By Gavin Browne, Manchester Evening News
MATTHEW Hatton has told of his shock and surprise at being linked with a possible fight against Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
Having drawn his IBO welterweight title challenge against Lovemore N'Dou, the younger Hatton found himself at the centre of speculation linking him with a Mayweather meeting.
The American had been due to fight Manny Pacquiao but that appears in doubt with rows over drug testing and possible legal action by Pacquiao against the Mayweather camp.
As a result, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive with stories that 'Magic' is in line to face Mayweather, acknowledged as the sport's pound-for-pound king and the first man to beat elder brother Ricky.
"It was very surprising to be linked with him," admitted Hatton.
"I was at a friend's party when Gareth Williams from my promotional company phoned and said that Golden Boy Promotions wanted to know if I'd be interested in fighting Floyd.
"I asked him if he was being serious but Floyd's very keen on fighting in England and they asked if I'd be up for it.
"I didn't have to think about it for one second. I think it's unlikely but if the Pacquiao fight doesn't come off I'm at the top of their list of opponents.
"I'm pretty sure things would get sorted between Floyd and Manny but Floyd's camp have been in touch two or three times with mine.
"I won't get carried away though at the prospect of fighting him in case it doesn't come off but he's the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and to share a ring with him would be amazing."
Should the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps come to an agreement, Hatton is keen on a rematch with N'Dou during 2010.
Having initially ruled out any prospect of facing N'Dou following their contentious draw, `Magic' has subsequently relented.
He said: "Ideally I'd like to fight him again because no matter what the judges say, I know I beat him on the night.
"I know I said I wouldn't travel to South Africa or Australia because I wouldn't get the decision but I know I've got the beating of him."
Source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Mayweather keen on Magic? -- Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Matthew Hatton could be in line to fight Floyd Mayweather as doubts continue about the American's planned showdown with Manny Pacquiao.
Pretty Boy had been set to fight Pac-Man on March 13 but negotiations have hit a stumbling block due to a row over blood testing.
The disagreement has led to Golden Boy Promotions and Team Mayweather looking at possible alternative opponents - with Hatton emerging as one option.
The Mancunian admits he wouldn't hesitate to sign up for the fight, giving him the chance to avenge the defeat suffered by his older brother Ricky in 2007.
Surprising
"It was very surprising to be linked with him," Hatton told the Manchester Evening News.
"I was at a friend's party when Gareth Williams from my promotional company phoned and said that Golden Boy Promotions wanted to know if I'd be interested in fighting Floyd.
"I asked him if he was being serious but Floyd's very keen on fighting in England and they asked if I'd be up for it.
"I didn't have to think about it for one second. I think it's unlikely but if the Pacquiao fight doesn't come off I'm at the top of their list of opponents."
Another possible option for Hatton is a rematch with Lovemore N'Dou after the pair fought out a highly-contested draw in Stoke back in November.
The 28-year-old was far from happy with the decision by the judges as he missed out on claiming the IBO welterweight title.
"Ideally I'd like to fight him again because no matter what the judges say, I know I beat him on the night," Hatton added.
"I know I said I wouldn't travel to South Africa or Australia because I wouldn't get the decision but I know I've got the beating of him."
Source: skysports.com
Matthew Hatton could be in line to fight Floyd Mayweather as doubts continue about the American's planned showdown with Manny Pacquiao.
Pretty Boy had been set to fight Pac-Man on March 13 but negotiations have hit a stumbling block due to a row over blood testing.
The disagreement has led to Golden Boy Promotions and Team Mayweather looking at possible alternative opponents - with Hatton emerging as one option.
The Mancunian admits he wouldn't hesitate to sign up for the fight, giving him the chance to avenge the defeat suffered by his older brother Ricky in 2007.
Surprising
"It was very surprising to be linked with him," Hatton told the Manchester Evening News.
"I was at a friend's party when Gareth Williams from my promotional company phoned and said that Golden Boy Promotions wanted to know if I'd be interested in fighting Floyd.
"I asked him if he was being serious but Floyd's very keen on fighting in England and they asked if I'd be up for it.
"I didn't have to think about it for one second. I think it's unlikely but if the Pacquiao fight doesn't come off I'm at the top of their list of opponents."
Another possible option for Hatton is a rematch with Lovemore N'Dou after the pair fought out a highly-contested draw in Stoke back in November.
The 28-year-old was far from happy with the decision by the judges as he missed out on claiming the IBO welterweight title.
"Ideally I'd like to fight him again because no matter what the judges say, I know I beat him on the night," Hatton added.
"I know I said I wouldn't travel to South Africa or Australia because I wouldn't get the decision but I know I've got the beating of him."
Source: skysports.com
PACQUIAO WILL ABIDE BY NEVADA DEMAND FOR URINE TEST -- PhilBoxing
By Ronnie Nathanielsz, PhilBoxing.com
Manny Pacquiao who is spending time with his family in his hometown of General Santos City and playing basketball to stay in shape, will fly to Manila tomorrow (Wednesday Philippine time) to comply with a directive from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to undergo a urinalysis.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said Pacquiao will comply but there was no way he would fly to the US to provide a urine sample.
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports contacted Koncz early Tuesday to inform Pacquiao about the latest ruling of the Chairwoman of the NSAC, Pat Lundvall, who invoked the right of the Commission to require both Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr to submit themselves to random urine tests.
Executive Director Keith Kizer informed us about the directive from Lundvall to have both Pacquiao and Mayweather who were scheduled to face-off in a March 13 super-fight to provide urine samples, since they are both licensed by the NSAC and are subject to these kinds of tests no matter whether the fight takes place or not.
Boxing writer Dan Rafael quoted Lundvall as saying that random testing “is the best way to evaluate the compliance with our rules and regulations against prohibited substances and the primary reason for that is that an athlete doesn't have time to cycle out or flush out any prohibited substances, and therefore random testing is the best thing to employ, which is why I thought it was a good idea for Keith (Kizer) to inform these fighters that we would like to have a sample and move forward with our random testing."
The head of the Boxing Division of the Games and Amusements Board which is the Philippine government agency that supervises professional sports, Dr. Nasser Cruz told us that “the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accredited Dr.Alex Pineda from the Philippine Olympic Committee” to conduct such tests. Dr. Cruz said "He (Dr. Pineda) is the only one accredited by WADA” and since he is in Metro Manila, Pacquiao will have to fly in Wednesday to provide a urine sample.
Meantime, the HBO 24/7 pre-fight series prior to the Pacquiao demolition of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton last May 2 showed footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his pre-fight medical exam in Los Angeles which he does before each fight. In fact, prior to his first clash with Erik “El Terrible” Morales, the records of his Los Angeles blood and others tests were lost and Pacquiao was ordered by the NSAC to undergo another blood test a couple of days before the fight. Despite vehement protests Pacquiao was forced to take the test to prevent the possibility of the Commission not allowing the fight to take place. Trainer Freddie Roach said later that the late blood test had affected Pacquiao and that was one of the reasons he lost to Morales in their first fight.
The HBO series indicated that the blood test on Pacquiao was conducted some 14 days before the fight. Rafael quotes Top Rank promoter Bob Arum as saying "I will transmit it [word of Pacquiao's '24/7' test] to Manny once [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and [the Mayweather camp] makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with.” Arum said “If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny" to possibly take the test within the same time frame of 14 days.
However, Arum noted in his ESPN statement "It's a very good point to point out that Manny was tested so close to the [Hatton] fight. I'm not going to suggest anything to him though, until I hear from the other guys. They have to say, 'This is what Manny did. Here is what we propose.' Then I will bring it to Manny and say, 'Manny, look, you took this test however many days before the fight and it didn't affect you. Hey, you knocked him out in two rounds.'
Arum assumed that Pacquiao would listen to him but declined to make any promises. However, Arum made it clear he wanted the Mayweather camp “to make a formal proposal that this is the outside date for the blood testing based on Manny's prior test in 24/7 and then I will move mountains."
Source: philboxing.com
Manny Pacquiao who is spending time with his family in his hometown of General Santos City and playing basketball to stay in shape, will fly to Manila tomorrow (Wednesday Philippine time) to comply with a directive from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to undergo a urinalysis.
Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said Pacquiao will comply but there was no way he would fly to the US to provide a urine sample.
www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports contacted Koncz early Tuesday to inform Pacquiao about the latest ruling of the Chairwoman of the NSAC, Pat Lundvall, who invoked the right of the Commission to require both Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr to submit themselves to random urine tests.
Executive Director Keith Kizer informed us about the directive from Lundvall to have both Pacquiao and Mayweather who were scheduled to face-off in a March 13 super-fight to provide urine samples, since they are both licensed by the NSAC and are subject to these kinds of tests no matter whether the fight takes place or not.
Boxing writer Dan Rafael quoted Lundvall as saying that random testing “is the best way to evaluate the compliance with our rules and regulations against prohibited substances and the primary reason for that is that an athlete doesn't have time to cycle out or flush out any prohibited substances, and therefore random testing is the best thing to employ, which is why I thought it was a good idea for Keith (Kizer) to inform these fighters that we would like to have a sample and move forward with our random testing."
The head of the Boxing Division of the Games and Amusements Board which is the Philippine government agency that supervises professional sports, Dr. Nasser Cruz told us that “the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accredited Dr.Alex Pineda from the Philippine Olympic Committee” to conduct such tests. Dr. Cruz said "He (Dr. Pineda) is the only one accredited by WADA” and since he is in Metro Manila, Pacquiao will have to fly in Wednesday to provide a urine sample.
Meantime, the HBO 24/7 pre-fight series prior to the Pacquiao demolition of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton last May 2 showed footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his pre-fight medical exam in Los Angeles which he does before each fight. In fact, prior to his first clash with Erik “El Terrible” Morales, the records of his Los Angeles blood and others tests were lost and Pacquiao was ordered by the NSAC to undergo another blood test a couple of days before the fight. Despite vehement protests Pacquiao was forced to take the test to prevent the possibility of the Commission not allowing the fight to take place. Trainer Freddie Roach said later that the late blood test had affected Pacquiao and that was one of the reasons he lost to Morales in their first fight.
The HBO series indicated that the blood test on Pacquiao was conducted some 14 days before the fight. Rafael quotes Top Rank promoter Bob Arum as saying "I will transmit it [word of Pacquiao's '24/7' test] to Manny once [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and [the Mayweather camp] makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with.” Arum said “If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny" to possibly take the test within the same time frame of 14 days.
However, Arum noted in his ESPN statement "It's a very good point to point out that Manny was tested so close to the [Hatton] fight. I'm not going to suggest anything to him though, until I hear from the other guys. They have to say, 'This is what Manny did. Here is what we propose.' Then I will bring it to Manny and say, 'Manny, look, you took this test however many days before the fight and it didn't affect you. Hey, you knocked him out in two rounds.'
Arum assumed that Pacquiao would listen to him but declined to make any promises. However, Arum made it clear he wanted the Mayweather camp “to make a formal proposal that this is the outside date for the blood testing based on Manny's prior test in 24/7 and then I will move mountains."
Source: philboxing.com
Pacquiao: Floyd is scared -- Manila Bulletin
By NICK GIONGCO, Manila Bulletin
In between rounds of pool, Manny Pacquiao kept on telling just about anyone who bothered to ask him about the status of Floyd Mayweather the same thing all over again.
“Mayweather is scared (to fight me),” said Pacquiao, according to his lawyer Franklin Gacal yesterday.
Since returning to General Santos on Christmas day, Pacquiao has been spending more time with his family and playing one of his many passions – billiards – during night-time until morning.
“He’s just playing every night, relaxing and waiting for developments,” said Gacal.
As camps of both fighters find a way to save the fight from being shelved owing to the touchy issue of drug-testing, Pacquiao remains a believer that
Mayweather is just trying to find a way out of the fight by insisting that an Olympic-style random testing be done so they can finally seal the deal and face each other on March 13, 2010.
On Tuesday, the deadline that was imposed by Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum on Mayweather finally lapsed but Mayweather’s camp said they’re not closing the doors about a possible renewal of talks.
Pacquiao and Mayweather have been guaranteed to receive $25 million each on purse alone and both punchers can go home with as high as $40 million apiece after all the accounting is done.
Mayweather has agreed to a penalty of $10 million per pound in the event he weighs past 147 lbs and is using this as leverage for Pacquiao to his own demand for random testing. (Tempo Sports)
Source: mb.com.ph
In between rounds of pool, Manny Pacquiao kept on telling just about anyone who bothered to ask him about the status of Floyd Mayweather the same thing all over again.
“Mayweather is scared (to fight me),” said Pacquiao, according to his lawyer Franklin Gacal yesterday.
Since returning to General Santos on Christmas day, Pacquiao has been spending more time with his family and playing one of his many passions – billiards – during night-time until morning.
“He’s just playing every night, relaxing and waiting for developments,” said Gacal.
As camps of both fighters find a way to save the fight from being shelved owing to the touchy issue of drug-testing, Pacquiao remains a believer that
Mayweather is just trying to find a way out of the fight by insisting that an Olympic-style random testing be done so they can finally seal the deal and face each other on March 13, 2010.
On Tuesday, the deadline that was imposed by Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum on Mayweather finally lapsed but Mayweather’s camp said they’re not closing the doors about a possible renewal of talks.
Pacquiao and Mayweather have been guaranteed to receive $25 million each on purse alone and both punchers can go home with as high as $40 million apiece after all the accounting is done.
Mayweather has agreed to a penalty of $10 million per pound in the event he weighs past 147 lbs and is using this as leverage for Pacquiao to his own demand for random testing. (Tempo Sports)
Source: mb.com.ph
Arum to ask Pacquiao to rethink blood objection -- Reuters
By Simon Evans, Reuters
MIAMI (Reuters) - World champion Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum says he will ask the boxer to reconsider his objection to blood testing, raising the prospect that the proposed bout with American Floyd Mayweather could yet go ahead.
Just hours after Arum said that he was going to announce a new opponent for world champion Pacquiao, Mayweather's camp highlighted footage from a television documentary that appeared to contradict Pacquiao's objection to blood testing close to the fight.
Pacquiao has balked at Mayweather's demand for random blood testing within 30 days of the fight, preferring urine testing as he says losing blood weakens him -- a stance which has threatened a highly anticipated and lucrative match-up.
But scenes from the HBO reality show 'Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7' which documented Pacquiao's build-up to his fight with Briton Ricky Hatton in May, showed the Filipino fighter giving blood.
Mayweather's camp said the scene was filmed just 14 days before the fight -- a fact Arum said he wanted to verify before speaking to his fighter.
"I will transmit it to Manny once (HBO Sports president) Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and (the Mayweather camp) makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with," Arum told ESPN.com.
"If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny," he said.
Arum had set a Monday deadline for Golden Boy to accept a "final offer" in which both sides let the Nevada State Athletic Commission make the final decision on testing.
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said that there was no question of accepting that proposal.
"Random is random. We are not backing off and the ball is in their court," he told Reuters.
Arum then threatened to find another opponent for Pacquiao which in turn prompted another sharp response from the Mayweather team in a statement on Monday.
"Let the record be clear: Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum are threatening to walk away from the largest fight in history," it said.
But the Mayweather camp also left the door open for further talks.
"Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions is still open to the earlier discussions of having both parties work out a mutually agreeable understanding of the testing, which would be conducted by a mutually agreed upon agency," the statement added.
Pacquiao won the WBO title in November by stopping holder Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas.
The Filipino (50-3-2) won an unprecedented seventh title in seven weight classes to set up the best pound-for-pound showdown against unbeaten Mayweather (40-0) in what was expected to be among boxing's biggest earning fights.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
Source: uk.reuters.com
MIAMI (Reuters) - World champion Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum says he will ask the boxer to reconsider his objection to blood testing, raising the prospect that the proposed bout with American Floyd Mayweather could yet go ahead.
Just hours after Arum said that he was going to announce a new opponent for world champion Pacquiao, Mayweather's camp highlighted footage from a television documentary that appeared to contradict Pacquiao's objection to blood testing close to the fight.
Pacquiao has balked at Mayweather's demand for random blood testing within 30 days of the fight, preferring urine testing as he says losing blood weakens him -- a stance which has threatened a highly anticipated and lucrative match-up.
But scenes from the HBO reality show 'Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7' which documented Pacquiao's build-up to his fight with Briton Ricky Hatton in May, showed the Filipino fighter giving blood.
Mayweather's camp said the scene was filmed just 14 days before the fight -- a fact Arum said he wanted to verify before speaking to his fighter.
"I will transmit it to Manny once (HBO Sports president) Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and (the Mayweather camp) makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with," Arum told ESPN.com.
"If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny," he said.
Arum had set a Monday deadline for Golden Boy to accept a "final offer" in which both sides let the Nevada State Athletic Commission make the final decision on testing.
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said that there was no question of accepting that proposal.
"Random is random. We are not backing off and the ball is in their court," he told Reuters.
Arum then threatened to find another opponent for Pacquiao which in turn prompted another sharp response from the Mayweather team in a statement on Monday.
"Let the record be clear: Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum are threatening to walk away from the largest fight in history," it said.
But the Mayweather camp also left the door open for further talks.
"Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions is still open to the earlier discussions of having both parties work out a mutually agreeable understanding of the testing, which would be conducted by a mutually agreed upon agency," the statement added.
Pacquiao won the WBO title in November by stopping holder Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas.
The Filipino (50-3-2) won an unprecedented seventh title in seven weight classes to set up the best pound-for-pound showdown against unbeaten Mayweather (40-0) in what was expected to be among boxing's biggest earning fights.
(Editing by Ian Ransom)
Source: uk.reuters.com
Golden Boy CEO: 'Trying to Save' Mayweather-Pacquiao -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
FanHouse caught up to Golden Boy Promotions' CEO, Richard Schaefer, whose company is handling the negotiations on behalf of Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) for the potential blockbuster bout with seven-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao, who is the current WBO welterweight (147 pounds) titlist.
Tentatively slated for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mayweather-Pacquaio was all-but done until a controversy surfaced over pre-fight drug-testing.
Mayweather's camp is demanding that both fighters be tested using random urinalysis and bloodwork; Pacquiao is fine with the urine-testing, but would prefer not to have blood drawn within 30 days of the fight.
Mayweather's side has softened its position of having the United States Anti-Doping Agency do the testing, just as Pacquaio's promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, seems to have eased up on the notion of random blood-testing, as long as it is done by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Arum stated that Monday is the last day to get the deal done, or he will move on to signing up Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) to face either New York's, junior middleweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five knockouts) or New York's WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Yuri Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) on March 13.
"I can't imagine Manny Pacquiao walking away from $25 million because he refuses to have blood and urine drawn, and then going off to do something else and making half of that," said Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe. "The clock is ticking, but I think that Manny Pacquiao will eventually step up and take the test."
Schaefer sheds his views on the state of affairs in this Q&A below:
FanHouse: Where are the negotiations now?
Richard Schaefer: Well, obviously, the fact that our side was requesting random blood and urine testing is something which the Nevada Athletic Commission is not doing. And based on the comments that I've read from Mr. [Keith] Kizer, I don't think that they are likely to adapt.
Basically, our position was that both sides would jointly agree on a procedure which would be random, which would be blood, and which would be urine, and which would be cut off prior to the fight at a reasonable time.
That time would be at two, three days, four days, whatever the right number of days are to insure that the integrity of the test can still be maintained. That was our position. That was one of the deal-points, like there were many other deal-points.
And the fact that Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum are not willing to do that and are setting these deadlines -- I think that they set another deadline, which was last Thursday, which came and went. Now, they're setting another one for today.
If they're going to impose these deadlines, I don't think that's a very good manner in which to conduct these negotiations. A better way would be to work out a mutually agreeable procedure. But it seems that they don't want to do that.
They've stated -- at least Bob Arum has stated -- that they are going to be moving ahead with another fight. I can't stop Arum from doing what he's doing. There's nothing we can do about that.
FH: Bob Arum has said that Top Rank president, Todd duBoef has tried to get in touch with Goldben Boys' Bruce Binkow today, so to your knowledge, has there been any contact between the two?
Schaefer: Well, Bruce has been trying to reach Todd for the last two days and to work out a procedure, but their position is clear: The cutoff for the random blood-testing is 30 days before the fight. Unless the Nevada Commission rules differently.
But again, this is not a commission issue, this is a contract issue. Just like many other issues were contract issues that had nothing to do with the commission. I think the commission should do the testing as they do, but this is a contract issue and not a commission issue.
So, I don't understand where they are coming from. So there's nothing to really add to that. I need to focus on either getting this fight done or not. If it does get done, great, then I'll be very busy. And if it doesn't, then we're going to be very busy too.
FH: At this point, what do you think it would take to make this fight?
Schaefer: What it would take is something which I recommended a week ago is that we would have Todd and Bruce pick up the phone and talk to each other and work out a reasonable procedure conducted by a third party agency that we would all mutually agree to.
Bruce has reached out to Todd many times, and the only thing that has been communicated to us is this final and last position, which I don't have to repeat. That's all that's been said. There's been no movement, no willingness to really work out anything.
I think that it is that hard-nosed negotiating which is going to ultimately kill the fight, because it sounds like to me that Bob Arum is already working on getting another fight done -- I believe with Paulie Malignaggi.
FH: If there was a third party involved or hired to do the blood-testing, who or what would it be?
Schaefer: I have some suggestions. One of which was actually the one which Top Rank had recommended, which is the agency that does the NFL and Major League Baseball [The National Center for Drug Free Sports, based in Kansas City, Mo.] The problem is they only do urine.
But I'm sure that if they do urine, they could probably retain someone else to do the blood testing as well. If it would be that agency, that would be okay with us as long as it's random, it's urine, it's blood, and it is cut off at a date prior to the fight which maintains the integrity of the tests.
FH: If the fight with Manny Pacquiao doesn't happen, would you still work with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on his next endeavor?
Schaefer: Floyd and myself and Mayweather promotions, we have a great relationship and we're growing into a friendship as well, so I absolutely think yes, as it relates to working together. As it relates to what's next for Floyd Mayweather, I don't really know. Because, unlike Bob Arum, we haven't looked at anything else.
If Arum walks away, then we obviously will be starting discussions in that regard. But right now, unlike Top Rank which has pretty much said for the last week, 'We don't need this, we don't need this' and has been setting deadlines, we have been trying to save the fight.
I wanted to make sure, and I want to make sure that we've exhausted all avenues to see if this fight can be saved. But it seems to me that, based again on the statements Bob Arum has been making -- 'final' and 'last offer' and 'deadlines' being Monday morning.
Based on the ultimatums that Top Rank has issued, it seems like this is not going to happen. It seems to me that they have made up their mind that they want to go in a different route. And if they're walking away from this, then they're walking away from this.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
FanHouse caught up to Golden Boy Promotions' CEO, Richard Schaefer, whose company is handling the negotiations on behalf of Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 knockouts) for the potential blockbuster bout with seven-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao, who is the current WBO welterweight (147 pounds) titlist.
Tentatively slated for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mayweather-Pacquaio was all-but done until a controversy surfaced over pre-fight drug-testing.
Mayweather's camp is demanding that both fighters be tested using random urinalysis and bloodwork; Pacquiao is fine with the urine-testing, but would prefer not to have blood drawn within 30 days of the fight.
Mayweather's side has softened its position of having the United States Anti-Doping Agency do the testing, just as Pacquaio's promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, seems to have eased up on the notion of random blood-testing, as long as it is done by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Arum stated that Monday is the last day to get the deal done, or he will move on to signing up Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) to face either New York's, junior middleweight (140 pounds) Paulie Malignaggi (27-3, five knockouts) or New York's WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion Yuri Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) on March 13.
"I can't imagine Manny Pacquiao walking away from $25 million because he refuses to have blood and urine drawn, and then going off to do something else and making half of that," said Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe. "The clock is ticking, but I think that Manny Pacquiao will eventually step up and take the test."
Schaefer sheds his views on the state of affairs in this Q&A below:
FanHouse: Where are the negotiations now?
Richard Schaefer: Well, obviously, the fact that our side was requesting random blood and urine testing is something which the Nevada Athletic Commission is not doing. And based on the comments that I've read from Mr. [Keith] Kizer, I don't think that they are likely to adapt.
Basically, our position was that both sides would jointly agree on a procedure which would be random, which would be blood, and which would be urine, and which would be cut off prior to the fight at a reasonable time.
That time would be at two, three days, four days, whatever the right number of days are to insure that the integrity of the test can still be maintained. That was our position. That was one of the deal-points, like there were many other deal-points.
And the fact that Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum are not willing to do that and are setting these deadlines -- I think that they set another deadline, which was last Thursday, which came and went. Now, they're setting another one for today.
If they're going to impose these deadlines, I don't think that's a very good manner in which to conduct these negotiations. A better way would be to work out a mutually agreeable procedure. But it seems that they don't want to do that.
They've stated -- at least Bob Arum has stated -- that they are going to be moving ahead with another fight. I can't stop Arum from doing what he's doing. There's nothing we can do about that.
FH: Bob Arum has said that Top Rank president, Todd duBoef has tried to get in touch with Goldben Boys' Bruce Binkow today, so to your knowledge, has there been any contact between the two?
Schaefer: Well, Bruce has been trying to reach Todd for the last two days and to work out a procedure, but their position is clear: The cutoff for the random blood-testing is 30 days before the fight. Unless the Nevada Commission rules differently.
But again, this is not a commission issue, this is a contract issue. Just like many other issues were contract issues that had nothing to do with the commission. I think the commission should do the testing as they do, but this is a contract issue and not a commission issue.
So, I don't understand where they are coming from. So there's nothing to really add to that. I need to focus on either getting this fight done or not. If it does get done, great, then I'll be very busy. And if it doesn't, then we're going to be very busy too.
FH: At this point, what do you think it would take to make this fight?
Schaefer: What it would take is something which I recommended a week ago is that we would have Todd and Bruce pick up the phone and talk to each other and work out a reasonable procedure conducted by a third party agency that we would all mutually agree to.
Bruce has reached out to Todd many times, and the only thing that has been communicated to us is this final and last position, which I don't have to repeat. That's all that's been said. There's been no movement, no willingness to really work out anything.
I think that it is that hard-nosed negotiating which is going to ultimately kill the fight, because it sounds like to me that Bob Arum is already working on getting another fight done -- I believe with Paulie Malignaggi.
FH: If there was a third party involved or hired to do the blood-testing, who or what would it be?
Schaefer: I have some suggestions. One of which was actually the one which Top Rank had recommended, which is the agency that does the NFL and Major League Baseball [The National Center for Drug Free Sports, based in Kansas City, Mo.] The problem is they only do urine.
But I'm sure that if they do urine, they could probably retain someone else to do the blood testing as well. If it would be that agency, that would be okay with us as long as it's random, it's urine, it's blood, and it is cut off at a date prior to the fight which maintains the integrity of the tests.
FH: If the fight with Manny Pacquiao doesn't happen, would you still work with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on his next endeavor?
Schaefer: Floyd and myself and Mayweather promotions, we have a great relationship and we're growing into a friendship as well, so I absolutely think yes, as it relates to working together. As it relates to what's next for Floyd Mayweather, I don't really know. Because, unlike Bob Arum, we haven't looked at anything else.
If Arum walks away, then we obviously will be starting discussions in that regard. But right now, unlike Top Rank which has pretty much said for the last week, 'We don't need this, we don't need this' and has been setting deadlines, we have been trying to save the fight.
I wanted to make sure, and I want to make sure that we've exhausted all avenues to see if this fight can be saved. But it seems to me that, based again on the statements Bob Arum has been making -- 'final' and 'last offer' and 'deadlines' being Monday morning.
Based on the ultimatums that Top Rank has issued, it seems like this is not going to happen. It seems to me that they have made up their mind that they want to go in a different route. And if they're walking away from this, then they're walking away from this.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Nevada orders urine tests for Pacquiao, Mayweather -- Washington Post
By TIM DAHLBERG, The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS -- The head of the Nevada boxing commission ordered Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to submit to urine tests Monday as a way of trying to break the impasse that has threatened to derail their proposed March 13 megafight.
Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.
"That at least starts the ball rolling," said Keith Kizer, the commission's executive director.
The ball may not roll very far, though, as time continues to run out on the big fight. There was no communication between the two sides Monday, and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said he planned to announce another fight for Pacquiao on Tuesday.
"There's been absolutely no movement," Arum said.
The tests, which were ordered by commission chairman Pat Lundvall, fall under an out-of-competition testing regulation which went into effect last year and allows state boxing authorities to order boxers to comply. Kizer said about 30 of the tests have been ordered in the last 18 months.
The commission's demand comes a day after Arum said he would not budge off a proposal to do just three blood tests on the two fighters - and none within 30 days of the fight. Arum, who had suggested the NAC decide next month who will prevail in the dispute, said he planned to begin negotiating a fight with Paul Malignaggi if Mayweather's camp didn't agree to the terms.
But Mayweather's manager, Leonard Ellerbe, said Monday there would be no fight on Arum's terms, and charged the promoter with trying to shift the blame for the fight not happening from Pacquiao's side to Mayweather.
"If he's unwilling to do random blood and urine it's a nonstarter," Ellerbe told The Associated Press. "He knows that. If they want to walk away from the richest fight in the history of the sport, that's their decision."
Kizer said the urine tests could play a part in breaking the impasse, though Mayweather's camp has said blood tests are necessary to find performance-enhancing drugs that may not be detected by urine tests. Mayweather backed off earlier on a demand for the tests to be conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency but has insisted all along that they be done randomly and include blood tests within 30 days before the fight.
Ellerbe said his fighter had already made many concessions to get the fight, including the financial split, the penalty for coming in at more than 147 pounds, and the gloves to be used. He said there would be no further concession to meet Arum's terms.
"There's no way," Ellerbe said. "The ball is in their court. But you have to ask yourself why they aren't willing to make sure both fighters are clean to ensure that the biggest fight ever can take place."
Kizer said he informed both fighters that they must take the urine tests, saying Pacquiao would have to find an accredited agency to do his in the Philippines. The state of Nevada is paying for the tests, which cost about $150.
"We're always hopeful that when we do drug testing it comes back negative," Kizer said. "I don't know if this will help the chances of the fight happening. But with all this talk of drug tests, let's actually do one."
Source: washingtonpost.com
LAS VEGAS -- The head of the Nevada boxing commission ordered Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to submit to urine tests Monday as a way of trying to break the impasse that has threatened to derail their proposed March 13 megafight.
Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.
"That at least starts the ball rolling," said Keith Kizer, the commission's executive director.
The ball may not roll very far, though, as time continues to run out on the big fight. There was no communication between the two sides Monday, and Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said he planned to announce another fight for Pacquiao on Tuesday.
"There's been absolutely no movement," Arum said.
The tests, which were ordered by commission chairman Pat Lundvall, fall under an out-of-competition testing regulation which went into effect last year and allows state boxing authorities to order boxers to comply. Kizer said about 30 of the tests have been ordered in the last 18 months.
The commission's demand comes a day after Arum said he would not budge off a proposal to do just three blood tests on the two fighters - and none within 30 days of the fight. Arum, who had suggested the NAC decide next month who will prevail in the dispute, said he planned to begin negotiating a fight with Paul Malignaggi if Mayweather's camp didn't agree to the terms.
But Mayweather's manager, Leonard Ellerbe, said Monday there would be no fight on Arum's terms, and charged the promoter with trying to shift the blame for the fight not happening from Pacquiao's side to Mayweather.
"If he's unwilling to do random blood and urine it's a nonstarter," Ellerbe told The Associated Press. "He knows that. If they want to walk away from the richest fight in the history of the sport, that's their decision."
Kizer said the urine tests could play a part in breaking the impasse, though Mayweather's camp has said blood tests are necessary to find performance-enhancing drugs that may not be detected by urine tests. Mayweather backed off earlier on a demand for the tests to be conducted by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency but has insisted all along that they be done randomly and include blood tests within 30 days before the fight.
Ellerbe said his fighter had already made many concessions to get the fight, including the financial split, the penalty for coming in at more than 147 pounds, and the gloves to be used. He said there would be no further concession to meet Arum's terms.
"There's no way," Ellerbe said. "The ball is in their court. But you have to ask yourself why they aren't willing to make sure both fighters are clean to ensure that the biggest fight ever can take place."
Kizer said he informed both fighters that they must take the urine tests, saying Pacquiao would have to find an accredited agency to do his in the Philippines. The state of Nevada is paying for the tests, which cost about $150.
"We're always hopeful that when we do drug testing it comes back negative," Kizer said. "I don't know if this will help the chances of the fight happening. But with all this talk of drug tests, let's actually do one."
Source: washingtonpost.com
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