By Jason Kim: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says that his fighter Manny Pacquiao wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, Arum isn’t speaking about the sticking point that destroyed negotiations for their failed fight in March, namely the Olympic style blood testing. In an article at Boxing Talk, Arum says “I talked to Manny and that’s the fight he wants to happen above all others.” But when asked about the whether Pacquiao has changed his mind about the blood testing for performance enhancing drugs, Arum said “I’m not going to discuss anything regarding anything to the negotiations.”
So it’s a mystery whether Pacquiao will give in and change his mind about the Olympic style blood testing that Mayweather wants. But based on Pacquiao’s comments in the past, it’s not likely their going to get him to budge much on this issue aside from meeting Mayweather half way between the 24 day window and the 14 days he wants. That would be around 18 days of no drug testing before the fight. It depends on how bad Mayweather wants the fight.
He just made a lot of money, some $40 million, for his fight against Shane Mosley on May 1st, and he’s said that he can make $10 million per fight just in small fights. Pacquiao really isn’t needed for a money fight at this point, and that’s the thing that Mayweather wants. He’s a businessman above all else and it may not make sense to give in on the drug testing to fight Pacquiao if he can make similar money against easier opponents who are willing to agree to the drug testing that he wants them to take.
Things aren’t helped that Mayweather beat Mosley, a popular fighter, so easily. Mayweather’s fight did well, earning 1.4 million pay per view buys, which was double that of Pacquiao’s last fight against Joshua Clottey in March. Mayweather is in a position of strength. He can pretty much dictate the terms for the negations. He’s not about to retire and isn’t as concerned about his legacy like Pacquiao is right now. It may turn out that unless Pacquiao gives Mayweather everything he’s asking for this time, then there won’t be a fight.
Last time, Pacquiao appeared to be the one negotiating from a position of strength because he had recently beaten Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto while Mayweather was in retirement. However, things have changed dramatically with Mayweather’s dominating performances against Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather appears to be fighting on a higher level than Pacquiao and the boxing fans seem to be acknowledging that he’s the best after his win over Mosley.
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