by James Slater – In a new interview that is sure to shock, outrage and even offend fans of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Senior has come forward and suggested that the Filipino legend and current pound-for-pound king may be taking illegal supplements such as steroids. Talking exclusively with David Mayo of The Grand Rapids Press, Floyd Senior, now reunited with his son Floyd “Money” Mayweather Junior, spoke about his suspicions.
“I believe he’s [Manny Pacquiao] on some type of supplements,” Mayweather Snr. said. “I’m convinced (unintelligible) – but I don’t think he can beat Little Floyd with steroids in him or not. I just don’t think he – he don’t have that kind of talent, that kind of skills, whatever he has in him..
“That’s what they do now, man. I think everyone should be checked a lot more thoroughly than they are now, because some of ’em slide through and sometimes people know what’s going on when they don’t say nothing.”
This is a quite astonishing claim by one of the sport’s premier trainers. Will Team-Pacquiao be so angry they will even feel the need to take Mayweather Snr to court? That remains to be seen, but not for one minute do I believe the God-fearing “Pac-Man” would ever take steroids. It’s simply not his way. But why would Mayweather make such a claim without a genuine belief in what he’s saying? Surely he had to know he’d get into all kinds of trouble if his claims were utterly without foundation.
The fans are going to be talking about this one for some time, and, as is often the case when a controversial article appears, there will be some people who choose to believe Mayweather Snr’s claims. One thing is sure: the potential mega fight between Pacquiao and “Money” Mayweather will now be an even bigger affair.
Let’s now wait and see how Manny Pacquiao himself, his trainer Freddie Roach, his family and his vast number of adoring fans take to this latest news. Of course, this is not the first time Mayweather Senior has made a controversial statement, and it’s sure to not be the last; but has Big Floyd gone way too far this time? And are his latest comments about the superb fighter who took his son’s place atop the pound-for-pound charts evidence that he sees Pacquiao as a very genuine threat to Mayweather Jr’s unbeaten record?