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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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