Arum starts considering Plan B for Pacquiao

With the issue on blood-testing becoming a mess and both sides not budging, promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank is already considering a "Plan B" for Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao’s next fight.

Bob Arum

Arum virtually admitted that the Pacquiao-Mayweather megafight is practically off over disagreement with the Mayweather camp’s proposal to get blood samples from the fighters as part of Olympic-style dope-testing for the planned March 13 card.

Asked point-black by boxing site Max Boxing if he thinks Pacquiao-Mayweather will still take place on March 13, Arum said: "No. Because Manny is not going to be subjected to blood testing while he’s in training and they (Mayweather camp) are going to insist on it because they never really wanted to do the fight."

The veteran promoter was reacting to a press statement from Golden Boy Promotions' Richard Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather in the negotiations that had previously gone rather smoothly. The Mayweather camp said the superfight is in jeopardy due to Pacquiao’s supposed refusal to have his blood tested within 30 days of the showdown.

At this point, Arum is already in the lookout for a possible new gig for the pound-for-pound king, although he refused to elaborate.

"Absolutely, but I don’t want to discuss it till I talk to Manny," he said when asked by Max Boxing if he's begun the process of finding another fight."

Prior to formal talks with the Mayweather camp, the Pacquiao group had previously considered the winner of the Jan. 30 duel between welterweight champions Shane Mosley and Daniel Berto, and WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman.

The blood test clause was proposed by Floyd's camp purportedly to "protect" their fighter, as the unbeaten American’s father Floyd Senior has accused Pacquiao of taking performance-enhancing substances in his ascent in weight.

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No (Pacquiao-Mayweather will not take place on Mar. 13). Because Manny is not going to be subjected to blood testing while he’s in training and they (Mayweather camp) are going to insist on it because they never really wanted to do the fight.

– Promoter Bob Arum

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Pacquiao has denied the allegations and actually tested negative for such in his latest fight against Miguel Cotto and all other previous outings.

Team Pacquiao has maintained they are not totally refusing to undergo blood testing but only wants it done outside training proper.

"We’re willing to do all kinds of urine analysis. We’re willing to do blood testing before the press conference (scheduled early January) and after the fight. We’re not willing to do blood testing while he’s in training because he (Pacquiao) claims it weakens him. And one major doctor we’ve talked to says that blood testing is absolutely, totally irrelevant. Totally irrelevant," Arum said.

The two superstars have previously agreed in principle to battle it out on March 13, giving their thumbs up on the purse split, fight weight, and glove sizes - items considered major concerns.

But the blood testing clause now derailed the talks, a move that Team Pacquiao considers Mayweather’s psy-war tactics and possible way out of the much-anticipated fight.

"Of course they are (playing mind games). And they can go screw themselves!. I don’t care if this fight doesn’t happen." an irate Arum said. - GMANews.TV

Story Source – GMANews.TV