Nevada commission questions Pacquiao’s injury claim

Manny Pacquiao was expected to be the busier fighter when he met Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden.

But Pacquiao was outboxed and outworked by Mayweather in losing a 12-round unanimous decision in their world welterweight unification title fight that kept Mayweather’s perfect record intact. According to the fighter, his trainer and his promoter, there was a logical explanation as to why he didn’t throw as many punches as expected — Pacquiao fought Mayweather with one arm.

Pacquiao said he injured his right shoulder in early April. To treat the pain, he had been using an anti-inflammatory. The drugs Lidocaine, Bupivacaine and Celestone were approved for use by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, which oversaw the drug testing for both fighters leading up to the megafight.

But when Pacquiao wanted to get a shot before he entered the ring Saturday, he was not allowed to be administered the medicine because the Nevada Athletic Commission refused to approve it.

Why? Pacquiao indicated on his prefight medical questionnaire that he wasn’t hurt.

“Every fighter is given a (prefight) medical form to fill out,” Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said. “He disclosed the medications, but he didn’t disclose any injury. That’s why we denied his request.”

According to Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, the NAC knew about the fighter’s condition.

“The commission was well aware he had a shoulder injury, no matter what the paperwork says,” Arum said.

Aguilar begs to differ.

“I found out about the issue just after 6 (p.m.),” he said. “They never filed any legal paperwork with the commission prior to the fight that he was hurt. We had Dr. (Timothy) Trainor and Dr. (James) Game check him out, and it was an easy decision on our part.”

Aguilar said the scene outside Pacquiao’s dressing room over the issue was contentious.

“That’s a good word to describe it,” he said. “I need proof that an injury exists, and I had no proof. It’s our job to keep the integrity of the sport.”

Without the medication, Pacquiao had to enter the ring as he was.

“I couldn’t use my right hand,” Pacquiao said. “Two weeks before the fight, my shoulder was getting better. It wasn’t 100 percent, but it was good enough.”

His trainer, Freddie Roach, said there was talk within the Pacquiao camp about postponing the fight. But they were able to train through it.

“We missed a couple of days,” Roach said. “But we saw it was getting better, so we felt we could go forward, continue to train and keep the date for the fight. But he obviously wasn’t himself. He couldn’t throw the right hook.”

Said Arum: “You saw Manny threw punches with his left hand only. That’s not Manny Pacquiao. He fought (Mayweather) with one hand. He didn’t throw one right hook.”

But even though he acknowledged he wasn’t in optimum condition, Pacquiao didn’t want to make excuses after seeing his record fall to 57-6-2.

“I did my best, but my best wasn’t good enough,” he said.

Mayweather (48-0) said he understood. But he wasn’t going to let Pacquiao’s bum shoulder detract from his accomplishment.

“Athletes get hurt all the time, and we all have our bumps and bruises,” he said. “Boxing’s no different from any other sport.”

Roach said he would love to see a rematch, but don’t count on it. Forget the angst and myriad issues that surrounded making Saturday’s fight. From a timeline factor, there’s no way Mayweather and Pacquiao could meet again in September.

Pacquiao, 36, probably is looking at surgery for the shoulder injury, which would sideline him for an extended period. And Mayweather has no intention of waiting on him.

Plus, from Mayweather’s perspective, why give Pacquiao another chance? The fight was decent but certainly not one that would have fans clamoring to see again, especially at the prices they were charged. Tickets ranged from $1,500 to $10,000 to get inside the Grand Garden, and the pay-per-view telecast cost a record $99.95.

Mayweather, who won Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight belt while retaining his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles, said he’s moving on. The 38-year-old has one bout left on the six-fight deal he signed with Showtime in February 2013.

“I’m going to fight one more time, in September, and that’s it,” said Mayweather, who added that he was going to relinquish his titles today so younger fighters could have a chance to win them.

He became irritated at the postfight news conference when asked whom he would fight next and why he wouldn’t consider fighting in 2016 when he could surpass Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.

“Let me enjoy my victory. Can I please enjoy my victory?” he said.

With that, Mayweather pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was a check for $100 million, his official purse through the commission for Saturday’s work. That figure is expected to almost double once all the pay-per-view money is distributed.

Pacquiao received $25 million Saturday. He’s expected to make $120 million when all is said and done.

“This is what $100 million looks like,” said Mayweather, pointing to the check.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj