By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The negotiations for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megabout slated for the MGM in Las Vegas, thought to be near death, may yet be revived, thanks to the potential involvement of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, told FanHouse moments ago.
Pacquaio's refusal to allow the United States Anti-Doping Agency to draw blood within a 30-day period of the bout's March 13 date was in direct disagreement with the demands of Mayweather's camp, which wants both fighters to be randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs.
As a result, Arum told FanHouse earlier on Thursday that the fight was off.
But Arum, apparently, has changed his mind.
"Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, has been authorized to offer the services of the Nevada Commission to step in and to do all of the prefight drug-testing if the two fighters agree," said Arum.
"So that is a real development, because we would certainly be willing to sit down and work out a protocol with them. The Nevada Commission would be perfect to handle this," said Arum. "The commission has suggested it, and we're very much in favor of it. We would love it. It's something that is a positive development."
In the event that the Mayweather-Pacquiao deal was off, Arum already had contacted junior welterweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five KOs) as a possible opponent for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs).
Lou DiBella, Malignaggi's promoter, confirmed that he and Malignaggi would discuss the offer over the weekend.
"Obviously, we're not going to conclude the deal with Malignaggi until Monday," said Arum. "So let's see what happens between now and over the weekend. Now that the Nevada Commission has stepped up, I think that it might very well solve the situation."
Arum said that he was informed "about an hour ago" about the interest of Kizer, whose organization never has used blood-testing for illegal drugs -- only urinalysis before and after fights.
Pacquiao wanted the USADA only to test him three times -- once in January, once on Feb. 13 or 30 days from the fight, and, once more in the locker room afterward.
"But if the Nevada Commission was doing it, then we would agree to do as many tests as they wanted to do -- urine and blood -- up to a certain date to be agreed upon," said Arum.
"The Nevada Commission will do it appropriately. That's terrific," said Arum. "In other words, we wouldn't limit it to a certain number of tests because we know that the Nevada Commission won't harass the fighters. "
Pacquiao has fought 11 times in Las Vegas, and has tested clean every time, said Kizer, who could not be reached for comment. Arum said that he would be willing to work out a protocol with Kizer based on trust.
"We would sit down with Mayweather's side and say, 'Here's what we're prepared to do with the Nevada Commission.' And then, the other side would sit down and say what they would be prepared to do," said Arum. "And then, the commission would then take it from there, and hold random urinalysis and random blood tests."
Arum said that he has not spoken about the new developments with Pacquiao, who already is celebrating Christmas in the Philippines.
But Arum believes that the seven-division champion would be willing to relent on his 30-day demand with the NSAC.
"I would think that they [the commission] may say they'll do it up to two weeks in front or up to 10 days in front of the fight or something like that," said Arum. "I think that if it's the Nevada Commission, we would have no hesitation because we've been regulated by the Nevada Commission, and they've had many of my fights and my fighters over many years."
Arum said that he is not sure how the side of Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) will react, but said that Golden Boy promotions' Richard Schaefer, negotiating on Mayweather's behalf, has been contacted.
"We would be willing to put this all in the hands of the Nevada Commission," said Arum. "We have complete trust in their integrity and their ability to deal with professional fighters. We have complete confidence."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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