Roach: "Floyd is Scared"

Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach said Floyd Mayweather Jr. is merely looking for a way out of the planned fight with Manny Pacquiao by dictating the type of drug testing to be used.

“Well the sanctioning bodies and the state commissions run the boxing world, not Floyd Mayweather,” Roach told 8CountNews.com’s Brad Cooney.

“Who is this guy to tell us that we have to have blood tests, or urine tests, or any tests? He's just looking for a way out of the fight.”

Mayweather demanded Pacquiao to undergo Olympic-style of drug testing before the blockbuster fight pencilled on March 13 amid claims coming from their camp that the Filipino may have been using performance-enhancing drugs.

Olympic-style testing involves random blood and urine testing before and after the fight. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) testing only conducts urine tests for banned substances before and after the fight.

“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in a statement.

“But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same,” said the undefeated American fighter with a 40-0 (with 25 knockouts) record.

‘Go by commission rules’

Roach, however, said he’s not actually against the tests. It’s just he doesn’t want Mayweather dictating his terms.

“We have passed every test ever given to us. We go by the commission rules, not to whatever rule Mayweather puts out there… We fight for the state commission, since when does the fighter make up the rules?” said the trainer.

Pacquiao’s trainer said the Filipino boxer, who has already compiled 50 wins against 3 losses and 2 draws (with 38 KOs), can easily pass any type of drug test. What he’s opposed to is having his boxer give blood a day before the fight.

“It's just like having sex before a fight. You're not supposed to have sex before a fight, it makes you weak. If you mentally think that, it will. When Manny gives blood it takes him 3 or 4 days to recover from it. I am not going to have my fighter going into a fight feeling weak and not sure of himself,” he said.

“He (Mayweather) is scared, and he's just afraid that he's going to get his ass kicked,” said Roach.

The 7-time world champion has consistently passed drug tests conducted by the NSAC including the latest Pacquiao fight against Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto.

Arum: Mayweather’s demand is absurd

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum echoed Roach’s sentiment that the former pound-for-pound king is just looking for an excuse not to fight Pacquiao.

"Mayweather proves that he's a coward and he's looking for a way out of the fight. The Nevada commission has been doing drug testing for the last 40 years. To appease Mayweather, we agreed they could do urine analysis anytime they wanted. But Manny doesn't want them to draw his blood when he's in training because it weakens him," Arum said in USA Today.

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, who represents Mayweather, said Top Rank president Todd duBoef has relayed to him that Pacquiao would not agree to give blood within 30 days of the bout.

"Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight," Schaefer said in the statement.

Arum said Mayweather’s demand is just pure harassment.

"I know deep down Mayweather doesn't want the fight. He can take a walk," said the Top Rank chief. “The plug is pulled. The fight is off as far as we’re concerned.”

Arum said he is currently looking for a fighter to replace Mayweather for the March 13 tiff.

Among the names being considered are Paul Malignaggi, who recently defeated Juan Diaz, and World Boxing Association light middle weight champ Yuri Foreman.