A neutrals perspective on the Manny debate ..........

[Jimmy G-Force]

Good posts in this thread.

I'm of the view that it boils down to 2 demands. One fighter accepted the conditions (weight penalty) and the other outright refused (random drugs test). We can say it boils down to misinformation or Manny having too much pride, but to turn down $40m over a contractual demand which is nothing more than a random blood test, is strange.There is no real reason why Manny cannot go through with it especially if Mayweather will do so too. There is no doubt that we are dealing with fighters who have bloated egos. But Mayweather was actually the one willing to cede something in order to make the fight. Manny has scoffed his nose looking for mega showdowns with Malignaggi and Foreman. Pac trying to sue his way out of this situation, makes him look even worse. All people want is a fight, not a pointless courtroom showdown. Manny's refusal to take the tests has hurt him more than the words of anybody. Nobody listened when Mayweather Snr spoke all those months ago. It's only now Manny has refused a test and started to take legal action that people are really discussing the drug rumours.

To be honest Miles, I think one demand is par for the course with regards the weight issue, it had to be stipulated after the stunt Floyd pulled with Marquez. It was also pure fact Mayweather came in over the limit. I do concede the penalty is pretty outrageous, but it is what it is. You have to make the limit full stop. How the Cotto fight was for a title a 145lbs is beyond me. The other demand is a slur on Manny and everything he has achieved to date, and most certainly not a fact. As for Manny's court action, it was the only way to go, and I'm sure anyone would have done the same to clear their name. It's not ideal for us as fans, but the bottom line is you have to put yourself in Manny's position. Just think for one moment Manny is completely clean, and just imagine how you would feel with all these allegations. Especially after how hard he has genuinely worked to get to this lofty perch of which he currently resides.

I have no doubt that when Manny decides giving the random test is the only way, then he will concede to the demand, and everything will be above board. But like I said in my initial post, getting Manny to do something he is not 100% with is like pulling teeth. The on/off saga that went with his fight with Rick was ridiculous, and all over such petty things. In all the years being around Rick I have never seen anything like it, and very little came to light in the media. The proposed fight with Paulie or Yuri is nothing more than a smokescreen, and typical in the bargaining stakes, I've seen it many times in negotiations. Manny is one stubborn man, there is no question about that. How much of that comes from interests around him I'm not sure. I am sure this is a battle of the ego's though and nothing more.