I’ve written before about the use of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) by boxers – a highly relevant topic given the current row between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
Their fight has fallen apart because Mayweather wants Pacquiao to undergo the same kind of drug tests that Olympic athletes are subject to, including blood samples.
Pacquiao says he is happy to conform to The Nevada State Athletic Commission’s regulation to give urine and three blood samples - two before the fight and one after it - but believes that having too much blood taken shortly before the fight will unfairly weaken him.
At the centre of the row is HGH, with Mayweather suspicious that Pacquiao has been taking it.
But it’s not clear that blood samples can even detect HGH, even though the World Anti Doping Agency insist that is the most effective deterrent. Although no athlete has ever been caught using it.
Manny has never been caught for doping offences, and there is no suggestion whatsoever that he is guilty of any wrongdoing.
But the use of growth hormone could be an increasing problem within boxing. There is a strong rumour that one British fighter – and his trainer –have been taking it.
And there will always be suspicions over Roy Jones Junior, who has been caught doping in the past and moved up in his career from light-middleweight to heavyweight.
HGH, a naturally occurring substance but adds bulk if taken in excessive amounts and is seen by some idiots as the perfect pill for fighters who want to move quickly into higher weight divisions.
When I tried to set up a fight between Jones and Joe Calzaghe a decade ago, Jones was reluctant to fight outside of America and was subsequently caught using steroids.
The British Boxing Board of Control get a lot of things right when it comes to protecting the safety and interest of boxers, and I’d like to see them randomly tested for HGH.
As for Mayweather-Pacquiao, there have been reports in the last few days that the fight is definitely dead in the water, despite arbitration involving a retired judge.
It appears that Pacquiao was prepared to be more flexible, but Mayweather refused to meet him halfway.
The only place the pair will definitely meet is in the courtroom, with Pacquiao suing Mayweather’s camp for defamation.
Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy outfit, which had some promotional rights over Manny, may also have jeopardised them by appearing to side with Mayweather.
Don’t be surprised if the fight gets resurrected sometime in 2010 though – there’s too much money on the table for it not to happen. However, I do have a feeling Mayweather is using this controversy to avoid Pacquiao.
Talking of Pacquiao, he was the second most searched for person on Yahoo last year, just behind Jennifer Lopez. That’s always a good place to be!
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The New Year is only a couple of days old and we’ve already got a contender for most ridiculous fight of the year – I heard Hatton was going to fight Mayweather, but it turned out it was Ricky’s brother Matthew.
How can anyone take this rubbish seriously - Matthew stepping in to fill the void left by Pacquiao is a joke.
Hatton Jnr says that he would relish the chance of causing the biggest shock in boxing history. The fight would certainly be the biggest something – the biggest mismatch.
Matthew’s not even the best welterweight in Manchester. He really will be on something if he agrees to it!
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Some sad news to start the year, with Terry Lawless passing away over Christmas.
When I first came into the sport, Lawless was part of the “cartel” which effectively controlled boxing back then.
Obviously we were rivals in business, but he knew his stuff and was a highly respected manager who looked after his fighters.
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Amir Khan’s WBA light-welterweight title defence against Marcos Maidana will go to purse bids this week after all involved couldn’t come to an agreement.
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Meanwhile I hear 31st May has been penciled in for Ricky Hatton’s comeback……..
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