Mayweather: ‘I knew everything about Pacquiao’s training camp’

MANILA, Philippines – Floyd Mayweather Jr. revealed that he had classified information about Manny Pacquiao’s preparation before he stepped into the ring with the Filipino boxing icon over the weekend. 

According to the 38-year-old unbeaten American boxer, he knew everything that went on in Pacquiao’s training camp, including when the Filipino boxer dealt with leg cramps.

“Everything Manny Pacquiao did in his camp every day, I knew. I knew when he boxed, [and] I knew when he didn’t box. I knew how many rounds he boxed. I knew how he was looking. I know how many rounds he did in the heavy bag. I knew when his legs were cramping,” Mayweather said in an interview with FightHype.com.

However, Mayweather did not directly affirm whether he was aware that Pacquiao had a right shoulder injury or not.

“Anybody I faced, I have to know everything about them. It’s the art of war. I always have to be steps ahead of you,” Mayweather stated. 

Pacquiao suffered the aforementioned injury in training and was forced to take several days off from sparring as he nursed his shoulder ailment.

An MRI exam subsequently showed a rotator cuff tear in Pacquiao’s right shoulder, but his team decided to push through since he made good progress in the gym and looked like he could still compete.

While Mayweather landed 148 of 435 punches during the 12-round title unification tussle, Pacquiao connected with just 81 of 429 as his aggressive style was neutralized by his opponent’s defense.

The day after his unanimous decision loss to sport’s reigning pound-for-pound king, Pacquiao seemed to think that Mayweather was aware of the injury.

(READ: Manny Pacquiao: ‘We were sabotaged’)

Meanwhile, Mayweather criticized Pacquiao for revealing his shoulder injury only after the heavily-hyped showdown.

“What a coincidence! Just after the fight, that’s when your arm is hurting. Why didn’t you say that a couple days before? I am still going to fight this fight,” he stressed.

Pacquiao declared that the Nevada State Athletic Commission had approved his use of numbing agent injections after his camp submitted a request two weeks before his marquee match-up against Mayweather, but the sanctioning body did not allow the medication on fight night as no injuries were divulged at the official weigh-in or on the medical questionnaire.

The commission claims the request had only been made the night of the fight.

Pacquiao had successful surgery on his injured right shoulder on Thursday, May 7 (PH Time).

At least five lawsuits in various states have been filed against Pacquiao, Bob Arum’s Top Rank and other entities, claiming that they defrauded the public in failing to disclose his injury. – Rappler.com