Since Pacquiao lost the “Fight of the Century” in resounding fashion, Pac’s team, Top Rank, has released a detailed statement regarding the health of Manny’s shoulder before the fight.
Basically, it was a long list of excuses as to why Pacquiao had lost the fight and what exact injury he’s currently dealing with. In summation, the team ended their statement with this:
With the advice of his doctors, Manny still decided to proceed with the fight. His shoulder wasn’t perfect but it had improved in training camp.
However, as Manny has said multiple times, he makes no excuses. Manny gave it his best.
Manny claims he isn’t making excuses, but apparently a numbing agent that would have helped him deal with the pain was denied to him the night of the fight.
Pacquiao’s camp had considered postponing the fight, but instead elected to go forward on the scheduled date after the Nevada Athletic Commission approved the use of numbing agent injections. However, Pacquiao was denied permission the night of the fight.
“I really needed that shot because if I throw a power hook or power jab, it hurt,” Pacquiao told Ryan Songalia of Rappler.
According to Pacquiao, the injections are legal and approved by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
“It’s not a steroid but its legal here, for numbing,” Pacquiao said. “The problem is we were sabotaged.”
“Sabotage” is a strong word to throw around after a major boxing event. It sounds like Manny is getting a little dramatic, though.
You can’t expect to sit there and name off a bunch of reasons as to why you lost, claim you were sabotaged, and then say “but I don’t want to complain, I just want to accept the fact that I lost” – which is exactly what Manny is attempting to do.
Pacquiao said he fought at 60 percent, adding that if his shoulder were to require surgery, that would only sideline him two-to-three months, leaving the door open for a rematch.
“I want a rematch if he wants,” Pacquiao said. “I wasn’t 100 percent ready for last night because of this shoulder but I don’t want to use that complaining that I lost the fight. I’m just accepting the fact that I lost.
“At least to the people, I was the winner.”
Perhaps Pacquiao’s camp feels this is the best way to convince Floyd into a rematch, but The money Team has nothing to gain from another fight. Especially when you consider that there’s no way people shell out another 100 bucks for these two. I suppose stranger things have happened, though…
Manny can sit there and make a case for why he lost on Saturday night; but it won’t change the outcome and it surely isn’t helping his image. Just accept it, man. You gave it everything you had.
H/T TS