It's probably best you get your calendars out and start marking down the dates for these significant moments in the negotiations between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.
You could say that yesterday was public awareness day as Bob Arum, Yahoo's Kevin Iole, and myself reported that Floyd Mayweather Jr's last blood test was 18 days before the fight. Since this revelation, a hornet's nest has been stirred up and it all centers around Floyd Jr's 'Drug Crusade'.
Initially, Bob Arum told news sources of Floyd's last blood test in effort to sway public opinion toward Pacquiao's compromise of coming down to a 14 day cutoff. Strategically, this was a smart move. Mr. Iole was able to confirm specific drug testing dates with USADA's Travis Tygart and I was able to obtain a copy of the 'drug test summary' from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Everything pointed to April 13th as being Floyd's last blood test prior to the fight. 
Now that we are all up to speed, these details all lead to one thing: "Will Floyd Mayweather Jr accept the 14 day cutoff that Manny proposes?"As of right now, nobody from Team Mayweather is talking. Obviously, this is a rarity since many were calling for them to be silenced for the last 7 months. It's ironic, now that the public wants to hear what they have to say about the 14 day cutoff, they remain silent.
I do commend Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley for participating in this historical drug testing venture but the big problem I have here is the fact that there were 18 days of no blood testing leading up to the fight. The USADA, Golden Boy Promotions, and everyone else involved told us until they were blue in the face about how important this style of drug testing is. In fact, they held a press conference all about the drug testing some 2 months prior to fight day.
I understand the concept of 'random', however, why didn't they 'randomly' test the fighters during the last 2 weeks leading up to the fight. In fact, everyone involved in this process should have privately or publicly insisted upon it. This drug testing was the central focus of the fight between Mayweather and Mosley. This drug testing is what destroyed the first round of negotiations between Manny and Floyd.
We hear for months from Team Mayweather how Manny should submit to the random testing and that he's scared or hiding something because he won't. But, now we come to find out that this magnificent style of drug testing that is supposed to 'save' Boxing, was flawed in its first run.
And yes, it was flawed because you can't let the last 18 days go by without blood testing. When you don't blood test at least once within the last 2 weeks prior to the fight, then it's flawed especially since this was the purpose of the entire testing.
This style of drug testing was supposed to ensure that no fighter could cheat in the last few weeks. Unfortunately, the ball was dropped on this one.
Let me make it clear as I close this article. I don't blame Floyd Mayweather Jr for not being blood tested within the last 18 days. Once he signed up for the 'random' testing, it was out of his hands.
However, I do blame him for turning the boxing world upside down with his initial accusations of Manny Pacquiao and the subsequent 6 months of him saying that Manny is scared to take the tests. I do blame Mayweather Jr for comparing himself to Martin Luther King Jr and Malcom X with his 'drug crusade' that ultimately 'failed the test'.
I think it's clear, Floyd Mayweather Jr has no choice but to accept the 14 day cutoff if he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao. In some weird cosmic aligning of the stars, the 18 day window of no blood tests could actually make the 'FIght of the Century' happen. And for that, we should all be happy.
Source: examiner.com
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