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2 female reporters claim they were blocked from tonight’s Pacquiao-Mayweather fight

Who is responsible for pulling the credentials of two popular female sports personalities?

Photo of Mike Wehner

Mike Wehner

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Just hours before what is sure to be a record-breaking boxing showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, two extremely accomplished sports reporters—CNN’s Rachel Nichols and ESPN’s Michelle Beadle—have come forward with claims that their press credentials for the fight have been pulled by Mayweather’s camp.

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In addition to being a future hall of fame boxer—currently holding an undefeated record ahead of his highly anticipated bout with fellow star Pacquiao—Mayweather also has a long history of domestic violence issues. 

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The 38-year-old has had several convictions for domestic violence against multiple women, and while neither of the reporters have outright claimed that their extensive reporting on the issue is the reason their access was pulled, it is strongly implied. 

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Perhaps not surprisingly, Mayweather’s camp has been quick to respond, claiming that both reporters are indeed still credentialed, and that nobody on Mayweather’s side has taken action to revoke their access. 

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However, Sports Illustrated has stepped in on the side of the reporters, noting that in the most recent seating chart for the event, Nichols is not listed as being credentialed. 

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The evidence seems to support the claims that access was revoked by someone, and given that both women—who work for two different broadcasting companies—were told that it was Mayweather’s team that was responsible for their credentials being axed, it’s one heck of a coincidence at the very least. 

Update 6:58pm CT, May 2: Nichols explained in a tweet what happened in the lead-up to the fight. 

Photo via Floyd Mayweather/Facebook

 
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