Floyd Mayweather Jr. threw a flurry of verbal punches yesterday as he blamed the “hiatus” of his next match solely on Manny Pacquiao and his camp. The two were scheduled to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, but the bout was declared dead on Wednesday night by Pacquiao promoter Top Rank.
Mayweather demanded blood-testing stipulations that were above and beyond the minimum Nevada Athletic Commission’s standards. Mayweather wanted regular blood testing right up until the day of the match. Pacquiao asked for a 30-day cutoff prior to the contest. Mayweather contends that he agreed to a 14-day compromise, but that has not yet been confirmed.
Per Mayweather:
“In my opinion it is Manny Pacquiao and his team who are denying the people a chance to see the biggest fight ever,” “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.”
Pacquiao has filed a lawsuit stating Mayweather defamed him by accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs. Promoter Top Flight chimed in by calling Mayweather “a psychological coward who doesn’t want to fight anybody who has a chance of beating him.” in a statement released to the AP on Wednesday.
The two fighters earned record pay-per-view dollars in their previous fights and stood to make at least $25 million each if this contest would ever take place. At this point, the match is off until both parties can come to an agreement on the blood testing standards.
Back in June, The TMR Zoo declared Manny Pacquiao the greatest boxer of all time, despite rumors that he eats kittens for power.
