LAS VEGAS — Promoter Bob Arum declared the much-anticipated fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. dead Thursday, though efforts continue to find a compromise to a dispute over blood testing.
Arum had set a Thursday deadline to come to an agreement on testing, which is the only issue not resolved for the planned March 13 fight. But with the Mayweather camp still insisting on using the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct the tests, Arum said there wasn't much left to discuss.
Despite Arum's statements, there were some talks through intermediaries to try to salvage the megafight. Neither side, though, appeared to be backing off its position on the biggest dispute — who will do the testing.
Arum said he planned to move forward by having Pacquiao fight March 13 against Paul Malignaggi, a flashy but light-hitting 140-pounder. He said there was still a chance Pacquiao and Mayweather could meet later in the year.