Arum: “I don’t see the fight [Mayweather-Pacquiao] happening now”

By William Mackay: Promoter Bob Arum says that he’s been given instructions from his fighter World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao to look for another fight, according to the Mirror. Arum says “We contacted Manny [Pacquiao], and his position is firm, irrevocable. He instructed us to pursue another fight, period. I don’t see the fight happening now.” Arum doesn’t exactly seem optimistic about making the huge potential mega fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao happen.

The vast majority of the issues have already been resolved. The one problem that is turning out to be a sticking point in the random blood testing that Mayweather is insisting on. Pacquiao is against the random blood tests and it appears that the fight won’t happen unless Mayweather softens his request for the blood tests. Arum is looking at matching Pacquiao up with WBA light middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, who recently won the WBA title with a 12 round decision win over Daniel Santos in November.

The fight appears less than appealing, because Foreman isn’t well known to boxing fans. However, Pacquiao is interested in trying to capture an 8th world title, and Foreman may be the easiest way for him Manny to capture a title without too much of a struggle. The other light middleweight champions – Sergio Martinez, Sergeii Dzinziruk and Cory Spinks – are arguably tougher foes.

If Pacquiao does fight Foreman, it will be a huge test to see whether boxing fans are willing to pay to see this. It’s one thing for boxing fans to dish out money watching Pacquiao fight the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, but quite another to see Pacquiao fight the little known Foreman.

It’s rather disappointing to hear Arum sounding so dour about the chances of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight happening. You would think that Arum, with all his experience as a promoter, would be able to use his considerable persuasion skills to work on getting Pacquiao in the ring.