More arguing over Pacquiao-Mayweather
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The promoter for Floyd Mayweather Jr. told The Times today he wants to make sure Manny Pacquiao understands the difference between the mega-fight happening or not is the matter of Pacquiao submitting to a blood test 10 days later than his camp has already accepted.
‘We’re still trying to get Mayweather-Pacquiao done for March 13, and we’ve heard Manny has made claims that the position of Floyd willing to end blood tests 14 days before the fight was never communicated to him,’ Mayweather promoter Richard Schaefer told The Times.
Pacquiao’s representatives say they agreed during a mediation session this week to have the Filipino star submit to a blood test 24 days before the fight, and another immediately after the fight was over.
Originally, Mayweather said he wanted both fighters to be subjected to random blood tests for performance-enhancing drugs all the way until fight night. Pacquiao later declined to take a blood draw less than 30 days before the fight.
‘Mayweather wants to split it down the middle to 14 days,’ Schaefer said. ‘Isn’t that reasonable?’
The question was put to Pacquiao’s promoter.
‘We had a [mediation] deal based on 24 days, but we said it’s all off the table if [Mayweather representatives] get a no from Floyd, and they got a no,’ Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said. ‘So the train has left the station. We have moved on. We don’t want to talk about Mayweather anymore until the fall.’
Arum went as far as saying he’s going to match Pacquiao against another welterweight fighter in his company, Joshua Clottey, on March 13 at a venue he wouldn’t disclose but is reportedly Thomas and Mack arena in Las Vegas.
Schaefer is urging Mayweather-Pacquiao talks to continue, admitting a deal needs to be struck soon because of training schedules. Schaefer said ‘the fight is so publicized and being asked for by the public that it doesn’t need our usual promotional push.’
When told that, however, Arum replied, ‘He wants talks to continue. Who is he going to be talking to?’
Asked if Pacquiao knows the fight can be saved by agreeing to the 14-day deal, Arum barked, ‘Are you crazy?’ and hung up the phone.
-- Lance Pugmire
