Should Boxers Have the Power To Demand Tests Not Required by State Commission?

If boxers have the power to require their opponents to take a drug test that is not mandated by the state where the fight will take place, pretty soon many of these boxers will use or even abuse such power to duck or evade worthy opponents.

Pretty soon also, we will see unbeaten fighters who are more concerned about their untainted record continue their winning streaks at the expense of inferior opponents who are willing to be subjected to tests that are not sanctioned by the state in order to secure a fight.

If this practice is not checked by the state regulating bodies, we will soon see a long list of unbeaten fighters who are not tested and have not faced quality or worthy opponents.

These unbeaten boxers will use their untainted professional record in order to sell themselves to boxing promoters and increase their marketability in the process.

A case in point is unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who continues to duck Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao presumably due to the fact that Pacquiao is a threat to his untainted record. It seems, he would rather fight an opponent who is willing to be subjected to a test that is not required by the State where his upcoming fight is going to be held.

Confronted by boxing critics and fans as well why he is demanding that Pacquiao take the random blood and urine tests, not by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) but by another agency—he claims he wants to clean the sports of boxing.

But if his real intention is to clean the sports, the least he can do is to bring his own testing protocol to NSAC or talk to a Nevada State lawmaker where he is most likely a constituent, to amend the law that created the Nevada State commission.

It is also possible that his test protocol can be accommodated by just amending the implementing rules, if it can be done legally.

Popular Ring Magazine Editor Nigel Collins, in one of his "Ask the Editor" column, responded to a question from his reader:

Hi Nigel,

"In December of 2009, when Floyd Mayweather requested that Manny Pacquiao undergo USADA style random blood testing in addition to the testing procedures already in place by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, it brought an issue into the limelight that has had a lot of industry people and fans alike talking. Do you think the athletic commissions should revise their current testing procedures that are arguably dated and can no longer help effectively enforce the anti-doping rules that are already in place? – Andrew Palmer"

Andrew,

"I do not think that any fighter, including Floyd Mayweather, is bigger than boxing and should not have the power to demand that opponents take any test that is not required by the state commission. As far as revising the current testing procedures is concerned, I defer to The Ring’s health and safety expert, Dr. Margaret Goodman, who believes that the testing protocol should be updated.

Collins' view on Mayweather's demand for Pacquiao to take the random blood and urine tests before he signs up on the dotted line, is shared by many boxing critics and fans.

If Mayweather is indeed serious in cleaning the sports that made him a millionaire many times over, he should now start spearheading a campaign to get NSAC and State lawmakers to amend the state law to make it mandatory for every boxer to comply with his random testing protocol. 

If he can take his case to the lawmakers or NSAC, chances are he can prove his point and won't need his poster that says "Take the Test," which is obviously directed at Pacquiao.