Pacquiao v Mayweather

[Joey Jones]

Showdown with Mayweather in doubt over blood row

Is Mayweather suggesting that Manny's a drugs cheat?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_5794269,00.html

The much anticipated clash between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is in doubt due to a dispute over drug testing.

Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions have issued a statement claiming that Pacquiao's refusal to take a blood test 30 days before the March bout meant the showdown was now "in jeopardy".

Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said: "Todd (Top Rank president Todd duBoef) told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight.

"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, as of today, both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight.

"Team Mayweather is certainly surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes such as Lance Armstrong, and Olympians Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."

Mayweather has insisted that Pacquiao's failure to accept the Olympic-style testing has left him questioning the possible "fairness" of the fight.

"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said Mayweather.

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

"I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.

"It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."

[kemm1]

Is Mayweather suggesting that Manny's a drugs cheat?

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12183_5794269,00.html

The much anticipated clash between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is in doubt due to a dispute over drug testing.

Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather Promotions have issued a statement claiming that Pacquiao's refusal to take a blood test 30 days before the March bout meant the showdown was now "in jeopardy".

Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer said: "Todd (Top Rank president Todd duBoef) told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight.

"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, as of today, both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight.

"Team Mayweather is certainly surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes such as Lance Armstrong, and Olympians Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."

Mayweather has insisted that Pacquiao's failure to accept the Olympic-style testing has left him questioning the possible "fairness" of the fight.

"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said Mayweather.

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

"I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.

"It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."

All Manny has to do is take the tests, if he doesn't he loses face big time.

[Joey Jones]

Floyd Mayweather's fight with Manny Pacquiao 'is off'

Mayweather running scared?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8427743.stm

Floyd Mayweather Jr's planned bout with Manny Pacquiao is off because of a blood-testing dispute, according to Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum.

"As far as I'm concerned, the fight is off," said Arum, referring to the scheduled 13 March welterweight bout.

The American's camp were told by Pacquiao's people 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 US Anti-Doping Agency.

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."

Mayweather associate Richard Schaefer said: "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."

Unbeaten Mayweather's management want 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 both men are clean.

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.

"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," said Mayweather.

"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 had been expected to be held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, home of the NBA's Lakers was also touted as a possible venue and representatives of Cowboys Stadium in Dallas were also said to be interested in hosting arguably the biggest fight since the turn of the century.

Pacquiao, 31, became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Las Vegas-based Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.

Arum added that Pacquiao still plans to fight on 13 March and will now look for another opponent.

[Bender]

Manny Pacquiao has said he will take Floyd Mayweather to court following a blood-testing dispute.
The Filipino pulled out of a lucrative fight to face Mayweather on 13 March after the American demanded Olympic-style drugs tests ahead of the bout.
Pacquaio also plans to sue Mayweather's father and Golden Boy Promotions.
"I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible," read a statement on Pacquaio's website.
"Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr, Jr and Golden Boy Promotions think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.
"I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard."

WBO welterweight champion Pacquaio withdrew from what was expected to be the richest fight in boxing history on Wednesday following a disagreement about blood tests 30 days prior to the fight.
The Filipino said he would only give blood before the initial media conference and immediately after the fight.
Although Pacquaio said he would agree to testing by the same agencies that conduct pro American Football and baseball players, he would not sign up to random tests by the US Anti-Doping Agency.
Promoter 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.
And Pacquaio now intends to settle matters in court.
"I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the number one boxer in the world," said the 31-year-old, who has never tested positive for performance-enhancing substances.

"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it.
"I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.
"Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr, don't be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring."
Unbeaten Mayweather and five-weight champion Pacquaio - considered to be the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world - were set to meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in one of the biggest fight since the turn of the century.
Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Nevada-based Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.

[Kinell]

Silly moves from both of them. So much money and interest in this fight and they might have just thrown a huge opportunity away.

[Jaymo]

I had a sneaky feeling it might not happen. Mayweather has too much to lose! If he loses his unbeaten record goes out the window.

If Pacquaio loses, then it won't have as big of an affect (media wise) on him.

[simey85]

Bull**** i'd say....just something to build up the fight more...hopefully!

[bazza76]

Silly moves from both of them. So much money and interest in this fight and they might have just thrown a huge opportunity away.

The fight will happen.
If you look at the Pacquiao ngotiations before fights, you will frequently see their camp always makes demands on the opponents.
Take the last fight for example, they forced Cotto to drop to 145lb's for a title belt that is 147lb's and then imposed a financial penalty on him if he missed the weight.
that fight should have been at 147, period.
They look to get any kind of advantage possible in the build up to a fight.
I am actually glad this time to see someone doing it back to the PAcquiao camp for a change.

[Chris]

I was stunned march was even spoken about so it being "off" doesnt surprise me really, it was so early, no time for a world tour or anything. It'll happen, just later this year I think, around september time.

[kemm1]

Pac-man losing credibility here:

Key to super fight could be '24/7' testingComment Email Print Share By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
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With the proposed March 13 Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. super fight hanging in the balance as the camps continued to slug it out over drug-testing protocol Monday, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said he was open to talking to his fighter again about the timing of the prefight blood test.

Top Rank's Arum had set a Monday deadline to finalize a deal.


When HBO televised "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7," it aired footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his prefight medical exam. The blood test was conducted approximately 14 days before the fight; it punches holes in Pacquiao's argument that giving blood inside 30 days of a fight negatively impacts his performance. Also Monday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would oversee the fight because it is due to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, set in motion plans to randomly test the urine of both fighters regardless of whether the fight takes place.

Throughout negotiations over the drug testing -- the final point the sides need to agree on -- Pacquiao has said he would submit to unlimited random urine tests. However, he refused Mayweather's demand to have random blood testing. Instead, Pacquiao agreed to take three tests, one during the week of the kickoff news conference in early January, one random test to be conducted no later than 30 days before the fight, and a final test in his dressing room after the fight. Mayweather would be subject to the same testing.

However, Pacquiao's past actions might help Arum convince him to tighten the window for the final random blood test.

When HBO televised "Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7" -- the four-part series that followed the buildup to Pacquiao's second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton to win the junior welterweight title in Las Vegas last May -- it aired footage of Pacquiao taking a routine blood test as part of his prefight medical exam in Los Angeles.

The blood test was conducted approximately 14 days before the fight; it punches holes in Pacquiao's argument that giving blood inside 30 days of a fight negatively impacts his performance.

Arum was intrigued by the "24/7" scenario. He told Reuters on Monday that he was ready to move away from Mayweather and announce a new opponent on Tuesday for Pacquiao, but that was before the "24/7" scenario was brought to his attention.

"I will transmit it [word of Pacquiao's '24/7' test] to Manny once [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in '24/7' and [the Mayweather camp] makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with," Arum told ESPN.com from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. "If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny" to tighten the testing window.

Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy, which is promoting Mayweather for the fight, was also made aware of the "24/7" footage, telling ESPN.com, "I need to discuss it with Team Mayweather. We need to find out what it means if you cut off testing 14 days before the fight. I want to talk to [Mayweather advisers] Al Haymon and Leonard [Ellerbe]."

Although talks had broken down on Sunday, the camps were at least talking again on Monday afternoon after they learned of the "24/7" scenario.

"It's a very good point to point out that Manny was tested so close to the [Hatton] fight," Arum said. "I'm not going to suggest anything to him though, until I hear from the other guys. They have to say, 'This is what Manny did. Here is what we propose.' Then I will bring it to Manny and say, 'Manny, look, you took this test however many days before the fight and it didn't affect you. Hey, you knocked him out in two rounds.'

"What will Manny do? I assume he will listen to me, but I can't promise anything. But I want [Mayweather's camp] to make a formal proposal that this is the outside date for the blood testing based on Manny's prior test in '24/7' and then I will move mountains."

Prior to discussing the "24/7" scenario, the camps were looking at alternative March fights. Both camps had reached out to former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi. Arum was also prepared to have Pacquiao challenge for a title in a record-extending eighth weight class against Yuri Foreman, a Top Rank junior middleweight who won a belt on the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto undercard on Nov. 14.

"We'll ask the MGM which fight they want [Pacquiao's or Mayweather's] and the MGM will then pick the fight and alienate one of the fighters forever," Arum said. "We have another date [of March 20] that we can go on outside of the MGM and we will do that if we have to. If HBO takes sides, which they're free to do, we have discussed alternatives."

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, the Nevada commission held its final meeting of 2009. At the conclusion of the 25-minute meeting, chairwoman Pat Lundvall closed by invoking the commission's right to conduct random urine tests on Pacquiao and Mayweather.

"The Nevada administrative code obligates any unarmed combatant to submit to tests if they're directed to do so by a member of the commission for prohibited substances," Lundvall said at the public meeting. "And it was in 2007 that we amended our regulations to ensure we were following the World Anti-Doping Agency's prohibited list. ... That is the list we adhere to for the purposes of the testing that is conducted through the athletic commission. We determined that those provisions applied not only immediately before and after a fight, but also to random testing during training, and that any member of the commission can request such a random test."

Lundvall asked commission executive director Keith Kizer to employ the commission's random testing procedure and "request a urine sample from Floyd Mayweather as well as Manny Pacquiao. They're both licensees and they are subject to these kinds of exams whether the proposed fight goes forward or not.

"Random testing is the best way to evaluate the compliance with our rules and regulations against prohibited substances and the primary reason for that is that an athlete doesn't have time to cycle out or flush out any prohibited substances, and therefore random testing is the best thing to employ, which is why I thought it was a good idea for Keith to inform these fighters that we would like to have a sample and move forward with our random testing."

Commissioner Bill Brady added that he supported the request to ensure the safety of the fighters as well as to "reassure the public worldwide that when anyone fights in Nevada that they can count on those fights being fair, above board and on a level playing field. I think it's important that the public knows the commission takes their responsibility seriously."

Pacquiao and Mayweather must submit to the tests within 48 hours or face possible fines or suspension by the Nevada Athletic commission.

"That at least starts the ball rolling," Kizer said.

Mayweather lives in Las Vegas, so that should not be an issue. But even with Pacquiao in the Philippines, Kizer said the commission has labs it works with worldwide.

Kizer said the results would likely be back within a week of the test.

"That's fine, no problem at all," Arum said when told of Nevada's ruling. "We are absolutely in favor of it. That's what they should be doing. That's what they do in other sports. I see no reason why they shouldn't do it here. We support it 100 percent. I really applaud the way the Nevada commission has acted.

"I will check with Mayweather," Schaefer said, reacting to Nevada's request. "Right now, I need to focus on getting the fight done."

Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4777048

[Chrono]

I heard the tests are proposed to be carried out by someone in Mayweather's camp which is the reason Pacquiao won't do it.

[Vermilion]

Pac-man losing credibility here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...ory?id=4777048

Is he though ?

he refused Mayweather's demand to have random blood testing. Instead, Pacquiao agreed to take three tests, one during the week of the kickoff news conference in early January, one random test to be conducted no later than 30 days before the fight, and a final test in his dressing room after the fight. Mayweather would be subject to the same testing.

Sounds like each man just attempting to get the other to it HIS way is all, don't think either has anything to hide.

As has been suggested, i think the fight date was set too early anyway, it'll happen, eventually, probably just as we're all getting fed up of the brinkmanship.

[kemm1]

Is he though ?


Sounds like each man just attempting to get the other to it HIS way is all, don't think either has anything to hide.

As has been suggested, i think the fight date was set too early anyway, it'll happen, eventually, probably just as we're all getting fed up of the brinkmanship.

I stand by my comments, the current urine testing would not catch Manny if he was cheating, now he's taking Floyd to court:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4783321

Blood tests are the way to go IMO for ALL sports.

[red g]

The next two days will be crucial in the efforts to save the planned March 13 super fight between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and former No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had told us before taking a weeklong vacation in Mexico that he wanted retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein of the Judicial Arbitration and Media Services to step in and resolve Golden Boy Promotions involvement in efforts to discredit Pacquiao while at the same time benefiting financially from his fights as promotional partner.

These efforts have apparently been taken one step further as Lem Satterfield of FanHouse Boxing reports that representatives of both fighters will meet on Tuesday in retired federal judge Weinstein’s Santa Monica office in an attempt to revive talks on the WBO welterweight totle fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Satterfield said that Arum has told him he together with his stepson, Top Rank president Todd duBoef would represent Pacquiao along with a representative of crack lawyer Daniel Petrocelli who last week filed a lawsuit against Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather Jr, his father Floyd Sr and uncle Roger Mayweather among others.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character. Contacted through his administrative assistant, Schaefer, via e-mail, declined to comment.

A key adviser of Mayweather and CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe, recently indicated they were “ still trying to make a deal. We feel that this is the biggest fight in the history of boxing. We want to give this fight to the fans.”


The negotiations were virtually wrecked when the Mayweather camp demanded that Pacquiao undergo Olympic-style, random blood tests to be conducted by the US Anti Doping Agency which Pacquiao countered by agreeing to a blood test one day before the kickoff press conference, 30 days before the fight and immediately after the fight in his dressing room pointing out that if he was on performance enhancing drugs as claimed, it would certainly be discovered in the post-fight blood and urine tests. The Mayweather camp, according to Satterfield, has since backed off of that stance.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director said that both Pacquiao and Mayweather have fought several times in Las Vegas and both fighters have never tested positive for any banned substances.

Respected journalist David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press who is well known to Ellerbe told us “ I suspect if something meaningful happens, it will be Monday, maybe even Tuesday.”

Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz told us over the weekend that for the fight to take place those who had maligned Pacquiao and questioned his achievements would have to issue a public apology and agree to undergo whatever tests are mandated by the Nevada State Athleric Commission. Arum picked it up telling Satterfield “What they have to do — and what I know the option is going to be — is that they have to apologize. All of them. They have to make a meaningful apology. If they want random blood-testing, they would have to go before the Nevada Commission and petition the commission for that. They have to agree that the Nevada Commission is regulating this fight — period. No outside agency, no nothing. The have to go with the Nevada Commission — period.”

Arum has branded the questions about Pacquiao “preposterous and unfair” pointing out that “Shane Mosley was an admitted drug-user. And I’ve had Shane Mosley fight two of the guys that I’ve promoted in the last few years — one of them was Miguel Cotto and the other was Antonio Margarito. Did I ever, ever, ever even indicate in any way that Shane Mosley should be subject to special testing? Ever? No,” said Arum.


Arum was quoted as saying “The feeling in the Philippines, really, is that Manny’s an Asian guy and this is really xenophobic. And because of his great success, this is what they’re focusing on. So this is absolutely preposterous and hopefully the mediator will convince them of that.”

If the Mayweather-Pacquiao falls apart Arum is considering a fight between Pacquiao and newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KO’s) tentatively set for March 20 at The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

In fact Pacquiao on Sunday (Manila Time) watched a tape of a Foreman fight but made no immediate comment.

http://insidesports.ph/boxing/next-two-days-crucial-in-pacquiao-mayweather-mediation-talks/

[simey85]

Sky sports reporting that its off! FFS! What a load of complete bollocks! Its hard to know who and what to believe in all this ****e....either way they've dissapointed a hell of alot of people if they have walked away from this fight and i personally will not give a fu*k who they fight next!