http://www.examiner.com/x-34564-New-England-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m1d7-Massachusetts-Boxing-Commissioner-Thinks-Mayweather-is-Ducking-Pacquiao

In wake of the Manny Pacquiao - Floyd Mayweather negotiations apparently having fallen through, Massachusetts state boxing commissioner Dan Fitzgerald has weighed in on the issues halting the fight from being made. Namely, the issue of drug testing.

"I do believe that certain boxers, however, Muhammad Ali being one of the masters at it, will say or do things to gain a psychological advantage before a match, and Mayweather is known for that. Frankly, I do not think that Mayweather wants to fight Pacquiao, or anyone else for that matter, where Mayweather believes he may lose. I have told you before that Mayweather will never fight Paul Williams or Shane Mosley no matter what promoters promise to pay him. Because Mayweather does not need the money, I would not be surprised if he was thinking along the following lines: Mayweather knows he would come in over weight (something for which he has a reputation), that he would have to pay a substantial fine (something that we know and that Mayweather certainly knows that the Nevada Commission is quite capable of imposing), a fine anywhere from $5-10 million dollars, and that he would end up netting the same amount as he would any other fighter, but one that he knows he could beat. So, why fight Pacquiao? Rather than go through all of that, what does Mayweather do? He postures a little, raises an obscure issue that no one can prove or disprove, (it is very difficult to prove a negative), gets the fight cancelled, argues "I told you so," and comes away claiming he won without ever having to fight the guy. I am not saying that is what he is doing or going to do, but that scenario is a thousand times more likely than someone like Pacquiao cheating. No wonder Pacquiao sued him."

Fitzgerald is no stranger to weighing in on controversial topics related to Pacquiao. In 2008, he publicly opposed the Pacquaio - Oscar De La Hoya welterweight fight being approved because he felt it would be a mismatch due to the size difference between the two fighters.
Of course the perceived smaller man, Pacquiao, pounded De La Hoya en route to a 8th round TKO in that fight. Pacquiao weighed in at 148 pounds unofficially on the night of the fight to De La Hoya's 147. This would later lead Fitzgerald to joke, "well I was right that the bigger man would win."
In regards to the issue of drug testing that is holding up that Pacquiao - Mayweather fight from happening, Fitzgerald said the following in an email.

"I would find it extremely difficult to believe that Freddie Roach, a man well known for his integrity in this sport, would allow himself to be associated with any boxer who cheats."
Nevertheless, Fitzgerald feels there is always the possibility that a fighter could be trying to get a competitive edge.

"When judges instruct juries on the law during a trial, for example, they always make a point to explain to the jury that anything is possible, and there exists a chance for anything, however remote those possibilities or chances may be."

When asked if he feels Olympic style drug testing, which is what the Mayweather camp is asking for in this fight, be implemented on a more regular basis in boxing, Fitzgerald had the following to say.

"I know that some substances can only be detected in blood where others can be detected in both urine and blood. One of the ways to keep people from abusing or cheating any system is to keep changing the system. If a Commission or an Olympic Committee or any other regulatory body always conducts tests at a specific time period before or after any contest whether it be a fight, an Olympic event, or an audit, it gives potential cheaters a specific time frame to work around. This is why broad discretionary language in one's regulations regarding testing really helps."

Whether you agree with Fitzgerald or not, one thing we can all agree on is we hope this fight eventually happens.

Source: examiner.com