Promoter weighs in on feudLAS VEGAS
December 26, 2009
MANNY Pacquiao will not fight Floyd Mayweather in March because a blood-testing stalemate wiped out what could have been the richest fight in boxing history, says promoter Bob Arum.

The planned showdown between Filipino hero Pacquiao, a seven-division world champion, and unbeaten US star Mayweather could have brought each fighter as much as $US40 million ($A45.49 million) in a rare Las Vegas mega-fight spectacular.

Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, said Mayweather's request to have stricter US Anti-Doping Agency testing methods, including possible random blood tests within days of the bout, killed any hope of reaching a deal.

''It's over,'' Arum said. ''As far as I'm concerned the fight is over.''

For boxing fans, it was like a Christmas Eve theft of their favourite gift, a long-awaited showdown between the generation's two recognised pound-for-pound superstars.

Arum, who said every other aspect of the contract had been agreed upon, held out some hope the fight might come off later in 2010, but promised nothing. ''Can it be revisited in the fall? We'll see,'' Arum said.

An original May 1 date was scuttled because Pacquiao wants to run for congress in his homeland and elections are in May. ''Pac-Man'' is expected to fight on March 13, but against American Paul Malignaggi, who is 27-3 with five knockouts.

Mayweather was insisting on greater blood and urine testing than normal.

Arum saw Mayweather's insisting on random blood testing as a way to avoid having to weigh in and face Pacquiao, who did not want blood drawn so close to the fight, Arum told the Grand Rapids Press.

''Floyd, to me, is a coward. Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao,'' Arum said.

''Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in.''