• Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather Jnr

Pacquiao responds to Floyd plan: 'I'm ready'

ESPN staff
November 4, 2011
Manny Pacquiao will fight Juan Manuel Marquez on November 12 © PA Photos
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The obstacles to Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather Jnr seem to be slowly falling away, with Pacquiao saying on US television: "I'm ready to fight."

Earlier this week, the super-fight moved a step closer when Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's advisor, said the unbeaten American was "looking to make the biggest fight possible and everyone knows what that fight is, the little fella [Pacquiao]".

The Mayweather camp has put the MGM Arena in Las Vegas on hold for May 5 - a potential date for the two pound-for-pound kings to meet.

In response to developments, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said he doubted whether Mayweather actually wanted the fight, and accused him of milking Pacquiao's name - and his November 12 fight with Juan Manuel Marquez - for publicity. But he also revealed that "Olympic [drug] testing is OK" - and that is where the last round of negotiations broke down.

Mayweather insisted on random blood and urine testing; Pacquiao agreed to unlimited random urine testing but wanted a cut-off for blood testing, saying that losing blood too close to the fight would drain his strength.

There are still hurdles to clear - Pacquiao has a defamation lawsuit ongoing against Mayweather - but it seems Pacquiao is ready to go. Asked on America's Jimmy Kimmel Show whether he feels Mayweather is scared to fight him, he replied: "I don't know what the reason is - but I'm ready to fight him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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