Since the BALCO scandal of 2003, when he admitted having used the steroids, the cream," and, "the clear," saying he uknowingly did so, Shane Mosley has been the most prominent boxer as far as being fairly or unfairly linked to performance-enhancing drugs.So when the negotiations for a proposed bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fell apart primarily over Pacquiao's refusal to be random blood-tested no closer than 14 days of their bout, and Mayweather-Mosley became a possibility, two of the first questions generally raised were whether or not the Mayweather camp would make similar demands of Mosley, and whether the latter, indeed, would go where Pacquiao would not.
It did, and, Mosley did.
On Friday, the 38-year-old Mosley (46-5, 39 knockouts) signed a bout contract to fight the 32-year-old Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs), even as the deal requires that both fighters agree to the same Olympic-style, random blood-testing Mayweather's camp insisted upon during the scuttled negotiations with Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs).
"The drug-testing terms of the agreement were not a question for Shane Mosley. What happened was seven years ago, and Shane has taken the hits for it, and I believe that his name has been unfairly taken through the mud," said Mosley's attorney, Judd Burstein, who carefully went over the contract with the WBA's super welterweight (147 pounds) champion on Friday in Las Vegas.
"The issue is that Shane doesn't care about what testing somebody wants," said Burstein of Mosley, who stands to receive his largest payday against Mayweather. "If they want it, they can have it. He's completely unconcerned. He knows that he's not a cheater."
That same day, Burstein said that he immediately informed the CEO of Mayweather's promotional company, Leonard Ellerbe, of Mosley's actions, and that he was assured that Mayweather's signature would be forthcoming "in the next two days."
On Monday, Burstein said Mayweather's adviser, Al Haymon, confirmed that Mayweather would sign the deal "Today."
But by late Tuesday there still was no signature from the unbeaten five-time champion.
"I spoke to Al Haymon [Tuesday], and he said that we have a deal, and it will be done. But then, I've been told that it was going to be done every day since Saturday," said Burstein.
"I keep getting assurances that we have an agreement, yet I can't get any explanation as to why there's been no signature," said Burstein. "I have no issue with Al Haymon. I think that he's a great guy and he's very honorable. But he's not his client, so I don't blame him. I blame his client."




