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Pacquiao finds ally in Diaz' trainer Strickland


CHICAGO, Illinois – Jim Strickland, David Diaz’ manager and trainer, is siding with Manny Pacquiao despite the Mayweather camp’s accusations of steroid use by the seven-world division champion. Strickland, who trained the former world lightweight champion Diaz when he fought and lost to Pacquiao in 2008, is in the position to speak since he is a retired licensed pharmacist.
David Diaz, left, and Jim Strickland. Joseph Lariosa
Strickland said Pacquiao has the right to refuse the Olympic-style blood testing that would determine if he used performance-enhancing drugs since it is not required by the Nevada Boxing Commission (NBC), which has jurisdiction over the proposed mega-fight between the Filipino boxing icon and Floyd Mayweather Jr. that has now been scrapped. "I don’t know of any quantitative measure that has been held up to scrutiny and the exam and how much is a fighter enhanced when drug (steroid) is taken," said the 80-year-old Strickland. "But in case of baseball, a player on steroids may be easier to detect if he suddenly may have more home runs. This was somewhat the measurement of it or can point to some comparative fights." Pacquiao’s performance, Strickland said, is brought about by the fighting style of his opponents. "Look at Manny’s fights and compare it after that, Manny is different. It is hard to see (if Manny is into steroids). A fighter changes performance, in many cases, because of the style of their opponents." Strickland said he never attributed Pacquiao’s victory against Diaz to the General Santos City native’s use of performance enhancing drugs. Just follow NBC’s rules If NBC changes its rules by requiring blood test by all means Pacquiao or any boxer should abide by the rules. Otherwise, Strickland said, Pacquiao "should not be singled out for blood testing unless NBC feels that way and until there is proof." The Kansas City, Kansas native Strickland said that he would file charges to anyone who would accuse his fighter of having steroids in their system just to repair his wards’ damaged reputation just like Pacquiao did against the Mayweathers. Strickland said he is even willing to appear as a witness if Pacquiao asks him to testify. "I would certainly rise to that question, I would respond to it in the way as far as I am concerned. I don’t see any reason of accusing Manny of using illegal drugs in our fight." Money not everything in boxer’s life Strickland, when told that the Mayweathers are raising the standard of testing because of the big purses either side is going to make, said money is not the only thing in a professional boxer’s life. "Money does not set the criteria for a fight. It goes all the way back to amateur days when a fighter fights for a trophy. You enter the sport to abide by the rules," said the former Olympic boxing trainer. "An amateur boxer in a four-rounder makes $200. You are lucky to make $400 three or four years ago. That fighter places much of his life on the line in terms of losing and winning," he added. "Because fighters hate to lose, they would train just as strongly. Fighters might earn their first thousands and millions but the heart of a fighter (to win) in no measure is just as strong." Pacquiao is now scheduled to face welterweight Joshua Clottey, who has never lost via knock out, at the Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas on March 13. Strickland said reports that Diaz will face World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion Armando Humberto Soto Ochoa supposed Pacquiao-Mayweather bout is not true. – Joseph Lariosa/JVP, GMANews.TV
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