Pacquiao camp sets deadline for Mayweather bout

Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, has given Floyd Mayweather's camp a deadline of Monday to settle a blood test row and salvage their fight. The welterweight pair were due to meet on 13 March but the fight was called off last week over the issue. The American's camp were told by Pacquiao's people that the Filipino would not agree to blood-testing in the 30 days prior to the fight. Arum wants the Nevada State Athletic Commission to rule on the matter. He wants a hearing on the matter on 19 January and said on Sunday that that if Mayweather's camp does not agree to allow Nevada officials to decide when and how to conduct blood tests, he will sign a deal for Pacquiao to instead face Paulie Malignaggi. "We'll go along with what the Nevada commission decides," Arum said. "We want this fight to go forward." BEN DIRS' BLOG This was boxing's big chance to emerge from the slump. If the dunces can't sort this mess out, many will think the sport is not worth forgiving. The fight, due to take place in Las Vegas, was expected to be the richest of all time. Pacquiao has said he will file a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather for accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs. If the blood feud does scuttle the bout in March, there is a chance it could be staged later this year, but that is not likely to take place until after each fighter has met another opponent in the ring. Pacquiao, 31, became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Las Vegas-based Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8432085.stm

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El_Cholo5954

Manny Pacquiao has reiterated his demand not to be blood tested within 30 days of a proposed showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jnr as rival promoters attempt to save the fight. The Filipino was set to meet Mayweather Jnr on March 13 in Las Vegas but a dispute over the drug testing procedures is threatening to derail the long-awaited meeting between two of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. Mayweather Jnr wants US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) protocols, including random blood tests at any point before the fight, which was a deal breaker to Pacquiao, who said such tests too near the bout would weaken him. "I'm still willing to fight Floyd Mayweather. I never said the fight was off or I do not want to fight him," Pacquiao said in a blog posting on his official website. "I'll fight anyone at any time and my record and past fights prove that. I have never and will never dodge anyone." On his unwillingness to allow himself to be blood tested close to fight day, he added: "The truth is taking blood out of my body does not seem natural to me and mentally I feel it will weaken me if blood is taken from me just days before the fight. "That does not make sense to me, why anyone would do that." Mayweather Jnr's representative, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, told ESPN that he had backed off USADA rules but would insist upon testing within 30 days of the fight as representatives of rival promoters tried to thrash out a deal. "We know that 30 days before is not effective. At 30 days, we might as well not even do it," Schaefer said. "It is a matter of the two sides working out the specifics of the cut off date to assure it will still be effective." Frustrating Schaefer called the shifting positions in talks frustrating and questioned Pacquiao's desire to face Mayweather Jnr. "I don't know how to explain it other than maybe Pacquiao doesn't want the Mayweather fight," he added. Pacquiao, however, made his position equally clear in his posting. "If Floyd Mayweather Jnr truly ever wanted to fight me and he is not really scared, he would accept these terms I am willing to give him as they are above and beyond what the (Nevada) commission demands," Pacquiao said. "I hope Floyd is not really a coward and will fight me and give the fans what they want to see. I am not afraid to fight Floyd anywhere any time." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_5804265,00.html

16y ago