Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer have apologized for suggesting that boxer Manny Pacquiao may have used performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids. De La Hoya and Schaefer are the President and Chief Executive Officer of Golden Boy Promotions. Pacquiao had filed a defamation lawsuit against De La Hoya, Schaefer, boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father Floyd Mayweather Sr. in response to the steroid allegations.
Manny Pacquiao and his promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, reached a settlement with Golden Boy Promotions that resulted in the dropping of De La Hoya and Schaefer from the defamation lawsuit. The defamation case against the Mayweathers continues.
“Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya, on behalf of themselves and Golden Boy Promotions, wish to make it crystal clear that we never intended to claim that Manny Pacquiao has used or is using any performance enhancing drugs, and further state that we do not have any evidence whatsoever of such use.
“Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest fighters of all time, and we apologize if anyone construed our prior remarks as in any way claiming or even suggesting that Manny uses or has used performance enhancing drugs.”
The settlement opens the door for more fights between Top Rank fighters, such as Pacquiao, and Golden Boy fighters in the future.
“I think this clears the way for future fights with one of their fighters with Manny, all other things being equal,” Arum explained. “Prior to the apology we would not have not considered it. This (PED accusation) was something directed at Manny. He’s accepted this apology and indicated that he has accepted it by settling the lawsuit, so we move on…This clears the way for any Golden Boy-Top Rank fight in the future if the fight makes sense for both sides. We shook hands on that after the mediation (two weeks ago).”
The issue of performance-enhancing drugs has stalled discussions about one of the most anticipated boxing matches in recent history. A much anticipated “super fight” between Mayweather and Pacquiao was originally delayed last year after Mayweather insisted on WADA-type steroid testing.
Boxing fans are becoming increasingly impatient as Mayweather repeatedly avoids fighting Pacquiao while using some variation of a steroid accusation as an excuse. Fans simply want to see Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao settle the dispute in the ring.
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