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Boxing:

Golden Boy Promotions requests fight permits for March 13 at MGM

Permits could be for Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, which may be in jeopardy over drug-testing style

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Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009 | 5:38 p.m.

Representatives of Golden Boy Promotions — whose CEO, Richard Schaefer, manages boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. — have requested permits for a fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 13, fueling additional speculation that Las Vegas would be the site for the highly anticipated bout between Mayweather and welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

However, the request comes on the heels of a report that the fight is in jeopardy over a drug-testing matter.

A release issued by the Mayweather camp earlier today said the bout may not happen because Pacquiao is refusing to comply with Olympic-style drug testing mandated by the United States Anti Doping Agency

According to the release, Top Rank Promotions President Todd duBoef informed Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy, that Pacquiao would not agree to have his blood taken within 30 days of the fight.

Olympic-style drug testing involves random sampling of an athlete's blood and urine prior to and after a fight. The procedure includes blood and urine sampling so that all banned substances, some of which are not detected in urine testing, can be found.

Las Vegas has been considered a front-runner for hosting the fight along with Dallas' Cowboys Stadium and the New Orleans Superdome.

Local tourism authorities say hosting the fight would pump millions of dollars into the Las Vegas economy at a time when the city is struggling to recover from the recession.

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UFC 141
Brock Lesnar retires after first-round TKO defeat against Alistair Overeem

UFC 141 Alistair Overeem called it his "liver kick". Brock Lesnar just knew it hurt. Overeem sent Lesnar into retirement when he fired his foot into Lesnar's stomach midway through the first round of their heavyweight title eliminator bout. Lesnar crouched in pain after the strike and eventually fell to the mat. Overeem rushed in and threw a few more strikes, but Lesnar had nothing left. The referee pulled Overeem off to officialy give him the next shot at champion Junior dos Santos. In the co-main event, Nate Diaz upset Donald Cerrone after a week full of tempers flaring between the two lightweights.

Main Card Results -
WinnerLoserMethod
Alistair OvereemBrock LesnarTKO
Nate DiazDonald CerroneUnanimous Decision
Johny HendricksNate DiazKnockout
Alexander GustafssonVladimir MatyushenkoTKO
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