By Chris Williams: Manny Pacquiao seems to be leaving the responsibility for a mega fight between him and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the lap of Mayweather as to whether or not the fight will get made.
Despite the fact that Mayweather has said that he would fight Pacquiao if he agrees to stay in the U.S and take the USADA drug testing for performance enhancing drugs that Mayweather wants, Pacquiao and his promoter want to train in the Philippines and won’t be available for the USADA testing during the time there. That seems to be the real deal breaker.
Pacquiao and Bob Arum, his promoter, both know what Mayweather wants before he’ll agree to fight him but it looks like they’re counting on him dropping his demands. I don’t see it happening. It seems to me that they should agree to what Mayweather wants so that the fight can be made.
Speaking with fighthub, Pacquiao said “It’s up to him [Mayweather] if he wants to fight, I’m ready anytime.”
Mayweather also says he’s ready, but the fight can’t be made unless one of them gives in and I don’t think it’s going to be Mayweather. I think Pacquiao would change his mind if Arum asked him to stay in the U.S and be available for the USADA testing. If Arum hasn’t done this, I don’t see why he hasn’t asked Pacquiao. After all, the money Pacquiao will make for the Mayweather fight would likely be as much money as Pacquiao makes for two fights.
Of course, Pacquiao could lose the fight which may lessen his income for subsequent fights, but that’s a risk he’s got to be willing to take. I just don’t understand why Arum doesn’t persuade Pacquiao to stick around the U.S for the full training camp so that the fight can be made. Just this once, Pacquiao could train for the full training camp so that he could be tested as often as the USADA likes. It would rest Mayweather’s mind at ease and the fight can be made.
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