Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Title Fight In Jeopardy

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ESPN is reporting that the planned Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather welterweight title fight, previously scheduled for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, is in jeopardy.

The two sides had been negotiating terms for Olympic-style drug testing procedures, preferred by Mayweather, and reportedly refused by Pacquiao. Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy (Mayweather’s promoters) released word that the holdup was Pacquiao and. Pacquiao is represented by Top Rank and its president Todd duBoef.

“Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn’t want to do it so close to the fight,” Schaefer said. “He, Pacquiao, would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight.”

“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken because, frankly, I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in a statement. “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.

Top Rank spokesman Lee Samuels said the company declined to comment.

credit: ESPN

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs