Arum might ask Pacquiao to reconsider stance on blood issue

Top Rank promoter Bon Arum said he might ask Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao to “tighten” the window for the blood test being demanded by the camp of his foe Floyd Mayweather Jr.

This was after an episode of HBO reality show “Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7” has showed the Filipino reportedly giving blood 14 days before his fight against Ricky Hatton last May 2.

"I will transmit it [word of Pacquiao's '24/7' test] to Manny once [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenburg establishes the actual date of the test in ‘24/7' and [the Mayweather camp] makes a proposal based on what Ross has come up with," Arum told ESPN.com.

"If that happens, I am sure I can convince Manny [to tighten the testing window],” he added.

Pacquiao has opposed at Mayweather's demand for random blood testing within 30 days of the fight, preferring urine testing as he says losing blood weakens him.

The Filipino instead agreed to take 3 blood tests: the first during the week of the kickoff news conference in early January, the second random test to be conducted no later than 30 days before the fight, and a final test in his after the fight.

However, the weakening effect of blood testing on Pacquiao might be unproven should it be established that he indeed gave a blood sample 14 days before the Hatton fight. The match saw the Filipino knocking the Briton out with a powerful left hook to the jaw in the second round.

NSAC Deadline Arum earlier set a Monday deadline for Golden Boy to accept a "final offer" in which both sides let the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) make the final decision on testing.

This has led to NSAC calling on both fighters to submit to urine test within “48 hours” since the announcement on Monday (Tuesday in the Philippines)

Mayweather adviser, however, said that there was no question of accepting that proposal.

"Random is random. We are not backing off and the ball is in their court," he told Reuters.

But the Mayweather camp also left the door open for further talks.

"Team Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions is still open to the earlier discussions of having both parties work out a mutually agreeable understanding of the testing, which would be conducted by a mutually agreed upon agency," according to a statement by the Mayweather camp.

Doctor flying to Gensan to test Pacman Dr. Alex Pineda of the Philippine Olympic Committee will take a flight to General Santos City to take a urine sample from Pacquiao for analysis as required by the NSAC.

Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told PhilBoxing.com’s Ronnie Nathanielsz that Pineda is the only doctor accredited by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) nearest to Pacquiao location.

The 7-time world champion has preferred to stay in Gensan to celebrate the birthday of his eldest daughter Mary Divine Grace. With reports from ESPN.com, Reuters and PhilBoxing.com

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Pacquiao party turns rivals Satur, Bongbong into buddies

One should give it to Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao for turning long-time political rivals, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, into buddies, even for a night only.

During Nacionalista Party’s party to formally welcome Pacquiao into its fold Monday night, Marcos was seen extending his hand to greet Ocampo – a gesture that sent everybody at the Laurel House in Mandaluyong City cheering.

In an interview with reporters, Marcos said the gesture should not be given any meaning, as Ocampo is a fellow member of the House of Representatives.

“Walang katuturan yun. Bumati lang yung magkakilala na kapwa congressman (That’s nothing. It’s just a greeting between two congressmen)," the only son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. said.

Both Marcos and Ocampo are in the NP senatorial lineup for next year’s elections.

To recall, Ocampo – along with Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza – had refused to be included in the same ticket as Marcos, noting his father’s human rights abuses during his term as president.

Maza and Ocampo, however, agreed to join NP after it severed its ties with the Marcos-led Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) party.

Fight goes on

Ocampo, for his part, said his gesture toward Marcos did not mean that he has set aside his fight to recover the ill-gotten wealth from the latter’s family and compensation for the victims of human rights abuses during the martial law.

“Hindi ibig sabihin [ng pakikipagkamay] na binabalewala na ang laban (I shook his hand but that doesn’t mean our issues are over)," the left-leaning party-list lawmaker said.

He added that he accepted NP’s offer to be in its senatorial slate despite Marcos’ presence because he supports the tandem of Senators Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda.

“Hindi naman si Bongbong ang sinusuportahan ko. Ipu-pursue ko pa din ang kaso laban sa kanyang tatay. Ipu-pursue ang recovery ng ill-gotten wealth at compensation sa mga biktima ng human rights violations," he said.

(It is not Bongbong whom I’m supporting. I will still pursue the case against his father as well as the recovery of the ill-gotten wealth and compensation for human rights victims.)

He, however, said he would not raise these issues during the campaign in order for them to focus on their common platform, which is eradicating poverty.

Snubbing incident?

Earlier in the day, observers noticed that Maza and Marcos tried to avoid each other when they greeted Villar's wife, Las Piñas Rep Cynthia Villar, who was present in the event.

Maza denied that she ignored Marcos. "Nagbatian naman kami, baka hindi mo lang nakita (We greeted each other. Maybe you just didn’t see it)," Maza told GMANews.TV with a smile. Report from KBK, GMANews.TV

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Roach thumbs down March fight for Pacquiao

Freddie Roach is definitely thrilled with a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. showdown.

But he’s definitely not hot on a possible March 13 face-off between two of boxing’s most popular fighters today.

Roach readily thumbed down the proposed March gig being dangled by Top Rank Promotions’ big boss Bob Arum following a series of negotiations he had with Golden Boy Promotions’ CEO Richard Schaefer, representing Mayweather.

Freddie Roach

"March 13 is too fast a turnaround," said Roach from Europe, where he is currently preparing reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) light-welterweight champion Amir Khan for his Dec. 5 title defense against Dmitriy Salita.

The unbeaten Mayweather had already agreed to the fight contract, which Arum hopes Pacquiao would also approve.

As of posting time, Arum has been waiting for Pacquiao for hours at the New World Renaissance Hotel in Makati to discuss about the fight. The Filipino boxing icon was busy completing the final scenes of his action picture Wapakman to be shown on Dec. 25.

Other than Mayweather, who boasts of a 40-0 ring record, with 25 KOs, Roach is also concerned about Pacquiao’s physical health, having gone 12 rounds of war with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto just four weeks ago for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title.

Although the Filipino boxing pride scored a late stoppage against the 29-year old Cotto, Pacquiao emerged out of it bearing bruises on both eyes and an injured right ear.

"Manny has a broken (right) eardrum," Roach said. "So I’d like to have more time."

Bob Arum

Arum agreed to book Pacquiao’s mega-bout with Mayweather on March 13 as the seven-time world champion is set to seek public office in the province of Saranggani in the May 10 national elections.

But Roach said the proximity of the fight and the date of election is too close for comfort that he’s not discounting distraction in training camp to come along the way.

For the three-time Trainer of the Year, it would be better if Arum and Schaefer, would be able to put off the fight at a later date, preferably shortly after the elections.

"I’d say he (Pacquiao) rest for a while, enjoy the holidays, run for elections, and Congressman Manny Pacquiao will kick Mayweather’s ass," said Roach.

Stressing the 32-year old Mayweather is a different kind of animal, Roach added Pacquaio should come in for the bout in his best possible shape.

"I hope the fight happens, yes, but I want us to be in the best possible shape," he said.

"We need time to get ready for that (fight)। We have to come out with a real different style. It’s a whole different ballgame."

Report from GMANews.TV
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