By Mark Vester
Trainer Freddie Roach is confident the mega-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will happen this year. He thinks the fight will land in October or November. Roach appeared on an ESPN radio affiliate 790TheZone. Top Rank's Bob Arum is flying out to the Philippines to support Pacquiao during his political campaign. Roach says the veteran promoter will sit down with Pacquiao to discuss the Mayweather fight.
Roach thinks the two sides will resolve the drug testing drama and make the fight happen. The two sides were unable to reach a deal earlier this year when they couldn't agree on the cut-off date for the random blood tests. Mayweather's side wanted the random Olympic style drug tests to continue until 14 days prior to the fight. Pacquiao wanted them to end 24-days prior to the fight. Roach is willing to meet them in the middle, at 17 or 18 days.
“Yes, it is going to happen. I just talked to Bob Arum yesterday. Bob is flying to the Philippines to make Manny the offer. We are going to make this work the best we can. I think we have enough ammo to get it done quickly because there is a lot of money out there. We’re going to meet in the middle [on the drug tests]. They wanted 14. We wanted 24. [We'll do] 17, 18-days," Roach said. "They are talking October, November. Definitely [to happen] before the year is out."
