29 Dec 2009

Pacquiao promoter re-ignites hope of "mega fight"

6:47 pm on 29 December 2009

World champion Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum says he will ask the boxer to reconsider his objection to blood testing, raising the prospect that the proposed bout with American Floyd Mayweather could yet go ahead.

Pacquiao has balked at Mayweather's demand for random blood testing within 30 days of the fight, preferring urine testing as he says losing blood weakens him -- a stance which has threatened a highly anticipated and lucrative match-up.

But scenes from the HBO reality show 'Pacquiao/Hatton 24/7', which documented Pacquiao's build-up to his fight with Briton Ricky Hatton in May, showed the Filipino fighter giving blood.

Mayweather's camp says the scene was filmed just 14 days before the fight -- a fact Arum says he wants to verify before speaking to his fighter.