Pacquiao v Mayweather could be back on
It’s been on and off more times than Audley Harrison’s retirement plans, but Manny Pacquiao has given his clearest indication yet that he will step into the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jnr, by announcing that he is willing to take the Olympic style blood tests.
Don’t get too excited though; the super-fight is still Earth to Venus distance from being put together. However newly unveiled Filipino politician Pacquiao has offered a ray of hope with the easing of his stance towards Mayweather’s self imposed criteria and the ball is now firmly back in “Money’s” court.
The fight looked all set to go in March before the debacle over the blood testing. To recap, the general problem was that Mayweather seems to be on a one-man mission to clean up the sport of boxing. He stipulates any mortal who dares step in the ring with him must submit to Olympic style blood tests before the fight as proof they are clean of performance enhancing drugs.
“Pacman” was having none of it though and insisted that he only conforms to the standard drug testing rules. He eventually relented by agreeing to testing 30 days before the fight, Mayweather countered with 14-days but that was deemed a no-go.
Since then Pacquiao has comfortably beaten Joshua Clottey and Mayweather took apart “Sugar” Shane Mosley in matches that made boxing fans wish “if only” and further discredit the validity of boxing as a competitive sport. Interestingly though, Mosley agreed to the testing and that could be significant because he is a boxer who was embroiled in a steroid scandal in 2003, and as a big name fighter he could have dug his heels in like Pacquiao, but he was quick to sign up. Maybe he saw it as a chance to clear his name, but it shows that not everyone has an anti-Mayweather stance to the American fighter’s madcap testing scheme.
Recently Pacquiao has since loosened his stance and stated on the weekend, "I have agreed to it, but they should not draw much blood.
"They should only take what is necessary for the drug test."
That has certainly done enough to rekindle the fire and get boxing fans rubbing their hands with glee. You could go around in circles saying who’s avoiding who, but its playground stuff. All boxing fans and indeed those with only a passing interest in the sport want to see this fight happen as it will finally reveal the true pound-for-pound champion and bring much needed interest and credibility back to boxing on an international level.
It’s still not straight forward though; Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum will be desperate to line Pacquiao up against another of his boys in Antonio Margarito. Arum hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with Golden Boy, who represents Mayweather, and the fact that they would want the fight in Las Vegas MGM while Arum has already reserved Cowboy stadium in Texas may be a sticking point. Margarito has of course been disgraced with the hand wrap scandal but Arum has been known to do things his own way regardless of anything else and could line up Margarito for what may well be Pacman’s final fight before he concentrates on his political career.
Of course money talks in boxing and potentially a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather could net them money beyond their wildest dreams. Perhaps the whole thing has been one big publicity stunt to fuel the hype fire, sort of like an annoying subliminal publicity campaign. This fight would more than likely go down in history as the most profitable fight of all time and if there is one thing Mayweather loves it’s money. There is no way he could resist.
There is no word from Mayweather’s camp on the news and with Pacquiao now seemingly giving in to his demands it will be interesting to see his next move. Any criticism Money has received in recent years from naysayers who claim he fiercely protects his perfect record by beating past it fighters or other pugilists tailored to his style will be levelled if he takes this fight. Whereas if he puts more barriers in the way his overall motives are questionable.
As for Pacquiao, he is making the right noises. For whatever reason, pride or fear, he didn’t want to take the blood test last time out, but by agreeing to it now he has done his bit and showed some diplomacy when many other fighters might have sulked.
His legacy is on the line as well, he has blown away his last few opponents with consummate ease. Like Mayweather, victory in this fight will answer any outstanding questions about him, secure his legend and the blood test will prove that it was all done above board.
So we move one step closer to the bout that would send boxing out of the stratosphere once again. The demands are being met and now surely nothing can stand in the way of this Mayweather v Pacquiao super-fight happening.
Except of course, the split of the purse, the weight of the gloves, size of the ring, which promotion company to use, the venue, the colour of the trunks, the music for the ring walk, the allocation of seats, the size of the dressing rooms, what they will eat for breakfast...
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