CHICAGO, Illinois – Sherif Younan, the trainer of former world boxing champion Paul "The Magic Man" Malignaggi, believes that there is nothing wrong with Manny Pacquiao taking a blood test as suggested by Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Younan said he has high respects for Pacquiao and his trainer Freddie Roach. “I like Manny. He is a hard worker, an exciting champion. I can’t determine that Manny is into (performance-enhancing drugs). (But) I don’t think a great champion (like Manny) will put (himself) in that position."
"Although, it happens in lots of sports, even in Olympics, I believe, to me, it will be a very foolish (idea to get involved in performance-enhancing drugs because) that will tarnish his legacy," added Younan, who is still not sure if the planned Malignaggi-Pacquiao fight would push through next year.
"I look at (Manny) more as a textbook champion. I like him as a person. He has lots of styles."
Younan said that if he were Roach, he would encourage Pacquiao to undergo the Olympic-style blood test. “What’s the point? And it will just clear everybody’s mind at ease. Freddie is a respected trainer."
Younan, who took over Malignaggi’s training after losing to British champion Ricky Hatton last Nov. 22, 2008, said he met Roach when he was working a fight in New York.
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"Freddie is a very nice guy. We like each other. He is a respectful trainer and he would not tell Manny to take drugs. Hopefully, if we meet, we will meet as total professionals in opposite sides of the ring and may the best man win."
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is considering Malignaggi as the replacement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. on the March 13 fight after the former pound-for-pound king pulled-out of the scheduled slugfest with Pacquiao.
Mayweather has insisted Pacquiao should undergo Olympic-style drug testing in order to put an end to his father’s claims that the Filipino boxing icon performance-enhancing drugs helped him win seven world titles in seven different weight classes.
Younan believes Malignaggi will beat Pacquiao if ever the two meet inside the ring. "Paulie will the sharpest he has ever been and my kid will shock the world, like he did when he schooled three-time lightweight champion Juan Diaz."
He has also trained junior middleweight contenders Raul Frank and Ian “The Cobra" Gardner and female champion Ann Marie Saccurato, who won the WBC world title.
Source: GMANews.tv
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