Pacquiao denies doping, mulls filing raps vs. accuser

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has belied claims that he is using illegal supplements, including the banned substance steroids, to gain an unfair advantage in fights.

The accusation was made by flamboyant trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr., who worked the corner of Ricky Hatton for the bout with Pacquiao last May. Mayweather, in an interview with the Grand Rapids Press, said he believes the Filipino is taking illegal supplements.

“I believe he’s (Pacquiao) on some type of supplements. I’m convinced about a lot of (boxers),” the brash trainer said. “That’s what they’re (Pacquiao camp) doing right now. Everybody should be checked a little bit more thoroughly. Sometimes people know what’s going on but they ain’t saying anything.

Mayweather’s claims may have stemmed from the fact that he witnessed first hand how Pacquiao demolished Hatton easily during their fight — where the current pound-for-pound king’s speed was simply too much for the British slugger to handle.

But against his son Floyd Jr., the older Mayweather said Pacquiao will lose if ever they meet in the ring — steroids or none.

“I don’t think he can beat Lil’ Floyd with steroids in him or not,” he said. “He don’t have that kind of talent. He don’t have that kind of skill, whatever he has in him.”

Pacquiao, for his part, insisted he always fights cleanly, even stressing that he doesn’t know anything about steroids.

“I don’t even know how it looks and what color it is,” Pacquiao said in a TV interview shortly after arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport this morning (Sept. 17).

The IBO junior welterweight champion added that he has already instructed his lawyer, Jeng Gacal, to study any possible legal action they can take against Mayweather.

“We’re thinking of suing him (Mayweather) for what he said,” he added.

Pacquiao is back in the Philippines after wrapping up a back-breaking press tour that took him and upcoming opponent Miguel Cotto to five cities — New York, Caguas in Puerto Rico, and San Francisco, Beverly Hills and San Diego in California.

He, along with trainer Freddie Roach, will head to Baguio City tonight to kick-off his eight-week training camp.

Pacquiao and Cotto will slug it out on Nov. 14 (Nov. 15 in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Source: philstar.com