Pacquiao reportedly softens stance on testing -- NBC Sports

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Manny Pacquiao appeared to soften his stance about blood testing, saying he would be willing to undergo testing 14 days before a fight if it helps set up a showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr., ESPN reported Monday.

Mayweather and Pacquiao had originally agreed to a megafight last year before it broke down in a dispute over blood and urine testing. Mayweather wanted strict testing before the fighting, hinting that he thought Pacquiao had taken performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao, meanwhile, wanted a cutoff of blood testing 24 days before any fight.

Pacquiao has said he feels drawing blood would make him weaker.

"I am willing to help the sport for the future of the sport. I do not want to see anyone cheat or cheat this sport. For that reason I am willing to consider taking blood (tests) as close as 14 days prior to the fight, as long as my opponent does the same, and it is not a lot of blood, just enough to test," Pacquiao said on his official website, ESPN reported.

No talks have restarted on a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, ESPN reported.

The two sides had agreed on everything except the drug testing in January. But when they couldn't agree on the testing, each went his separate way. But talk of the bout restarted after Mayweather beat Shane Mosley on Saturday night.

"If Manny Pacquiao can take a blood and urine test then we have a fight," Mayweather said Saturday night. "If not, no fight."

Pacquiao is currently campaigning in the Philippines for a seat in Congress. His promoter, Bob Arum, said he wasn't concerned about a fight right now.

"I'm not going to lose any sleep over it," Arum said Sunday, the Associated Press reported. "What I'm concerned about right now is Manny winning the election. If the fight doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. We're not going to be dictated to."

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