Floyd Mayweather may have called Manny Pacquiao a "b-side" to his face, but right now, it's Pacquiao who's trying to raise the stakes a little more for both fighters. ESPN.com reports that Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz requested that both Pacquiao and Mayweather sign an agreement that would result in a costly fine should either fighter fail a drug test.
"Today we were informed that Mayweather turned down the request," Koncz said. "Manny had requested that there would be a reciprocal fine of $5 million for a failed drug test."
While both contracts for the fight itself and with the United States Anti-Doping Agency, who will oversee random blood and urine testing for the fight, have been signed, Koncz said the two camps were still negotiating the terms behind a massive fine in the event of a failed drug test.
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, was angered by Koncz's request. He didn't hold any punches back responding to Koncz's comments, saying, "Michael Koncz is an idiot, and Manny Pacquiao should be ashamed to have him as his representative, in my opinion."
Ellerbe continued to bash Koncz, claiming he was just trying to rile some PR out of the situation:
"It's obvious he didn't read the contract. Why would he have his fighter sign something he was not happy with? The deal was negotiated up and down by his promoter [Bob Arum of Top Rank] on behalf of Manny with Floyd and Mayweather Promotions, and it's been well documented in the media for quite some time.
If this moron didn't convey his fighter's wishes when the negotiation was going on, that's their problem. This is a lame-ass attempt to generate publicity."
This isn't the first time the two fighter's camps have feuded over drug testing procedures. When a deal to fight first came together in early 2010, it all fell apart after Pacquiao refused Mayweather's stipulation that the tests be done in a random Olympic-style way. Pacquiao sued Mayweather after the deal collapsed, accusing him of defamation. That lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Kroncz brought it up again while speaking to ESPN.com on this story.
"They have made derogatory statements for years about Manny [allegedly using PEDs], and now we challenged them by asking for the $5 million fine, and they refused to do it. It's disheartening," Koncz said.
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[via ESPN]
