Pacquiao admits shoulder injury, but refuses to use it as an excuse

Manny Pacquiao admitted that he fought Floyd Mayweather with an injury after he hurt his right shoulder in training.

In his post-fight press conference, Pacquiao said he wasn't able to do things he needed to do because of his injury.

He had his best moments in the fight in the fourth round, when he tagged Mayweather with a left straight that staggered the unbeaten American champion.

When asked why he wasn't able to follow through, he answered: "It was because my shoulder hurt."

Pacquiao, however, added that he didn't want to complain and that "it was part of the game."

"I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough," said Pacquiao. "I don't want to make any alibis or excuses but it was a good fight. I will have to review the tapes."

Shoulder tear

Trainer Freddie Roach said the injury occurred after Pacquiao collided with another fighter during sparring and their arms got entangled.

An MRI exam subsequently revealed a tear in the Filipino southpaw's right shoulder, though Roach said the boxer had since made good progress and he felt that he could still compete in the ring.

"You guys saw the fight yourself. When you review the film, you'll see how infrequently he threw the right," said Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum.

While Mayweather landed 148-of-435 punches during the 12-round four-title unification bout, Pacquiao connected with just 81-of-429 as his all-out, attacking style was neutralised by the American's brilliant defence.

"He was moving around too much," said eight-division world champion Pacquiao, who usually relies on his lightning-fast hand and foot speed in the ring.

"It wasn't easy throwing punches at him. If he would have stayed in one place, then I could have thrown punches.

"I was cutting him off and countering. I wanted to fight. I was very surprised at the score. I had no problem handling his power. I thought I was up in the fight, so that's why I didn't attack harder in the 11th and 12th rounds."

Like Pacquiao, Roach thought they had done enough to win the fight.

"I thought we pulled it out," said the shrewd trainer. "We pressed the action. I asked Manny for more combinations between the round. I thought he fought flat-footed too many times."

Denied an injection

He had hoped to receive an anti-inflammatory injection before the fight, which he said he had done with the approval of the US Anti-Doping Agency during training camp.

But the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which oversees boxing in the state, denied permission for the shot.

Athletic commission chairman Francisco Aguilar refuted Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum's claim that the fighter's camp had alerted officials to the injury days before the fight, and filed a request for the anti-inflammatory shot.

"We were not aware of the injury until 6:30 tonight," he said.

'I had injuries too'

Mayweather, for his part, had little sympathy.

"I had injuries also going into this fight," the victor said.

"And if he would have come out victorious, I would have said you know what I've got to show respect and say he was the better man," added Mayweather, who said both of his arms and both hands were injured.

"But I will always find a way to win," Mayweather said.

"I was born a winner. I wanna die a winner. To win is all I know," said Mayweather. -- with Reuters and Agence France-Presse/JST, GMA News