Trust me I know the low down on Manny, I'm an American working in the Phils, BTW....
If the guys is willing to take a post fight blood test immediately after, I do not even see why this is an issue period....
As of yesterday, ABS-CBN.... ball in Mayweathers court, we will see...
After Floyd Mayweather picked apart an older Shane Mosley on Saturday (May 1), talk immediately switched to the future. A Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao showdown anyone?
The two fighters were set to face off this year, but when Mayweather requested that Pac-Man endure Olympic-style USADA drug testing during his training camp, negotiations ceased and the mega-fight was called off.
Ever since, Floyd has insuated that Pacquiao is using performance-enhancing drugs despite having no proof, prompting the Filipino fighter to file a defamation lawsuit, which is currently pending.
After the fight hit a wall, Pacquiao went on to defeat Joshua Clottey on March 13th, while Mayweather won a unanimous decision against Mosley over the weekend.
Now, however, Pac-Man seems to be softening his stance on drug testing procedures. Two days after Mayweather's victory, Pacquiao said he's willing to compromise.
"I am willing to help the sport for the future of the sport. I do not want to see anyone cheat or cheat this sport," Pacquiao said in a statement on his official website. "For that reason I am willing to consider taking blood [tests] as close as 14 days prior to the fight, as long as my opponent does the same, and it is not a lot of blood, just enough to test."
Mayweather has proven that has no issue undergoing the same kind of testing as his opponent.
The Filipino fighter previous insisted on a cut-off of blood testing 30 days before the fight, but later agreed to 24 days after he realized he did the same in his fight against Ricky Hatton in May 2009. He also agreed blood test immediately after the fight.
Pacquiao resisted Mayweather's requests, arguing that that anything else would weaken him during training. But now, he may compromise a little more to make the fight happen. "I do not want anyone having an unfair advantage where someone may get hurt," said Pacquiao. "I am willing to do my part to help this sport out."
Despite Pac-Man's statements, it's unclear when a fight with Mayweather would take place, because he's currently running for a seat in congress in his native country, the Philippines. That's his main concern at the moment. Then, according to ESPN, Pacquiao plans to go on vacation with family.
After all that, then boxing plans will be discussed.
"As Manny has stated many times, we are willing to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere in accordance with the athletic commission's rules and regulations in which ever state we fight in. We will not be bullied into or entertain any additional rules or regulations to be imposed by our opponent," Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser, said in a statement to Pacquiao's website.
After Mayweather's fight on Saturday, he said he would fight Pacquiao, but only if he agrees to the same kind of testing used during his fight with Mosley. If not, he said there will be no fight.
"If Manny Pacquiao can take a blood and urine test then we have a fight," Mayweather said. "If not, no fight."
:biggrin:
