Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight OFF, Says Promoter

Floyd Mayweather Jr. blamed Manny Pacquiao for the collapse of their prospective bout Thursday, claiming the Filipino boxer refuses to accept a reasonable compromise on drug testing concerns.

Mayweather also says he's still ready to sign a deal for the fight, which was slated for March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas before Pacquiao promoter Top Rank declared it dead Wednesday night.

Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) made his first public comments about the negotiations in a written statement that began with Mayweather saying he's "thoroughly disgusted" by Pacquiao's representatives' attempts to blame him for the collapse of what's likely to be the richest bout in boxing history.

"In my opinion it is Manny Pacquiao and his team who are denying the people a chance to see the biggest fight ever," Mayweather said. "I know the people will see through their smokes screens and lies. I am ready to fight and sign the contract. Manny needs to stop making his excuses, step up and fight."

The sides went to mediation on Tuesday in Santa Monica in an attempt to resolve the drug testing issues that are the only remaining conflicts in the negotiation. Mayweather's demands for frequent blood testing beyond the Nevada Athletic Commission's requirements – and Pacquiao's reluctance to agree to those requests – have derailed the bout.

Mayweather initially demanded repeated blood testing right up to the day of the fight, while Pacquiao asked for a 30-day cutoff before the bout. Mayweather now claims he agreed to a 14-day cutoff compromise before the mediation session began, but Pacquiao still wouldn't accept those terms.

"The truth is he just doesn't want to take the tests," Mayweather said.

Pacquiao has filed a lawsuit alleging Mayweather and most of his representatives, including Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, defamed him by falsely accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum was brutally frank about his former fighter on Wednesday night, telling The Associated Press that Mayweather is "a psychological coward who doesn't want to fight anybody who has a chance of beating him."

After generating stellar pay-per-view revenue from their previous fights, both Pacquiao and Mayweather likely stood to make much more than $25 million apiece from their welterweight bout. Mayweather returned to the ring after a 21-month absence in September with a victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, while Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) pounded Miguel Cotto in November for his 13th straight victory since 2005.

Pacquiao is widely considered boxing's pound-for-pound champion, an unofficial title held by Mayweather before his aborted retirement. Their proposed fight was seen as the biggest moment in boxing since Mayweather's split-decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007.

Daniel Weinstein, the retired federal judge who oversaw the mediation, also issued a statement Thursday saying little about the actual discussions.

"In the end, the parties could not agree on a testing protocol acceptable to all," Weinstein's statement read.

Comments

[BryanTheRegOps]

12:18 PM on 01/09/2010

Thats why Boxing is dying. This would never happen in UFC.

[faceplant]

08:51 PM on 01/09/2010

UGH. UFC is promoted in a cheezy fashion similar to pro "wrestling". That right there makes it hard to take seriously. Also, like pro "wrestling", you see a lot of obvious steroid abusers in the ring. These are guys who usually exhibit such bad boxing technique it's painful to watch, and then resort to moves from Greco-Roman wrestling, along with crude clubbing of the opponent while he's down to win the bout. Greco-Roman wrestling is a bore. That's why pro "wrestling" became the absurd fake sport that it is.

[LCDTV]

10:14 AM on 01/09/2010

mayrunner is so scared. he poisoned the fight with pacqquiao by assisting over the top PED test. Like they were not testing before.

of course mayrunner, at 147, wants to fight Malignaggi, because Malignaggi never fought over 140 lbs. mayrunner only wants to fight boxers smaller then he is. mayrunnner is such a chicken poop-poop.

hey mayrunner why don't you fight paul williams, shane mosely or tim bradley. you know why? because you will lose to every every single one of them. mayrunner is so over rated.

[StephenJK]

04:10 AM on 01/09/2010

Who is going to watch Mayweather v Malignaggi? LOL Nobody. Save for Mayweather's fanboys and girls. Which should sell about 50K PPVs. LOL

Who's going to watch Pacman v Clottey? Every fan of boxing. Period. That should top 1M PPVs easily.

Take that, Mayweather. You dug your own grave. You should just leave the sport of boxing. You've become completely irrelevant. This is a good thing. Manny sees things in this light which is why he told you to take your terms of drug testing and put them where the sun don't shine.

[Kippin]

03:47 AM on 01/09/2010

Pacquiao has had KOs ability. He had 55 fights, with 50 wins. and out of 50 wins he had 38 KOs. that's astounding 76%.

As for his weight gain, he has gone from 144 lbs to 149lbs in 3 years, from Nov 2006 to Nov 2009. Boxers cut weight. We need to look at his actual weight at fight night.

You see can see the details here.
http://www.saddoboxing.com/boxingforum/57604-manny-pacquiao-not-steroids-peds-plain-very-simple.html

[Na Moe Lepo]

02:22 AM on 01/10/2010

How many times you step through the ropes to make you an expert Kippen?

The kind of muscle mass put on by Pac-Man would rightfully cause the need for a PED test. If he is clean, "Let's get ready to rumble!"

If he were clean he would subject himself to any test proposed, and have a legitimate lawsuit!

By not subjecting himself to the same tests that Olympic Athletes are required to undergo gives the appearance of impropriety. Take the tests Manny, prove you are a man, not just better living through chemistry. Mayweather is willing to take the same tests... what you got to hide?

Mayweather is just looking for a clean fight. I now am beginning to understand how Oscar didn't beat Pacquiao, other than just being beyond his prime. And ya, I've made a few trips through the ropes, not just talkin' out my okole as you sound to be.

[305Rider]

01:51 AM on 01/09/2010

Personally, I'm questioning Pacquiao's record now.

This is the ster0id era, I think you can't refuse to take the most accurate test for detecting ster0ids and not expect to have your record questioned.

The fact that Pacquiao is now trying to fight someone else simply because of the bl00d test just further raises my suspicion that he might have been fighting dirty.

[StephenJK]

02:52 AM on 01/09/2010

Pacquiao has NEVER failed a drug test be it blood or urine. And he's taken MANY! NEVER ONCE FAILED...EVER. He's taken both blood and urine tests. This is all about Bedwetter Sr mouth running after he witnessed the beating Cotto took from Pacman. He just couldn't believe that Manny was faster, not necessarily stronger, and much more accurate and busy in that fight. Floyd Bedwetter Jr took the idea and foolishly ran with it. No evidence WHATSOEVER to base the accusations off of other than opinion. In fact they probably went to the statement Manny made after his loss to Erik Morales YEARS ago when he said that the blood that was drawn just before the fight sufficiently weakened him enough to lose the fight.

Pacman - Clottey: I will pay to see the fight. Two very good fighters with tons of heart. Should be a barnburner if not one-sided for Pacman.

Bedwetter - Malignaggi: ??? You couldn't pay me enough to watch that fight. Should be two very scared fighters slapping at each other with kid gloves.

The Bedwetters screwed this up for Boxing. No one else.

[305Rider]

03:03 AM on 01/09/2010

If he hasn't failed any drug tests, why refuse to take one now?

Why would he walk away from a pot that big, possibly the biggest in his career, over something he's done before?

[HerbTee]

03:23 AM on 01/09/2010

Na me-calling, personal in sults and innuendo...that's all you have against Mayweather. But the bottom line is, Manny has still refused to take the blood tests, even after two days of contract negotiations with a retired US Federal judge as the mediator. This whole matter can be solved easily. Manny should take the blood tests and stop whining and quit beating his chest about it. If Manny is clean of PEDs, what better way to take out his anger and revenge against Mayweather by taking the blood tests, stepping into the ring and try his best to whip Mayweather's bu tt...if he can. But Manny won't do it...he's too busy ducking and dodging the blood tests.

Boxers should take their personal differences to the ring where it counts and where they'll get paid, rather than waste time in court filing frivolous lawsuits for defamation...a lawsuit that Manny will likely NOT win if he cannot prove actual damages from the PED allegations. The only thing damaged so far is Manny's bruised little ego and courts don't award monetary judgments for bruised egos.

[Kippin]

07:06 PM on 01/08/2010

No boxers have ever taken random blood tests. No NBA players, NO NFL players have given random blood test. Pacquiao agreed to random urine testing and three blood tests, one blood test immediately after the fight. That's more than what the BOxing Commission requires, even though he has never failed any test.

Pacquiao is a bigger draw than Mayweather. Who the hell is Mayweather to ask what rules the Nevada Boxing Commission and Pacquiao should follow? Why would any sports ruling body change its rules just for one person on one match or one game? Imagine another player asks Kobe to take random blood tests in the NBA finals?

We all know Mayweather has ducked good fighters(guys like Cotton). In his last fight mayweather fought a guy who moved up two weight class. Mayweather was a much bigger guy to begin with, and he came in two pounds over the agreed weight limit in the weigh-in. On the fight night, Mayweather looked like he was 15lbs heavier than his opponent. that's some chicken shi-t right there.

All these blood test requests are just excuses not to fight. Boxing commission doesn't require blood testing. If you're scared, don't get into the boxing ring. If all the random urine tests,3 blood tests and one blood test after the fight aren't good enough for Mayweather, the only logical conclusion is that Mayweather is scared to lose. He doesn't want to fight someone who can beat him.

[Ken McCary]

08:14 PM on 01/08/2010

Ok it's obvious you know nothing about boxing. 1) Mayweather is a bigger draw than Pacquiao and has been outdrawing him for years. 2) It's Cotto not Cotton (geez), and 3) I think it's a legitimate concern that a fighter who was just SOLID for most of his career, gutsy but having no knockout power and no ability to win the mega fights --- all of a sudden blows up and in the span of 2 years starts decimating the most elite fighters out there. Mayweather and his camp know something or suspected something and Pacquiao's camp is dodging. It's that simple.

[junior111]

12:46 AM on 01/09/2010

I agree with Kippin 100%. Mayweather is really scared to death to fight Pacquiao and he knows his chances of losing is very high. He has the dirty way of hitting Pacquiao mentally and psychologically in order to rattle him. But Mayweather do not realize that Pacquiao is wiser that he might think. The truth of the matter is Pacquiao is a much bigger draw and appeal than him worldwide. Mayweather is a boxer and not a judge or boxing cimmissioner to dictate on what rules is to be implemented. He might be a bigger draw a couple of years ago. But currently, the king of boxing is non other than Manny Pacquiao. It is what it is.

[StephenJK]

03:02 AM on 01/09/2010

No it's YOU!!! who knows nothing about boxing. Pacman has STEADILY climbed through the weight classes from 106 (when he was just 18 or 19) to 145 (now). He has obviously worked TIRELESSLY (that's filipino work ethic for you) to create the body he has today. Never failed a blood or urine drug test. Floyd "KFC" Bedwetter is making excuses.

As for your assertion that Pacman "all of a sudden in two years" it's just flat-out ridiculous. His left hand has always had knockdown/out power. It's just since Freddy Roach has taught him to use his right hand with power and now Pacman is seriously the most feared fighter in the ring today. He's been knocking people out his whole career. He's not scared to commit to the punch and that is why he lands BOMBS. Floyd Bedwetter is simply jealous that Pacman's name will appear bigger and bolder in terms of Legacy. Even though Floyd still has his precious zero. Which means ZERO. Floyd Bedwetter BARELY deserves mention in hall-o-fame status.

As for Floyd's next fight? LOL Malignaggi?? And this is supposed to sell PPVs? That fight's going to be like watching old people sitting on park benches. Nothing exciting is going to happen there.

PAcman's next opponent? Joshua Clottey? Now THIS fight will be GREAT! I'll buy that PPV in a heartbeat. Why? Simply just a much better fight.

[faceplant]

03:34 AM on 01/09/2010

One problem. Steroids aren't going to be such an issue in the NBA. Bulking yourself up tends to harm your shooting, and running over people causes whistles. Based on my experience as a long-time weightlifter, though, and the appearance of many of the players' bodies, the NFL has lots of steroid use going on, and they catch almost no one.

[StephenJK]

03:42 AM on 01/09/2010

Lebron looks like he's str8 up juiced up in the past. I don't care what anyone says, no 18 year old looks like he did.

[HerbTee]

06:37 PM on 01/08/2010

a.) Mayweather and Manny tentatively agrees to a match set up by both camps and greedy promoters.

b.) The Mayweather camp has agreed to the demands of the Manny camp, which includes a smaller ring, smaller gloves and millions of dollars in penalties if Mayweather comes to the bout overweight. My understanding is the Mayweather camp agreed to these demands. If so, these demands are clear disadvantages to Mayweather. So why would Mayweather be afraid of Manny if he agreed to demands from Manny which clearly place Mayweather at a disadvantage?

c.) Rumors began that Manny is taking PEDs. It doesn't matter who started it, the rumor now persists. It's up to Manny to disprove the rumor if he expects credibility from this fight or others.

d.) Manny files a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather and GBP, which will likely go nowhere unless Manny can prove damages. Manny can still box practically anyone he wants and can still make millions from a bout. So how is Manny being damaged?

e.) After two days of deliberation, with a retired US Federal judge as impartial mediator, Manny still refuses to take stringent blood tests under 30 days before the match.

So, Manny is walking away from a $25 million payday by refusing to take blood tests and because his fragile Filipino male ego is punctured????? Give me a break Mayweather-ha ters. Who appears actually afraid of whom here???

[Kippin]

07:37 PM on 01/08/2010

small ring? what are you talking about? It's mayweather who wants a bigger ring size. Pacquiao wants a standard ring size.

Ring size is standard in Nevada: 20 feet by 20 feet. According to Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, everybody who has fought in Nevada the last 10 years has fought in the same-sized ring.

And it is Mayweather's father started the smear campaign against Pacquiao. So it is matter who started the rumor. He is a convicted drug dealer and known to say stupid things. When you start making baseless accusation against someone, you need to prove it. it is not the other way around.

If Maweather is so tough, how come he came in two pounds over the weight-limit in his last fight against a much smaller opponent? He signed the contract on the agreed weight and then broke it. He looked like he was 15 -20 lbs bigger than his opponent on the fight night. It is reasonable that pacquiao, being a smaller fighter, wants him to abide by his contract. Mayweather's demand on Pacquaio is unreasonable because Pacquaio has never failed a test, and the Boxing Commission has not requested any blood test on any boxer. Although Pacquiao has made concession and agreed to random urine test and three blood tests, with one blood test taken in locker room after the fight, Mayweather doesn't want to fight, rather, want to continue his smear campaign.

[HerbTee]

01:04 AM on 01/09/2010

You only have person attacks against Mayweather and his family, but very little on the facts of boxing...or facts on much of anything. Since it's Mayweather and NOT his father who'll be in the ring to fight Manny (if the fight happens), why bring his father's past into the discussion? You seem rather petty, childish and f00lish and cannot present an argument without useless talking points which have nothing to do with the boxing match.

You want to talk about the sins of fathers? Manny's father is a worthless, philandering deadbeat dad who abandoned Manny's mother and his siblings when Manny was less than 10. His father hooked up with another woman as his common law "wife" (there's NO divorce laws in the Philippines, only annulments...if you can afford one) and started another family with more kids he could hardly afford to feed....again!

Manny is the US educational equivalent of a 6th grade drop-out. Yet he wants to run for office as a Filipino congressman and there are Filipinos stu pid enough to actually vote for him. With all its problems and abject poverty, that's just what the Philippines needs more of...worthless, uneducated, corrupt politicians who do nothing to help the Filipino people or the country as a whole except to line their pockets.

Before you malign the Mayweather family, take a look at Manny's family background too. Both men have made the best of very bad situations as did many boxers before them.

[LCDTV]

06:15 PM on 01/08/2010

like Michael wilbon said, mayrunner is scared.

[MrT3]

11:40 AM on 01/08/2010

not one person here would turn down 30 million because of a blood test...so what's really good pac-man? ...its obvious what is going on...and never have i seen so many men with female tendencies...gossiping about mayweather being out of money? who's concern is that? like the 2pac said jealousy is such a WEAK emotion....

[MrT3]

02:24 PM on 01/08/2010

*like 2pac said* lol

[kappa08]

02:35 PM on 01/08/2010

ok...I'll bite.
what's next?, glove/ring size how about 3 more hoops the "moonwalker" puts up for Manny to jump through.
At the end of the day Manny doesn't need Mayweather. Mayweather needs Manny. Mayweather has only pulled against Mexican fighters and their HUGE fan base.
Why should a champion, a man and real blood and guts fighter succumb to every "whisper" Mayweather's camp throws against the wall? To me that's no different than a roller profiling "just because" to see and if you ask why. They say "what do you have to hide?" If your not "guilty" than you shouldn't worry right?...."

Look what he created with this baseless lie....look how easily you all chase this shiny object. Creating doubt. The assumption that he's guilty of something. Why? because the mouth of Las Vegas and his stuttering family says so. Who are they to ask for ANYTHING from Manny? If I was Manny I would just laugh and turn my back on Mayweather and this fight just to pi55 everybody off....

Honestly...I think this was planned to create drama. So they can even bank more. Did they get in a room a la WWE style and write the script. NO WAY. But it wouldn't surprise me if they purposely put Mayweather out there as the villain(being he can't pull like Manny can) just to hype it up for a July 4th bout......

[MrT3]

02:48 PM on 01/08/2010

manny needs to quit crying and take the tests...

[MrT3]

11:33 AM on 01/08/2010

pac man scared lol....stop taking drugs manny you beach

[kappa08]

08:59 AM on 01/08/2010

This fight was NEVER going to happen in March as first presented....Manny just came out of a mash up with Coto and was even hospitalized for a busted ear drum.
This is all about generating more buzz for what could be the biggest fight in 20 years.

And with the petulant requests from Mayweather about drug testing just gets us going more...I would rather walk away from the fight knowing I'm clean with all you wannabe's thinking you GOT something than cow tow to his request immediately lowering your stature from the "runner".....

[Disciple1]

12:57 AM on 01/08/2010

The only common sense conclusion: Pacquaio's blood is "dirty". There is no other reason to turn down such a lucrative and historical purse. You really believe Pacquaio's feelings and reputation were so hurt, that he would not have wanted to just kick Mayweather's arse for fun and revenge? BTW, Mayweather would have won the contest, no doubt.

[junior111]

04:04 AM on 01/08/2010

That's what you think. You'll it your words when Manny knocks out Money Boy like what he did to De La Hoya, Hatton, Cotto and company.

[Disciple1]

10:16 AM on 01/08/2010

I really doubt it. De La Hoya had nothing left over, physically and mentally, after the battle with Mayweather in 2007. That's how Pacquaio was able to get Oscar to quit during the fight. Hatton and Cotto are just bums.

[dolphy]

12:42 AM on 01/08/2010

next fight: Pacquiao purse 20 million, Mayweather purse, 5 million. Is that stoopeed or what?

[StephenJK]

03:33 AM on 01/09/2010

Nope and I will tell you why: People actually want to see Manny fight. On the other hand, Bedwetter Jr.? Not so much. Especially that joke Malignaggi they got him going against. A real display of pitter patter fleet feet on both sides of the ring in that fight. Nothing exciting will happen in that fight.

[BillAnthony]

10:01 PM on 01/07/2010

This whole thing was gamesmanship on Mayweather's part that ended up backfiring. Instead of all this unnecessary drama, the fight should have been promoted as a fight for the ages between two great champions. Mayweather and his camp attempted to gain a cheap pre-fight psychological edge by denigrating his opponent via unfounded inuendo. Now, even if the fight does take place, the focus is off what make it compelling in the first place. In the end Floyd cheapened the fight and made himself look scared.

[Danny Dougherty]

08:55 PM on 01/07/2010

There are long standing rules and protocol regarding urine and blood-tests in these fights... why any fighter would agree to a different procedure is baffling? It would set a terrible precedent in terms of a fighter making pre-fight demands on a number of levels... It is not as if Manny has ever tested positive for steroids or hgh, what we have is rumor and conjecture, which is not enough for your prospective opponent to direct the pre-fight testing rules. Manny is the big draw here, not floyd, while they are both outstanding fighters, and I put the fight at an even draw, I have to think floyd does not want to fight. Furthermore, floyd has an off putting personality to put it mildly. I say manny should walk and never fight the guy... Floyd will regret it, and it will make it that much faster until his inevitable final destination, broke and in palookaville...

[RevengeIsNear]

02:36 PM on 01/09/2010

Well said, Danny