After a controversial report found that undefeated Floyd Mayweather took a banned substance on the eve of the record-breaking mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao in Last Vegas in May, it is only proper to set the stage again for a grudge rematch.
The World Anti-Doping Agency found that the fluids that the American pound-for-pound king took, which were used to prevent dehydration, were not illegal, but using an IV is, and some people believe it could be used to mask another substance.
After learning on what transpired on the eve of that bout, the eight-division world champion Pacquiao, who lost a unanimous decision to Mayweather, immediately called for a rematch.
Aside from a rematch, Pacquiao also wants the Nevada State Athletic Commission to punish Mayweather. A report on the SB Nation sports news website said Mayweather, who scored a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over Andre Berto in a title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday to equal the legendary 49-0 record of heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, had broken World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations by having an IV infusion at his home in Las Vegas on May 1, the day before the fight.
WADA guidelines say IV infusions are prohibited because they can be used to mask p erformance-enhancing drugs, increase plasma volume levels and distort the values of an athlete’s biological passport.
Mayweather and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have both insisted the boxer’s actions were legal after it emerged he was injected with vitamins and minerals before the fight. Mayweather has insisted he is a clean athlete, and it seems that USADA is backing him up on the claim.
Doping allegations have been at the heart of the fighters’ long-running feud, which has not abated since Mayweather won their only meeting for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title.
The richest fight in boxing history took years to become reality, partly because of Mayweather’s insistence that Pacquiao comply with a strict drug-testing regime.
Mayweather later accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs, prompting a lawsuit which was settled out of court.
After Mayweather’s victory on points, he branded Pacquiao a sore loser for revealing his injured torn rotator cuff injury, which later needed surgery.
Currently, Pacquiao is recovering from shoulder surgery and is reportedly retiring next year after a possible fight with Amir Khan, or against Mayweather.
Now the question is, does Pacquiao deserve a rematch?
Truly, it’s impossible to understand how Mayweather would want to ignore a fight against Pacquiao, especially with the money that he made last time. Mayweather would up with a $300 million payday against Pacquiao last May. A rematch would likely bring Mayweather anywhere from $100-200 million.
If Mayweather is really willing to take one more fight, a rematch with a 37-year-old Pacquiao coming off of shoulder surgery could be the perfect opportunity.
If Mayweather really believes that he can beat Pacquiao a second time, he should take the fight to appease the fans and to give Pacquiao a chance to redeem himself after having suffered a shoulder injury in their previous fight.
It would be in Mayweather’s best interest for him to do so because the latest doping scandal has raised serious questions on whether he broke the rules of the World Anti Doping Agency.
Pacquiao deserves a rematch and hopefully this time on even and fair playing field.
But more importantly, for the sake of fairness and for the good of the sport, a rematch should be staged next year.
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