Mediators brought in to save Pacquiao-Mayweather bout
Mayweather Jr's demands put Pacquiao bout in doubt
Tuesday, 05, Jan 2010 07:29
By Michael Younger
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr's representatives are set to meet with a mediator in a bid to save the March 13th showdown.
The bout looked to have fallen through last month after a row erupted over blood testing, with Mayweather demanding random drugs tests ahead of the bout.
Pacquiao responded to claims he had been using performance-enhancing substances by issuing a lawsuit against Mayweather, Mayweather's father and uncle, as well as Golden Boy Promotions.
And with potential purses of up to £25m per fighter, former judge Daniel Weinstein - who has helped resolve previous spats between the pair - has been brought in and now looks to have given the fight a new lease of life.
"This guy was successful resolving our nutty problem before and hopefully he can be successful this time," Pacquiao's promoter and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum told ESPN.
"He's a guy who is a big fight fan and loves the sport, and I found him last time to be a delight to deal with. Everybody did."
Weinstein helped resolve a dispute three years ago over the promotional rights to Pacquiao, who had signed contracts with Top Rank and Golden Boy.
Speaking ahead of the meeting between the two parties, Weinstein said in a statement issued by the LA Times: "Neither side is insisting on pre-conditions, and both sides will present their position in an effort to resolve the dispute."
Mayweather's team attempted to diffuse the situation by issuing a statement last week in which they claimed they had not accused Pacquiao of anything.