Manny Pacquiao Shoulder Injury: Pacman Denied Treatment Before Floyd Mayweather Fight?

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Manny Pacquiao was reportedly denied treatment for his injured shoulder before the big fight with Mayweather. According to Business Insider, Pacquiao did not receive the treatment he needed for his shoulder due to some miscommunication between his promoter, Top Rank, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).  

Prior to the fight on May 2, Pacquiao purportedly suffered from an injury in his right shoulder incurred while sparring during training, reports Los Angeles Times. The report adds that a news release stated the Filipino boxing champion was treated at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles. 

The news release states, "[Paquiao's] advisors concluded that with short rest treatments and close monitoring, Manny could train and, on May 2, step into the ring against Floyd Mayweather." 

According to LA times, Pacquiao's advisors notified the USADA about the injury and the required treatments for it which included the injection of the anti-inflammatory Toradol, a non-steroidal prescription medication. 

Pacman decided to continue on with the fight, thinking that a pre-fight treatment, an injection using lidocaine, for his injured shoulder would be allowed. According to the news release, "That specific treatment had been approved by USADA in writing at least five days before the fight." 

The problem began when it was discovered that the USADA failed to notify the NSAC about Pacquiao's treatment before the fight, states Business Insider. As a result, Pacquiao was denied the pre-fight injection.  

"If the injury was disclosed at the weigh-in, we could've had a conversation and handled it differently. When you come at 6:30 with the fight at 8, that's a different conversation," said Francisco Aguilar, chairman of NSAC. 

Business Insider further reports that Pacquiao's camp did have a chance to inform the NSAC about the treatment themselves before the fight in the form of a questionnaire. Both Pacquiao and Mayweather were asked to fill out a questionnaire asking about any pre-existing injuries, in which Pacquiao listed none.  

Aguilar said, "On that questionnaire, one question is: 'Do you have an injury in your shoulder?' [Pacquiao] checked 'No.' Had he checked 'Yes,' our doctors could have followed up with additional questions." 

Describing the injury in his shoulder, Pacquiaio says, "It felt like a needle was being stuck into my shoulder. I backed off because of the pain. It's very important to have confidence in your right and left, and when you're hurt, you're thinking about that, too."