Tensions now brew around Pacquiao-Mayweather fight

Los Angeles. Tensions appeared to be rising around the long awaited welterweight world title fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, with the fighters’ camps reportedly at odds over a proposed doping penalty.

Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz told the Los Angeles Times on Thursday that he was “a little puzzled and dismayed” that Mayweather wouldn’t agree to the $5 million penalty Pacquiao had proposed should either fighter test positive for a banned drug.

Mayweather Promotions chief executive Leonard Ellerbe, however, told the newspaper that the drug testing protocol for the May 2 fight in Las Vegas had been “rigorously negotiated” by Pacquiao promoters Top Rank.

In comments to ESPN.com, Ellerbe called Koncz an “idiot.”

“If this moron didn’t convey his fighter’s wishes when the negotiation was going on that’s their problem,” Ellerbe said. “This is a lame-ass attempt to generate publicity.”

Drug testing was an issue in attempts to put a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight together in late 2009 and early 2010.

Mayweather wanted random Olympic-style blood and urine testing, but Pacquiao objected to some of the protocols and the deal disintegrated.

Mayweather later accused the Filipino ring icon of using performance-enhancing drugs, a charge which Pacquiao denied.

Pacquiao sued Mayweather over the accusation and the two settled out of court.

Drug-testing differences have been just part of the long and winding road to the May 2 match-up between the two fighters widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighters of their generation.

The bout has required rival telecasters Showtime and HBO to work together to produce a fight considered a lock to break all records for pay-per-view viewers and revenue.

Pacquiao, a two-term Congressman from Sarangani province in the Philippines, is 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts while Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 knockouts.

Last week, the US Anti-Doping Agency said both fighters had agreed to undergo Olympic-style random drug testing prior to the bout.

Mayweather has submitted to USADA testing for all of his bouts since 2010.

Both fighters must provide USADA with their whereabouts and make themselves available for blood and urine tests for drugs including human growth hormone (HGH) and the blood-boosting erythropoietin (EPO).

Pacquiao first suggested the reciprocal fine for a failed drug test as extra insurance that a doping issue wouldn’t scupper the fight that fans worldwide have clamoured for.

But Ellerbe charged the arrangement was an attempt to “put a $5 million price tag if Manny tested positive.”

“It will cost Manny a lot more than some $5 million if he comes up positive,” Ellerbe said.

Meanwhile, being a personal chef to a celebrity or star athlete has to have a few perks, but when Las Vegas’ Chef Q signed on to cook for Floyd Mayweather, we’re guessing she wasn’t expecting to get paid $1,000 per meal. The chef told TMZ that she doesn’t actually charge that much for a meal, but Mayweather felt the grub was worth it. Judging from Chef Q’s Instagram page, the meals definitely look amazing. Do they look like they’re worth $1,000? Not exactly. But if Mayweather goes on to defeat Manny Pacquiao on May 2, we’re guessing the price will be more than justified as a contribution to cementing the “Money May” legacy.

Dwyane Wade knows a thing or two about style. He’s always among the best dressed players in the NBA, and now thanks to him, 15 teens from the Miami area will be the best dressed at prom. Wade teamed up with Hublot (and brought along his personal stylist) to outfit a group of foster teens for their big night. He also took some time to give a little advice, answer some questions, and remind the group that no matter how difficult life can seem, their dreams are within reach.

One guy who might have two dreams within reach is Packers wide receiver Davante Adams. Adams had himself filmed dunking this offseason, and after seeing him throw down, we’re a little curious as to whether he could hang in the NBA slam dunk contest. Adams throws down a 360, between-the-legs dunk with ease. He barely even runs up before the dunk. Also, at just 6-foot-1, he doesn’t have the kind of height that most NBA dunkers are working with. Our new proposal: Open the NBA dunk contest to the best dunkers in every sport. (AFP)