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Blood test dispute knocks out Mayweather/Pacquiao bout

By BBCSPORTS.Com
25 December 2009   |   12:28 pm
A ROW over blood test has knocked off the planned Floyd Mayweather Jnr's bout with Manny Pacquiao, according to Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum. "As far as I'm concerned, the fight is off Arum said, referring to the scheduled March 13 welterweight bout. Pacquiao's people told the American's camp that the Filipino would not agree to blood-testing in the 30 days prior to the fight. The welterweight super-fight was expected to be the richest of all time.

Arum accused Mayweather’s camp of raising the issue not because they were worried about Pacquiao taking performance-enhancing substances, but because Mayweather never wanted to fight in the first place. Arum said Pacquiao would agree to testing by the same agencies that test pro American Football and baseball players, but not for random tests by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

This was boxing’s big chance to emerge from the slump. If the dunces cannot sort this mess out, many will think the sport is not worth forgiving. Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, added: “The sanctioning bodies and the state commissions run the boxing world, not Floyd Mayweather.

“Who is this guy to tell us that we have to have blood tests, or urine tests, or any tests? He’s just looking for a way out of the fight.”

Bur according to Mayweather associate, Richard Schaefer, “he, Pacquiao, would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight. It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao’s representatives, particularly since both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight.”

Mayweather’s unbeaten management wants both men – regarded as the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world – to submit to blood-testing prior to the bout, to ensure that both men are clean. When Manny gives blood, it takes him three or four days to recover. I am not going to have my fighter going into a fight feeling weak.

Schaefer, who is chief executive of Golden Boy Promotions, added: “Todd (DuBoef, president of Pacquiao’s promoters, Top Rank) told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn’t want to do it so close to the fight.”

Prior to Arum’s announcement, the 32-year-old Mayweather had urged Pacquiao to agree to the blood-testing, saying: “I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does.

“But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level.”

But Roach countered: “We have passed every test ever given to us. We go by the commission rules, since when does the fighter make up the rules? When Manny gives blood it takes him three or four days to recover from it. I am not going to have my fighter going into a fight feeling weak and not sure of himself. Mayweather is scared, and he’s just afraid that he’s going to get his ass kicked.”

The fight was expected to hold at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

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