Bob Arum told ESPN that the proposed March 13 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr is off. A judge had been brought in to help mediate the drug testing issue but a resolution could not be reached. Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to submit to Olympic-style drug testing, even though Pacquiao had never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Mayweather camp earlier this year.
This news leaves the top two pound-for-pound boxers without an opponent. Rumors are that Manny Pacquiao may attempt to move up in weight yet again in an attempt to win a title in a record-setting eighth division. His opponent would be WBA Light Middleweight champion Yuri Foreman.
As for Floyd Mayweather Jr, one rumored opponent is Paulie Malignaggi. The March 13 date is also rumored to be when the two would fight, as Pacquiao would be scheduled the following weekend.
