Mayweather Rejects $5 Million Penalty in Failed Drug Test for Pacquiao Fight
Manny Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz wants it to be known that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has declined an extra stipulation, in which a failed drug test by either fighter before or after their May 2 mega bout would cost either man $5 million.
"Today we were informed that Mayweather turned down the request," Koncz told ESPN on Thursday. "Manny had requested that there would be a reciprocal fine of $5 million for a failed drug test."
This comes after both boxers have already agreed to let the United States Anti-Doping Agency oversee random blood and urine testing for the bout. Koncz wanted this extra stipulation to be added onwards after terms for the fight have already been agreed on, but claims Mayweather's attorney declined the invitation for the reciprocal fine agreement in a letter to Pacquiao's lawyer.
Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions and Mayweather's adviser, said all Koncz is doing is making a ploy for attention and that if he wanted this reciprocal fine stipulation added, it should have been part of the main contract for the fight.
"Michael Koncz is an idiot, and Manny Pacquiao should be ashamed to have him as his representative, in my opinion," Ellerbe told ESPN in response. "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," Ellerbee added. "This is a lame-ass attempt to generate publicity."
Disagreements over drug and blood testing were reasons that the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight never happened years ago in 2009 or 2010.
Koncz counters that Mayweather should be jumping at the chance to cash in on a possible failed drug test from Pacquiao.
"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.
On Tuesday, Pacquiao began officially sparring for the fight at trainer Freddie Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. Mayweather is preparing for the mega bout at his gym, the Mayweather Boxing Club, in Las Vegas.
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(Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
