The most awaited fight of the century may not happen anymore because of the insistence of Mayweather’s camp to subject Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao into Olympic style blood tests for steroids. The accusation that Pacquiao is on steroid was started by Mayweather Sr., the trainer and father of the former pound-for-pound king. In the latest feat of Pacquiao against Cotto, Mayweather Sr. told the media that he knows his son is the best fighter but if his opponent uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt. The trainer has been very vocal in this issue for months already but up to this time, he had not presented any evidence to prove his claims. Many believe that his badmouthing against the 7 division world champion is a tactic to avoid the match between his son and Pacquiao. As a trainer he knows how powerful Pacquiao is. There are also speculations that Mayweather Jr. fears that this match-up could be his first loss which could taint his good record in the ring.

The reluctance of Pacquiao to subject himself to a series of blood test near the fight proves that Manny is on something according to the trainer. “Like I said from the start, that was just my opinion. It’s a lot of people’s opinions now. For that kind of money how could you not take the test? There’s a reason,” said Mayweather Sr. Yesterday, Pacquiao issued a statement to the local media in the Philippines that he is now filing suit against Mayweather Sr. for libel and defamation. According to Pacquaio, his refusal to take blood test for steroids is due to its effects on him during the fight. It could weaken him but it is not because he is afraid to be tested for steroids or any performance enhancing drugs.

The pound-for-pound king is already annoyed of the continued allegations of steroids use. “Enough is enough,” Pacquiao said during an interview with local media. He believes that the issue is being used by the Mayweather’s camp as a publicity stunt. “I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard,” he said. “These people (Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Productions) think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.

According to Pacquiao, he already called Bob Arum to help him file the case. “I have instructed him to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world.” He assured everyone that his achievements were not tainted with steroids. “I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it,” said the Pacman. “I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”

Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions also rejected the suggestion of Mayweather Sr. saying he would not give in to trivial issues. During a telephone call made by Fanhouse, Arum said that the scheduled fight on March 13 next year is absolutely off. “This fight is absolutely off. That’s our position, period, is that we’re moving on to Malignaggi,” said Arum. “And if Mayweather loses this fight, and all of this money, then he has only one guy to blame, and that’s Richard Schaefer. This is not Mayweather. This is Richard Schaefer,” Arum added.

He also refused to take part on the scheduled mediation arranged by Ross Greenburg of HBO Sports. “I’m not going to take part in any mediation or anything. I’m not going to deal with Richard Schaefer on instructions from my client. He’s demeaned and libeled my client for no damn reason. And I’m just not going to take part in it,” Arum said.

For those people who are expecting for this mega fight, Arum hinted that the fight could still materialize as long as there will be new people who will sit down on the negotiating table. “If they want to come back and have someone else represent them - Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s adviser, or anybody else they want, then we can sit down and do this the right way with the Nevada Athletic Commission having complete jurisdiction over everything,” said Arum. If that would happen, they would agree to pre-fight testing, urine analysis, blood-testing, and whatever it took to get the fight done. “But we’d only do it with the Nevada Athletic Commission. But for now, Manny has asked me to move on to Malignaggi,” Arum added. The Top Rank executive believes that these issues were also related to his bitter relationship with the Golden Boy Promotions.

And now the 7 division world champion made a bold statement against Mayweather Jr. “Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring.”

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