MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) – Seven-division champ and Sarangani Congressman-elect Manny Pacquiao has agreed to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s demand that he undergo a blood test 14 days before the fight, clearing an obstacle to talks for their much-awaited bout.
“Pumayag naman ako pero hindi yung talagang maraming dugo na kukunin. Kung anong dugo ang kelangan sa drug test, ganoon lang karami. Fourteen days [before the fight],” Pacquiao told ABS-CBN News' Dyan Castillejo..
The reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion said he softened his stand after listening to boxing fans’ clamor for a mega fight between him and Mayweather.
“Everywhere I go… gusto talaga nila ng Mayweather fight. [They ask me] over and over,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao made the decision to fight the former pound-for-pound king weeks after he received permission from his mother, Dionisia Pacquiao, for one last bout.
The blood test controversy was the reason the negotiations between the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps collapsed early this year.
The two would have fought last March 13, but Mayweather ended up fighting Shane Mosley and Pacquiao battling Ghana's Joshua Clottey.
Pacquiao’s camp earlier agreed to undergo tests 24 days before the fight, but Mayweather’s group insisted that blood should be taken 14 days prior to the fight.
Drug test real reason?
The Filipino champ said he’d like to find out whether the drug test is really the reason why Mayweather backed out from the negotiations early this year.
“Para wala na siyang masabi at hindi na maraming dahilan pa. Tignan ko kung ‘yan talaga ang dahilan,” said Pacquiao.
He said he earlier frowned on Mayweather’s demands, arguing that fighters should not meddle with boxing commission rules.
“Boxer naman ako eh, kung ako lang, ba't ko pa pakikialaman ang trabaho ng mga commission ‘di ba? Kaya nga tayo may commission kasi sila nang bahala sa mga rules,” said Pacquiao.
Following Pacquiao's decision, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is expected to negotiate with Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Mayweather’s fights.
18 days before in Floyd-Shane fight
Blood test as the drug protocol is the personal requirement for Mayweather. Athletic commissions require urine tests on boxers as the form of drug testing, and Pacquiao has never had a problem
Arum said he learned the last day for blood testing used by Mayweather and "Sugar" Shane Mosley in their recent fight was 18 days prior to the fight.
"The USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) stopped the blood test... they took 5 or 6 tests but the last one was 18 days for Mosley and 19 days for Mayweather," he told Castillejo in a phone interview.
Jinkee: Manny can beat Floyd
Even Pacquiao’s wife wants the fight, which could turn out to be the richest in recent boxing history.
“Excited na rin ako sa Mayweather fight kasi pagkatapos n’yan, p’wede na siyang mag-stop,” said Jinkee.
Jinkee is confident her husband will beat up the outspoken Mayweather.
“Kayang kaya niya ’yan,” she said
*will translate quotes into English next post
Let her talk loud and long,she will be throwing up like Hatton's girlfriend when Mayweather knocks that guy out.It's gonna be a painful night for the Philipines,I wonder how many people will die when their god gets knocked out
Let her talk loud and long,she will be throwing up like Hatton's girlfriend when Mayweather knocks that guy out.It's gonna be a painful night for the Philipines,I wonder how many people will die when their god gets knocked out
lol your translation sucks! Jinkee vs Floyd in november
haha.floyd by ud over jinkee...lol..
all i can say is everyone is asking for this fight,even pacmans wife..all I can say to Jinkee is becareful what you wish for.
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