But Pacquiao's camp is claiming
he had a right shoulder injury that he suffered three to four weeks
before the fight. He had taken anti-inflammatory shots that were
approved by the United States Anti-Doping Agency during camp. He
requested to take a shot after arriving in his locker room shortly after
6 p.m. PT, but was denied by the Nevada Athletic Commission.
Trainer Freddie Roach said the
injury occurred when Pacquiao threw a right hand during camp
approximately a month ago. There was no doctor available to explain the
injury, but Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said it was the same injury that
Lakers star Kobe Bryant suffered that ended his 2014-2015 season.
Bryant had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.
One source said he might need
surgery that could keep him out for up to nine months, but that was not
confirmed at the news conference.
"We
felt the [rehabilitative] work that was done on the shoulder duing
training would give him the opportunity to use the right hand," promoter
Bob Arum said. "We were disappointed when in the third round the injury
kicked up again, but this is always the case in sport. ... He heals
the injury, thinks he’s conquered it and it flares up again."
The drugs he wanted to take
were not performance-enhancing, but because he checked on a medical form
that he had no injuries, the commission denied him the shot. The drugs
were Bupivacaine, Celestone and Lidocaine.
