"For the record, the issue about the blood is a non-issue, it's settled, it's off the table," stated promoter Bob Arum, who spoke to ESPN Radio 1100 in Las Vegas about the issue of random blod testing that has long prevented a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao clash from happening. According to Arum, the matter is "off the table" and should not be a roadblock if negotiations resume assuming Pacquiao is victorious against Marquez. That being said, Arum also stated that there were "other details" that could still come up.
"Now, where we are at with an agreement is other details," he remarked. Although he did not clarify what he meant, Arum did raise the matter of the venue, which at one point had presumed to be settled as both sides agreed on the fight taking place in Las Vegas during previous negotiations. With Mayweather recently announcing his return to the ring on May 5, 2012 and already reserving the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Arum seems concerned that with a fight of that magnitude, perhaps they should be negotiating a different venue in order to maximize their profits. "A bout of this magnitude...why would we not want to maximize profit and listen to an offer from Jerry Jones to have the bout at his stadium," Arum suggested. He also commented on the possibility of another Vegas venue, pointing out that Las Vegas casino tycoon Steve Wynn had suggested UNLV's Sam Boyd Stadium, which could seat 45-50,000 fans.
It almost seems like negotiations, should they resume, are headed back to square one, despite the fact that all of these "other details" had already been agreed upon in the past. Regardless of Arum's statements, it is clear that fans from both sides are eager for the fight to take place. At Friday's weigh-in, a group of Pacquiao fans held up a sign that read, "Run Floyd!" Similarly, a few weeks ago at the Hopkins-Dawson card at Staples Center in Los Angeles, fans could be heard chanting "take the test" to trainer Freddie Roach as he accompanied Jorge Linares back to his dressing room. Moments for Pacquiao's next big fight, as he looks to bring an end to his trilogy with Marquez, the echoes of a fight with Mayweather are not far away. The question is, how much longer shall we have to wait for it?