HOLLYWOOD—It’s a tale of two opponents. One’s coming up for Manny Pacquiao. The other? You wonder if he’ll ever end up facing the Filipino superstar.
On Thursday, Juan Manuel Marquez got some respect from trainer Freddie Roach while Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s camp got dissed by promoter Bob Arum.
Arum mocked reports coming out of Team Mayweather that a May fight date has been reserved for the biggest fight possible, a hint that the undefeated American has finally agreed to step into the ring against Pacquiao.
“Same old bull …,” said Arum.
“They’re just trying to take attention away from Manny,” added the Top Rank chief.
Attempts to forge a Pacquiao-Mayweather duel, arguably the biggest match that could be staged in the sport, had collapsed twice previously due to disputes over drug testing protocols—despite the fighters being penciled to earn at least $50 million each.
Mayweather has constantly batted for Olympic-style drug tests, while Pacquiao, refusing to be bullied into such a condition, said he is willing to undergo tests based on already established boxing norms.
Mayweather is facing libel charges filed by Pacquiao over his claim that the reigning pound-for-pound king has used performance-enhancing drugs.
Marquez is also faced with the same rumors because of his association with Angel Hernandez, who used to work for controversial Balco founder Victor Conte, who now works as Nonito Donaire Jr.’s conditioning coach.
Marquez has denied the accusation, and Roach isn’t lending credence to them either.
“A lot of people want to point fingers and say he [Marquez] is doing bad things,” said Roach. “But I’m not going to do that because I’m tired of that being done to me. It looks like he’s working hard and that’s what he’s supposed to do in this game.
“My guys work hard and that’s why they get good results.”