Following a month-long negotiation between the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps for this decade’s biggest fight, more arguments keep the talks to see finality.
At the start, former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. wanted that blood tests be conducted until fight night to assure that both fighters are not using performance-inducing drugs. After seven-time world champion Manny Pacquiao’s agreed on the condition, the two camps are now arguing as to the time when the tests will be conducted.
The Pacquiao team claims that during the negotiation, the Filipino boxer agreed to have the blood test be conducted 24 days before the fight and a second one as soon as the fight is over.
Richard Schaefer, the promoter of Mayweather said, “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.”
Originally, Pacquiao refused to have a blood drawn less than 30 days prior to the fight night but later conceded to 24 days. Schaefer, however, believes that it is reasonable for Mayweather to split it down to 14 days.
The duel may only seem to be saved should Pacquiao agree to a blood test 14 days before the fight. However, it seems likely as Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, refuses to continue negotiations with Mayweather’s representatives.
Arum said, “We had a deal based on 24 days, but we said it’s all off the table if (Mayweather’s representatives get a no from Floyd, and they got a no) So the train has left the station. We have moved on. We don’t want to talk about Mayweather anymore until the fall.”
Arum is instead planning a fight between Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey, another welterweight boxer in his company.
