Mayweather-Pacquiao Talks Back On?

Filed under: WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, Golden Boy Promotions, HBO

The negotiations for the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megabout slated for the MGM in Las Vegas, thought to be near death, may yet be revived, thanks to the potential involvement of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum told FanHouse on Thursday night.

Pacquaio’s refusal to allow the United States Anti-Doping Agency to draw blood within a 30-day period of the bout’s March 13 date was in direct disagreement with the demands of Mayweather’s camp, which wants both fighters to be randomly tested for performance enhancing drugs.

As a result, Arum told FanHouse earlier on Thursday that the fight was off.

But Arum, apparently, has changed his mind.

“Keith Kizer, the executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, has been authorized to offer the services of the Nevada Commission to step in and to do all of the prefight drug-testing if the two fighters agree,” said Arum.

“So that is a real development, because we would certainly be willing to sit down and work out a protocol with them. The Nevada Commission would be perfect to handle this,” said Arum. “The commission has suggested it, and we’re very much in favor of it. We would love it. It’s something that is a positive development.”