Pacquiao agrees to 14-day blood-testing limit

Filipino star Manny Pacquiao has given the clearest indication yet that he is willing to compromise over Floyd Mayweather’s drug-testing demands.

Pacquiao says he would now be willing to take a blood test 14 days ahead of any fight with his American rival.

“I have agreed to it, but they should not draw much blood,” he said.

Negotiations for a bout between the pair fell through earlier this year when the unbeaten Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style random drug testing.

Five-weight world champion Pacquiao said: “They should only take what is necessary for the drug test.”

The 31-year-old, who previously said he does not like giving blood close to his fights, added: “14 days,” when stating the time limit for blood to be taken before the fight. In the run-up to their aborted March bout, Mayweather called for repeated blood testing up to the day of the fight. Pacquiao, who has never failed a doping test, wanted a 30-day cut-off. Mayweather later said he agreed to a 14-day cut-off but that Pacquiao would not accept it.

Since then they have faced different opponents, with Mayweather beating Shane Mosley and Pacquiao defeating Joshua Clottey.

A fight between the pair, widely regarded and the two best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, would also likely be the richest in the sport’s history, with Las Vegas or Dallas the likely venue.

“He [Mayweather] will no longer have a reason [not to fight],” added Pacquiao. “Let’s see if that is really the reason.” BBC