The proposed super-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr has been thrown into doubt over a disputed drugs test according to Golden Boy Promotions.
Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy who promote Mayweather, has claimed that the Filipino will not agree to blood-testing in the immediate run up to the welterweight fight, which had been expected to take place in March.
Mayweather's management have requested that the fighters submit to Olympic style blood testing as outlined and mandated by the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) 30 days prior to the bout, to ensure both men are clean.
But Todd DuBoef, president of Pacquiao's promoters Top Rank, has informed Schaefer that his fighter refuses to have blood taken so close to a fight with the American based on the fighter's superstition of testing.
"Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight," Schaefer said on the Golden Boy Promotions Web site.
"Pacquiao would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight. It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao's representatives, particularly since both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight.
"Team Mayweather is certainly surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes such as Lance Armstrong, and Olympians Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."
Mayweather, who was informed of Pacquiao's reluctance shortly after Schaefer received word of the impasse, empathized with his possible opponent but hopes he will undergo the tests.
"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said.
"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. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA."
Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
Their super-fight was widely reported to be set for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 13, with only the final details to be thrashed out and an official announcement early next month.
It is unclear if the drugs test row will actually derail these plans but Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach was adamant his man would not submit to the proposed testing regime.
"We go by the commission rules, the sanctioning body rules. Mayweather doesn't make the rules, we don't work for Mayweather. He needs us, we don't need him," he was quoted on the Web site www.maxboxing.com.
Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Golden Boy who promote Mayweather, has claimed that the Filipino will not agree to blood-testing in the immediate run up to the welterweight fight, which had been expected to take place in March.
Mayweather's management have requested that the fighters submit to Olympic style blood testing as outlined and mandated by the United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA) 30 days prior to the bout, to ensure both men are clean.
But Todd DuBoef, president of Pacquiao's promoters Top Rank, has informed Schaefer that his fighter refuses to have blood taken so close to a fight with the American based on the fighter's superstition of testing.
"Todd told me that Pacquiao has difficulty with taking blood and doesn't want to do it so close to the fight," Schaefer said on the Golden Boy Promotions Web site.
"Pacquiao would only agree to have blood drawn before the kick-off press conference and after the fight. It is unfortunate to hear this from Manny Pacquiao's representatives, particularly since both parties had worked out all other issues related to this fight.
"Team Mayweather is certainly surprised that an elite athlete like Manny Pacquiao would refuse drug testing procedures which Floyd has already agreed to and have been agreed to by many other top athletes such as Lance Armstrong, and Olympians Michael Phelps, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant."
Mayweather, who was informed of Pacquiao's reluctance shortly after Schaefer received word of the impasse, empathized with his possible opponent but hopes he will undergo the tests.
"I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said.
"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. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA."
Pacquiao became a five-weight world champion following his WBO welterweight title win over Miguel Cotto in November, while Mayweather returned from a 21-month retirement to beat Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez in September.
Their super-fight was widely reported to be set for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 13, with only the final details to be thrashed out and an official announcement early next month.
It is unclear if the drugs test row will actually derail these plans but Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach was adamant his man would not submit to the proposed testing regime.
"We go by the commission rules, the sanctioning body rules. Mayweather doesn't make the rules, we don't work for Mayweather. He needs us, we don't need him," he was quoted on the Web site www.maxboxing.com.
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