,” he said, adding that Mayweather may not have the capability to face a libel case as big as Pacquiao.

“I don’t think it has any merit at all. Manny was a little upset. He wasn’t angry but he wasn’t laughing if you know what I mean,” said the Canadian adviser of the world’s greatest boxer.

Mayweather’s accusations have created a very big stir on the Internet, and the flamboyant figure who trained Ricky Hatton for his fight against Pacquiao last May even said, “I hear Filipinos are mad at me.”

Pacquiao seemed surprised about the allegations.

“I don’t even know how it looks and what color it is,” said Pacquiao in a television interview, emerging from the airport after a 13-hour flight from Los Angeles. He slept most of the time during the flight.

He went straight to his home at Brentville in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, together with Koncz, Gacal, assistant trainer Roger Fernandez and Joaquin Hagedorn, a friend of the Pacquiaos.

After a brief rest, Pacquiao went out for a 40-minute jog in and around the exclusive village. Later in the evening, Pacquiao went to Makati to do some shopping.

Pacquiao plans to leave for Baguio on Sunday to begin his training under Freddie Roach, Alex Ariza and Buboy Fernandez. They will stay there for four to five weeks before moving to Los Angeles.

Source: philstar.com