Arum to speak to Pacquiao to try and change his mind

By Harold Kupelle: ESPN writer Dan Rafael is reporting that promoter Bob Arum will be speaking to Manny Pacquiao to attempt to change his mind about taking a blood test within the 30 day window, perhaps at the two week mark. Earlier today, an old HBO Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7 segment was shown where Pacquiao was seen taking a blood test 14 days before the fight. The reason this is important is because Pacquiao has been adverse to taking a blood test within the 30 day period before the fight, saying that it might weaken him for the March 13th Mayweather fight.

However, with this new information about Pacquiao having no ill effects before his Hatton fight after having his blood drawn two weeks before the fight, Arum will take this info to Pacquiao in an attempt to get him to change his mind about having his blood tested. If Pacquiao still refuses to have his blood tested, then the fight with Mayweather will be off, because this is the one thing that Mayweather refuses to give in about. He wants random blood tests within the 30 day window.

In other news, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has reportedly decided to take random urine tests from both Pacquiao and Mayweather starting immediately up until the fight, if there is one. This gesture appears to have little meaning, because the urine testing was never the issue. Both fighters have no problems with it. It’s unfortunately not effective at finding the latest performance enhancing drugs, and the test needs to be augmented with additional testing for blood. One would hope that the commission will add this test in the future.

If Arum has no luck with getting Pacquiao to change his mind, it will spell curtains for the fight. Arum then will move ahead and complete negotiations with former International Boxing Federation light welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, whom he really wants to see in the ring with Pacquiao for some bizarre reason. It seems like a nightmare choice for an opponent, but perhaps Arum doesn’t want to take any chances with putting Pacquiao in with a more dangerous fighter like Timothy Bradley.

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