The Australian
THE season of goodwill was not evident in the sport of boxing on Christmas Eve with the biggest bout in history threatened to implode.
Manny Pacquiao’s meeting with Floyd Mayweather Jr had seemed set for the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on March 13, until a disagreement over drug testing raised tensions between the camps.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said the bout was “dead”. But with a potential $US80 million ($90m) purse it is hard to believe that things will not be sorted out.
Negotiations were supposed to be confidential, but a press release was circulated on Wedneday from Mayweather’s team, saying that the bout would be in jeopardy unless Pacquiao agreed to drug testing by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which meant blood tests.
Soon after Pacquiao demolished Miguel Cotto last month, Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr, shared his belief that the Filipino’s incredible move up the weight divisions had been with the aid of unfair methods, despite a complete lack of evidence to back this up.
Pacquiao said he would have a blood test after the bout and 30 days before the bout, but would agree only to urine tests in the weeks leading up to the bout, as outlined by Nevada State rules. Yesterday, no one in Pacquiao’s team was backing down, saying that a blood test before the bout could weaken their man. “As far as I’m concerned, the fight is off,” Arum said.
Arum is Mayweather’s former promoter and there is no love lost between the pair. He was in favour of the bout being held at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where six times as many fans would have been able to watch, only for Mayweather to insist on Las Vegas, where he lives.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said that the drug testing is a front for Mayweather. “There is no reason to think my fighter is dirty,” Roach told the website 8CountNews. “We have passed every test ever given to us.”
Source: theaustralian.com.au
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