MANNY Pacquiao underwent surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 6, for a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder and is expected to make a full recovery.
Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the 90-minute procedure and said he could not be “more pleased with the results.”
ElAttrache told ESPN on Monday, May 4, that if the surgery went as expected and if rehab is successful, Pacquiao could be back in training in about six months.
“At that point he will be regaining strength and endurance and competition is reasonable within nine months to a year,” ElAttrache said.
Pacquiao sustained the injury to his shoulder in early April during a sparring session in preparation for the fight of the century against the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr. It was one he did not report to the Nevada State Athletic Commission on his pre-fight medical questionnaire, an action that could lead to a fine and suspension.
When Pacquiao’s injury was confirmed in April, his orthopedist told the boxer’s camp he could take an injection with lidocaine, an anesthetic, during the fight if he desired. The anesthetic was approved by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency but was not properly communicated to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
As a result, the commission denied Pacquiao’s request to take the shot, which he made just hours before the fight.
Pacquiao has said he never wanted to reveal his injury, which was exacerbated during the fourth round of the fight. However, after his promoter, Bob Arum, disclosed it to reporters, he entertained follow-up questions.
Because the public was not informed of Pacquiao’s torn rotator cuff before the May 2 fight, the Filipino boxer now faces several lawsuits – one in Las Vegas, two in California, one in Illinois and one in Texas. The plaintiffs who filed suit in Las Vegas say in the court filing that the legal action is on behalf of those who paid to watch the fight in-person and on pay-per-view, as well as those who bet on the bout.
On Tuesday, Mayweather sent a text to ESPN’s Stephen Smith indicating he would be open to a rematch against Pacquiao after he recovers from surgery. However, in a follow-up interview with Showtime, he said he is ruling out a rematch. He said he did not detect an injury during the fight and called the injury an “excuse.”
“Did I text [the reporter] and say I will fight him again? Yeah, but I changed my mind,” Mayweather said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward… If you lost, accept the loss and say, ‘Mayweather, you were the better fighter.’”
(With reports from CNN, ESPN.com, Los Angeles Times)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend May 9-12, 2015 Sec. A pg.1)
