The fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that fell through earlier this year over drug-testing procedures might be back on the table, according to multiple internet reports.
Pacquiao took a break from campaigning for a seat in the Filipino congress Saturday to watch Mayweather beat Shane Mosley, according to the reports. Afterward, Pacquiao said he would be willing to undergo the Olympic-style blood and urine drug tests the Mayweather camp desires — but Pacquiao would want the blood tests cut off 24 days before the fight.
“For me, as long as the drug test is not done close to the match, I’ll agree because if they’ll get blood from me close to the match, it will be a disadvantage for me because I’m smaller and he’s big,” Pacquiao told a Manila radio station, according to the reports.
Pacquiao was slated to fight Mayweather on March 13, but it was called off when Pacquiao refused to accede to Mayweather’s testing demands, which included a blood-testing cutoff 14 days before the fight. Mayweather has since suggested that he would now want testing to continue up until the fight, according to BoxingScene.com.
Pacquiao later sued members of the Mayweather camp for suggesting that he was using performance-enhancing drugs.
After the fight against Mayweather fell through, Pacquiao defeated Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, last month. On Saturday, the undefeated Mayweather outclassed Mosley and won a unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
Both fights pale in comparison to a potential welterweight title bout between the world’s top two pound-for-pound fighters, which is bound to have the largest purse in boxing history.
Mayweather was asked about the superfight after he beat Mosley.
“If Manny Pacquiao can take a blood and urine test, then we have a fight,” Mayweather said, according to reports. “If not, no fight.”
He also said, “If the fight happens, it happens. I’m not out chasing fighters.”
