Manny Pacquiao will have shoulder surgery to repair a "significant tear" in his right rotator cuff, according to ESPN.
Pacquiao sustained the injury while training before his May 2 fight in Las Vegas against Floyd Mayweather Jr., which Mayweather won by unanimous decision.
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After the fight, Pacquiao said he aggravated the shoulder injury during the third round and fought through the soreness. His doctor, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, told ESPN on Monday that Pacquiao would need surgery and will miss nine to 12 months.
Pacquiao's team released a statement earlier Monday regarding his decision to fight through the injury. It again faulted the Nevada Athletic Commission for not allowing Pacquiao to receive an injection of the anti-inflammatory drug Toradol on fight night.
From the statement:
Manny continued to train and his shoulder improved, though not 100%. This is boxing, injuries happen, and Manny is a warrior. Again, in consultation with his doctors, promoter and advisors, Manny decided to proceed with the fight anticipating that he could receive his pre-fight treatment. That specific treatment had been approved by USADA in writing at least 5 days before the fight.
On his pre-fight medical form filled out earlier in the week, Manny’s advisors listed the medications that Manny used in training and the medications that might be used on fight night. A few hours before he was expected to step in the ring, when Manny’s doctors began the process, the Nevada Commission stopped the treatment because it said it was unaware of Manny’s shoulder injury.
This was disappointing to Team Pacquiao since they had disclosed the injury and treatment to USADA, contract with the fighters to the Commission. An hour before the fight, Manny’s advisors asked the Commission to reconsider and the director of USADA advised the Commission that USADA had approved the fight-night treatment, but the Commission denied the request.
With the advice of his doctors, Manny still decided to proceed with the fight. His shoulder wasn’t perfect but it had improved in training camp. However, as Manny has said multiple times, he makes no excuses. Manny gave it his best.
Francisco Aguilar, chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission, said he was never told Pacquiao was injured.
“They never filed any legal paperwork with the commission prior to the fight that he was hurt. We had Dr. (Timothy) Trainor and Dr. (James) Game check him out, and it was an easy decision on our part,” Aguilar said, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
“I need proof that an injury exists, and I had no proof. It’s our job to keep the integrity of the sport,” Aguilar added.
UPDATE: Aguilar told reporters that the Nevada attorney general's office will investigate why Pacquiao said on his pre-fight questionnaire that he wasn't injured.
"We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances," Aguilar said, per The Associated Press. "At some point we will have some discussion. As a licensee of the commission you want to make sure fighters are giving you up-to-date information."
Aguilar told reporters Pacquiao checked "no" on the form. The fighter could be fined or suspended for giving an inaccurate answer.
Sporting News Media's Tom Gatto contributed to this report.