LAS VEGAS – “It still hurts, especially if I raise my hand,” said Manny Pacquiao before going up to his hotel room to sleep on Monday night.
“I’m not really feeling that well.”
Two days after his colossal battle with Floyd Mayweather Jr. who won the fight by unanimous decision, the throbbing pain in Pacquiao’s right shoulder that affected his performance was still bothering him.
US doctors found that Pacquiao had sustained a tear in his right shoulder rotator cuff and needs to undergo surgery, which will be done anytime this week.
His return home, originally set Wednesday, will have to wait. His scheduled next fight in November will also have to wait.
On Monday afternoon Pacquiao went to the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles Monday afternoon to seek medical treatment.
SECRET INJURY
The pre-fight training injury was kept a secret from the public until two hours before the May 2 bout, when Team Pacquiao asked for, but was denied, an injectable painkiller.
An ESPN report said Dr. Neal ElAttrache described the tear on Monday as “significant” and said Pacquiao could be out between nine and 12 months as long as his rehabilitation progresses well.
“We have an MRI scan that confirms he has a rotator cuff tear. He has a significant tear,” the doctor of the Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic told ESPN.
El Attrache is one of the most respected surgeons in North America. He had operated on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke and Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
The May 2 match at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was one of the most anticipated showdowns in boxing history and the richest fight ever with revenues of about $400 million.
Chief trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao sustained the injury on April 4 while throwing a right hook and his arms got tangled with that of his sparring partner.
They had the injury examined on April 6 and found out about the tear. They did not disclose the injury right away, hoping it would heal in time by resting it. They cancelled sparring for one week, under the guise that Pacquiao was peaking too soon.
After surgery, Pacquiao has to rest for five to six weeks without strenuous activities. In total, he’s expected to be out of commission from nine months to a year. The ever-optimistic Pacquiao, however, said he believes it would heal in five to six months.
“After examination, It was determined that the best method and approach is for Manny to have surgery,” Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser, said. “Manny is doing OK.”
However, as Pacquiao has said several times, he makes no excuses and that he gave his best in the May 2 bout.
While Pacquiao can bear with the shoulder pain, he’s hurting inside.
No matter the reason, he has failed in in his quest to topple Mayweather from his lofty perch in boxing.
“Manny did the best he could under the circumstances,” Koncz said. “We have to give Floyd credit, too. Floyd was the better man [Saturday] night. Floyd did a tremendous job, and he won the fight.”
Clearly, however, Pacquiao was far from his usual fiery form when he tangled with Mayweather.
The 429 punches Pacquiao threw were the fewest in his 20-year ring career for a 12-round fight.
Mayweather, a master defender, even outpunched (435) him. Pacquiao only landed a total of 81 punches, also the least ever. The power punches Mayweather unleashed matched Pacquiao’s output.
It was only during the post-fight conference that Pacquiao’s injury was revealed.
Nevada Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said the NAC had denied Pacquiao’s request to take an anti-inflammatory shot in his shoulder in his dressing room because there was no formal request.
It was also made too late, just two hours before the welterweight unification title showdown started at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Arum, Top Rank Promotions chief, said the NAC had been told of the injury shortly and that they had filed a request that Pacquiao be allowed to receive anti-inflammatory shots. The numbing agents had been approved by the US Anti-Doping Agency, which conducted random testing on both Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Despite the injury, Pacquiao said he fought the undefeated Mayweather: I don’t want to make alibis.
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