Arum makes final offer or Pacquiao fights Malignaggi
MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has made a “final offer” to the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. aimed at settling the blood test issue that threatens to cancel the American's much-awaited fight with Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao.
Arum, who represents Pacquiao, offered to have the drug testing decided by Nevada State Athletic Commission officials.
"We'll go along with what the Nevada commission decides," Arum said. "We want this fight to go forward."
Under Arum’s terms, Pacquiao will allow three blood tests. This test, however, can not be done within 30 days of the fight, unless the commission decided otherwise.
If Mayweather's camp won't let the Nevada State Athletic Commission have the last say on the blood tests, Arum said he will sign a deal for Pacquiao to face Paulie Malignaggi on March 13.
"This offer will be made to them," Arum said in a separate report by Boxing.FanHouse.com. "And if they don't accept this offer, it will demonstrate completely that they don't want the fight."
The Top Rank head honcho has given Mayweather and his representative, Golden Boy Promotions, until Monday (Tuesday in Manila) to decide.
Pacquiao, for his part, said he will not hesitate to fight someone else should Mayweather refuse the offer.
The new World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champ said he is very much willing to fight Mayweather, but he doubts whether the former pound-for-pound king really wants to fight him.
"If Floyd Mayweather Jr. truly ever wanted to fight me, and he is not really scared, he would accept these terms I am willing to give him as they are above and beyond what the commission demands," Pacquiao said.
Team Mwayweather turns down offer
But Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Mayweather-backers Golden Boy Promotions, said no tests within 30 days of the fight would make the entire blood test program useless.
Schaefer and Mayweather's adviser Leonard Ellerbe thumbed down the offer from Top Rank.
“Random is random. We are all intelligent people and we know what random testing is. That is what we want and it has not changed,” said Ellerbe.
“It does not make sense for this to become a commission matter. This is a contractual matter. The commission did not decide the weights or the purse split or how the foreign television rights would be sold.
“If this is Bob’s final ultimatum, then that’s what it is. That is his decision if he wants to take that position. I very much hope this fight can be made, but the reason it is at a standstill is because of the way they have handled things,” Schaefer said.
The Mayweather camp says their demand for blood doping tests is vital to ensuring a fair fight. It has backed down on demands for random blood tests at any time before the fight.
On the other hand, Pacquiao, concerned that the blood tests will weaken him, wants none within 30 days of the fight, but favors it after the bout.
The March 13 showdown in Las Vegas could be the biggest moneymaker in boxing history. - With reports from Agence France-Presse and The Philippine Star
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RE: zaide
What the hell are you talking about? I'm not talking about drug testing or Floyd's hit and run style. The negotiating issues they have, that's not for us the audience can do anything about. That's between Manny, Floyd, and the promoters to resolve that's fair to both sides. You're not making any sense man. Of course I want to be entertained, who doesn't? We all know Manny's going to beat the crap out of Malignaggi. There's nothing exciting about a fight we all know what's going to happen. The Pacquiao/Mayweather fight is exciting aside from all the drama going on because it's offense vs defense. Everyone's curious on how that would play out.
All I'm saying is, they need to come up with a deal that's fair and acceptable to both sides. It they can't find a solution and the fight doesn't happen then there are bigger named opponents that Arum could've picked to replace Mayweather, and Malignaggi is not one them.
If the Mayweather fight is not going to happen, then Manny might as well fight the next big named opponent out there. To me that's Shane Mosley! Now that's an exciting fight to watch.
Adel
I pity all the boxers if all the people are like Adel who doesn't care what will happen to the fighters as long as they are entertained.
The Mayweather camp knows that their fighter is on the advantage if this fight will be done Olympic style; the rules, scoring system, drug testing, etc. They are now in professional boxing dude which is covered by NSAC. if Mayweather wants to follow the Olympic rules, then let him fight in 2012 Olympics and not in professional boxing!
Mayweather's style is to hit and run. He has no courage to fight face-to-face because he has no face. Bwahahaha! He's really full of irony! Pretty Boy??? If this is true, then no one is ugly!!! Bwahahaha again!!!
RE: Adel
Are freaking kidding me?
Manny is one the all time greats. I'm just going to see his fight with Malignaggi on re-run or on crappy quality Internet live stream. I'm not paying $ for this, and so most people won't especially with the recession. People here are still willing to spend but it has to be something worth it, and Paquiao/Mayweather is the worth spending for fight not Pacquiao/Malignaggi. The most of the money that Manny will make from this fight comes from the American audience. I'm telling you this not going to sell well. The paying audience want to see Manny fight Mayweather anyone else is a disappointment. 500,000 pay per view buys for this fight at best.
Arum needs to find a more credible and respectable opponent for Manny. I really think Manny should wait for the Mosley/Berto winner. But I'll pay to watch Manny take on Bradley.
Adel
You are NIT!...for $55 can't even spend that to watch one of the greatest fighter ever (pacman) .....Gayweather is just scared of Manny that's why his making this excuses to do the blood test...las vegas nevada officials were insulted by Gayweather ....why can't just he just accept that Manny will kick his A$$ in the ring...he is dugging the fight again..he did that to Mosley...He is scared of Mosley as well..his reason is that Mosley is not a Payperview type of fighter...so what if he is not...but he is a Welterweight champion...that is so lame excuses not to fight a fighter because his not a payperview type of fighter...what a joke! haahahah..if i were you Gayweather stay home and look your self in front of the mirror and look at your face carefully because when the fight happen your face will not be the same anymore ..hahaahah...40-0 record?...you haven't prove nothing yet..perfect record is not nothing...7 world champions is everything!!!!!
Thanks a lot Bob...
Thanks! a lot Bob. Instead of the biggest fight probably of all time, you're giving us a Malignaggi fight. Millions are disappointed, and may not mind Manny fighting someone else but you could've picked a better, more appealing opponent like Tim Bradley, Devon Alexander, Juan Manuel Marquez or better yet, wait for the winner of Mosley/Berto fight for a welter unification fight for a summer date or maybe even Joshua Clottey.
Manny gains nothing fighting Malignaggi who by the way was one of the people who went on record and accused Manny of steroid use. Ah the irony! Manny should be suing this guy instead of fighting him. Fighting Yuri Foreman would'nt really be good but better than a Malignaggi fight, at least Manny would be fighting for something, an 8th division championship.
What a joke! This fight will do 300,000 pay-per-view buys at best maybe 500,000. I wouldn't waste $55 for this sh!t you call a fight. We all know how this fight will turn out. I'll just wait for the replay instead and save my money.