EDITORIAL - Legal fight

It was just right for boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to resort to legal action over allegations he is using some performance-enhancing drugs. He has the right to go to court and defend himself from these baseless accusations.  

Only by going to court does Pacquiao have the proper venue to dispel these unsubstantiated allegations by American trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. that he is taking steroids or some kinds of drugs.

He should not let these accusations explode in his face considering they are going bigger day by day seeking to taint his unblemished legacy. His place in boxing history as one of all-time greats has already been secured and he should not let any amount of drug accusation tarnish it.

The drug issue has been swirling around since Mayweather openly questioned Pacquiao’s ability to move up to higher divisions and defeat his bigger and stronger opponents. The loudmouth American trainer has been going around telling the media that he believes Pacquiao, currently the world’s pound-for-pound king, is taking some drugs to enhance his performance level.

Since Pacquiao’s exploits of knocking out his bigger opponents were unbelievable to him, Mayweather he said he would even advise his son, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., not to fight the Filipino phenomenon. He said he would not put his son in harm’s way thinking that a fight with Pacquiao would be one-sided on account of his belief that the smaller Pacquiao is into drugs.                          

But the world has long been clamoring for a dream match between the planet’s best fighter today and the undefeated former pound-for-pound king. So the stage is set for what has been described as the biggest fight in boxing history with both Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr. to receive over $50 million each when all receipts are in.

However, the blockbuster fight on March 13 in Las Vegas has been in jeopardy after the Mayweather camp wanted Pacquiao to undergo random blood tests prior to the fight, suspecting that the latter may have been using some kind of drugs.

The Pacquiao camp rejected the idea, contending that undergoing blood testing just days before the fight would weaken him. He agreed to a blood test 30 days before the fight and immediately after.  

Pacquiao’s refusal to undergo drug test closer to the fight only fuels the allegations that he is hiding something. Mayweather Sr. remains standing firm on his allegations and the media had been divided, some urging Pacquiao to take the test while others saying he should never let the Mayweather camp dictate him. 

The only solution is to go to court. Let Pacquiao’s accusers show proofs otherwise they should be held liable for defamation.