MANILA, Philippines ? Unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is not in the mind of 7-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, even if the boxing world is clamoring for their fight.
Pacquiao, who is running for the Sarangani Province congressional seat on May 10, has entered the homestretch of his political campaign.
?He’s totally focused on the campaign. He was out campaigning yesterday late,? his adviser, Mike Koncz, told ABS-CBN News.
The Canadian adviser added: ?I think it would snow in the Philippines before that fight is gonna happen based on the comments made by Mayweather to the press after the [Shane] Mosley fight.?
Mayweather said there will only be a Pacquiao fight if the Filipino boxing superstar will agree to undergo Olympic-style drug testing.
?If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight, it’s not hard to find me? If Manny Pacquiao takes the blood and urine test, we can satisfy all the fans,? the American said in an Agence France-Presse report.
Mayweather overcame Mosley via unanimous decision on May 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao, for his part, said he is willing to undergo a blood test as long as it will not be conducted on the day of the fight.
The boxing superstars were supposed to fight on March 13, but their disagreement on the blood testing procedure hindered negotiations.
Not the right time
Meanwhile, Koncz said that should the stalled negotiations progress, Team Pacquiao will make sure to assert its stance on the drug testing protocol.
?He has no intention nor will I suggest to him that we let Mayweather impose any rules he wants to impose, whether on drug testing or whatever rules and that’s his position,? said Koncz.
But for the meantime, Team Pacquiao?s focus is on the prized fighter?s second congressional bid. He lost in 2007 to eventual South Cotabato 1st District Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
Pacquiao?s promoter, Top Rank Promotions head Bob Arum confirmed this to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com: ?We’re not even going to talk about future plans until after election and that?s the truth.?
?I have no thoughts about the other stuff but I have an open mind to everything. Obviously, he’s my fighter and I will do what he asks me to do, but there’s a time for everything. And the time is not now,? he added.
No official statement
Koncz also took the time to belie reports on Pacquiao?s supposed official statement on his stance on drug testing.
The Canadian adviser told Ronnie Nathanielsz of PhilBoxing.com that Pacquiao ?never talked to anybody about boxing and his main concern is campaigning and winning the election on May 10.?
Pacquiao allegedly agreed to Mayweather?s demand for random blood tests as long as they will be held as close as 14 days before the bout.
He also reportedly set the condition that Mayweather must undergo the same blood tests. ? With reports from ESPN.com, PhilBoxing.com and Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News
