MANILA, Philippines - Larry Merchant knows a good, clean fighter when he sees one.
And Manny Pacquiao, in the eyes of the analytical HBO boxing commentator, is just one of the classic examples, amid accusations that the Filipino icon is into some performance-enhancing drugs.
“I see no indications that Pacquiao is anything but an exceptional, elite fighter,” Merchant said as he shared his precious thoughts on the ongoing drama with Michael Falgoust of USA Today.
Pacquiao’s historic rise as the first boxer to win seven world titles in different weight classes has led some people, especially the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr., to raise serious doubts on his ability.
Pacquiao insists that he’s clean. In fact, he has filed charges against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy’s top brass, Oscar dela Hoya and Richard Schaefer, for trying to destroy his image as a champion.
This has led to a major impasse in the projected Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight in March. While there are efforts to save the fight, it’s most likely it won’t happen as earlier planned and scheduled.
Merchant said Pacquiao is not the first boxer to reap success as they moved up in weight, saying Dela Hoya himself started out at 130 pounds and ended up fighting and winning at 160 pounds.
“There are many precedents in boxing of smaller fighters to move up in weight division and be successful later in their careers,” said Merchant, also dropping the names of some great champions.
“Henry Armstrong turned pro at 120. He also fought for a middleweight championship. Alexis Arguello was a bantamweight when he started as a 16-year-old but he wound up fighting in the 140s,” he said.
And Pacquiao?
“Pacquiao fights in the low ‘40s. That means he has breakfast and lunch before the weigh-in where most fighters eat lightly, if at all. He’s done a few amazing things. It’s not like he’s going around knocking everybody stiff with one punch. He’s a boxer-puncher who has won on his boxing ability and his quickness.
“He’s not Superman’s son. He’s just a helluva fighter who has captured the imagination of the fight world and become a kind of international cultural figure who transcends the sport,” said Merchant.
He really thinks Pacquiao is clean.
“If (his trainer) Freddie Roach says he’s clean – and he’s as straight a shooter as there is in boxing – I believe Freddie Roach,” said Merchant.
The HBO analyst thinks the fight is going to happen and that there’s just so much money on the table that both camps, with Mayweather calling for random drug testing and Pacquiao going the other way, should find ways to do it.
If not in March, Merchant said the fight may happen later this year.
“I’ve always looked upon these types of negotiations as a kind of ritual of dominance. ‘I can impose my will on you in the negotiations, therefore I can impose my will on you in the fight.’