Floyd Mayweather Jr. blamed Manny Pacquiao for the collapse of
their prospective bout Thursday, claiming the Filipino boxer
refuses to accept a reasonable compromise on drug testing concerns.
Mayweather also says he's still ready to sign a deal for the
fight, which was slated for March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las
Vegas before Pacquiao promoter Top Rank declared it dead Wednesday
night.
Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) made his first public comments
about the negotiations in a written statement that began with
Mayweather saying he's "thoroughly disgusted" by Pacquiao's
representatives' attempts to blame him for the collapse of what's
likely to be the richest bout in boxing history.
"In my opinion it is Manny Pacquiao and his team who are
denying the people a chance to see the biggest fight ever,"
Mayweather said. "I know the people will see through their smokes
screens and lies. I am ready to fight and sign the contract. Manny
needs to stop making his excuses, step up and fight."
The sides went to mediation on Tuesday in Santa Monica in an
attempt to resolve the drug testing issues that are the only
remaining conflicts in the negotiation. Mayweather's demands for
frequent blood testing beyond the Nevada Athletic Commission's
requirements - and Pacquiao's reluctance to agree to those requests
- have derailed the bout.
Mayweather initially demanded repeated blood testing right up
to the day of the fight, while Pacquiao asked for a 30-day cutoff
before the bout. Mayweather now claims he agreed to a 14-day cutoff
compromise before the mediation session began, but Pacquiao still
wouldn't accept those terms.
"The truth is he just doesn't want to take the tests,"
Mayweather said.
Pacquiao has filed a lawsuit alleging Mayweather and most of
his representatives, including Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard
Schaefer, defamed him by falsely accusing him of using
performance-enhancing drugs.
Top Rank boss Bob Arum was brutally frank about his former
fighter on Wednesday night, telling The Associated Press that
Mayweather is "a psychological coward who doesn't want to fight
anybody who has a chance of beating him."
After generating stellar pay-per-view revenue from their
previous fights, both Pacquiao and Mayweather likely stood to make
much more than $25 million apiece from their welterweight bout.
Mayweather returned to the ring after a 21-month absence in
September with a victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, while Pacquiao
(50-3-2, 38 KOs) pounded Miguel Cotto in November for his 13th
straight victory since 2005.
Pacquiao is widely considered boxing's pound-for-pound
champion, an unofficial title held by Mayweather before his aborted
retirement. Their proposed fight was seen as the biggest moment in
boxing since Mayweather's split-decision victory over Oscar De La
Hoya in May 2007.
Daniel Weinstein, the retired federal judge who oversaw the
mediation, also issued a statement Thursday saying little about the
actual discussions.
"In the end, the parties could not agree on a testing
protocol acceptable to all," Weinstein's statement read.
