The much-hyped “fight of the year”—which, according to many viewers, felt like a lackluster showing from two sluggers nearing the end of their careers—may be behind us, but the post-fight controversy is still brewing.
The Associated Press is reporting that Manny Pacquiao didn't disclose a shoulder injury—a torn rotator cuff—that he claims he suffered before his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., and for that he could "face disciplinary action from Nevada boxing officials."
According to AP, Pacquiao checked "no" on a questionnaire that asked specifically about a shoulder injury. The Nevada Athletic Commission, the boxing governing body in Las Vegas, has reportedly turned over this information to the state attorney general. If Pacquiao is found to have withheld this information before the fight, he could face a fine or suspension, according to AP.
Pacquiao's camp is claiming that Mayweather knew of the injury—which Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has said he suffered almost a month before the fight, according to Business Insider—and used that information to his advantage, including punching Pacquiao's shoulder during the fight.
"You saw he was pulling my hand. He was doing that because he knew," Pacquiao told Rappler.com, according to Business Insider. "He was pulling it. He was holding me, then he was targeting this. I'm sure he found out. Somebody leaked it to him. They knew."
Dashon Johnson, Pacquiao's sparring partner, even took to Facebook to talk about how the injury was to remain a secret. "We were asked not to mention anything to anyone but yes Manny got hurt during this camp with his right shoulder and it was messed up pretty bad!" Johnson wrote. "So bad his sparring partners including myself were asked to go home a few weeks out before the actual fight, which means a lot of work he could have put in for this fight was brought to a halt due to the fact that he could not spar really anymore and didn't want to mess it up more than he already had."
Although Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, would not elaborate on the possible leaked information before the fight, he did acknowledge that there was a "mole" inside the camp, according to Business Insider.
Read more at the Associated Press and Business Insider.