Mayweather camp ridicules Pacquiao as sledging continues over tests

FLOYD MAYWEATHER jnr's management has ridiculed Manny Pacquiao's reasons for refusing to accept blood testing within 30 days of the proposed mega-fight between the pair by pointing out that the Filipino was shown on a TV documentary undergoing such a test 14 days before his bout with Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao said last weekend that taking blood out of his body ''does not seem natural … and mentally I feel it will weaken me if blood is taken from me just days before the fight'', while his camp has also suggested that he is afraid of needles.

In response to demands from Mayweather that both boxers submit to random blood and urine testing before and after the March 13 fight, Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, tabled a counter-proposal that they each provide three blood tests - one on the day the bout is confirmed, another 30 days before the fight and the third immediately after the fight - as well as random urine tests.

Mayweather was given until yesterday to accept the deal or Pacquiao would scuttle what is expected to be the most lucrative bout in boxing history, with the pair guaranteed a minimum of $US25 million ($27.9m) each , and finalise negotiations to fight Paulie Malignaggi instead.

While the deadline passed without Mayweather agreeing to the deal put forward by Arum, talks between the two parties are set to continue.

But Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions said in a statement that they had made many concessions for the fight and questioned why Pacquiao was so reluctant to agree to their stringent drug-testing proposals.

''Let it be very clear that nobody from Team Mayweather or Golden Boy Promotions is accusing Pacquiao of anything,'' the statement said. ''But the reality seems to be that for whatever reason Pacquiao does not want to participate in random blood testing, which has already been deemed a harmless procedure that many current athletes are subjected to prior to and during competition. The fact is that he did have blood taken just 14 days prior to his fight with Ricky Hatton, an event which was documented on HBO's 24/7 reality show.

''Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions [are] still open to the earlier discussions of having both parties work out a mutually agreeable understanding of the testing, which would be conducted by a mutually agreed upon agency.''

Asked about the blood testing before the Hatton fight, Arum told ESPN.com he would suggest that Pacquiao do the same if such a proposal was put forward.

Arum also said that Pacquiao would comply with the Nevada Sports Commission's orders.

Source: smh.com.au