PACMAN FANS...HELLO,anybody out there?????

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Bob Arum says he wants blood testing for the upcoming Pacquiao Marquez V fight (if it's made). I don't know how Pacquiao's team feels, but his promoter definitely wants it. And it seems that Bob Arum calls the shots for everyone at Top Rank.

Yeah, Arum does call too many of the shots within Top Rank, though I don't think it's always a scenario of him forcing fighters to do what they don't want to do, but more of them just trusting him and being in agreement.  But that's typically the case with most younger/newer/less popular fighters anyway, regardless of who their promoter is.  But outside of not playing nice with Golden Boy, there isn't much that Arum has done with the bigger fights that I thought was really "wrong."  His bigger fighters obviously have more input in their fights, just like fighers of any other promotional company.

I do recall hearing something about Arum (but not necessarily Team Pacquiao, as you mentioned) considering including blood testing.  I don't think it's Arum thinking that Marquez is on something, but just the idea of it makes the fight even more of a hot topic.  The inclusion of it will automatically make some people wonder if Top Rank thinks Marquez was really on something while also showing that Manny is officially fine with blood tests.  Again, it's not to take away from Marquez, but it's interesting from a marketing perspective, to say the least.

I think it's better to put pressure on the athletic commisions by implementing blood testing on the individual first. If Floyd would have gone to the commission first, Arum would have wanted the fight in Dallas. Dubai was also in the air for both fighters. You had to go through the fighters first I think.

I agree, but unfortunately Floyd never officially brought it to the attention of the athetlic commission and tried to have them officially implement it into their drug testing procedures.  Team Pacquiao always said that they'd do whatever the athletic commission required, and that if they included blood testing, then obviously they'd have to comply and wouldn't have a problem with it.  I remember those other cities being suggested, but the problem with Dubai aside from the fact that it was far was the time zone -- it's a full twelve hours different from PST, so that would cause a problem for the rest of the world who wants to watch the fight, unless they want to host a boxing fight watching party at 9am.

[Javii]

I believe what was said that if the fight were to take place in Dubai, they would fight at an odd time locally, so it can still be at the typical PPV time for people in the United States.

Either way, I'm looking forward for a great 2013 in boxing. Some big fights are out to be made, let's hope we get to see them.

-Nonito vs Rigondaeux  and then hopefully they get their shit together and have Nonito Mares.
-Most likely seeing Floyd face Guerrero in May and Canelo in September. If only a Martinez Mayweather fight would happen, that's really the only challenge left for Floyd
-Broner cleaning up the division and moving up to 140 by the end of the year. Or if Broner can find a big fight in 2013, it should happen
-Andre Ward being Andre Ward
-If Marquez and Pacquiao face again, have it toward the end of the year at least.
-Rios vs Danny Garcia would be fucking sick. Garcia, even though he does move, isn't that slick of a boxer. So when Rios puts pressure, Garcia will respond and I think it could lead to a fight of the year type of battle. But again this is Top Rank vs Golden Boy lol

[levamisole]

Who cares if fighters use PEDs? Worried about the possible side effects? FFS they are taking blows to the head... Smoke a sherm stick before the fight for all I care, just put up a good one.

[DeeezNuuuts83]

Either way, I'm looking forward for a great 2013 in boxing. Some big fights are out to be made, let's hope we get to see them.

-Nonito vs Rigondaeux  and then hopefully they get their shit together and have Nonito Mares.
-Most likely seeing Floyd face Guerrero in May and Canelo in September. If only a Martinez Mayweather fight would happen, that's really the only challenge left for Floyd
-Broner cleaning up the division and moving up to 140 by the end of the year. Or if Broner can find a big fight in 2013, it should happen
-Andre Ward being Andre Ward
-If Marquez and Pacquiao face again, have it toward the end of the year at least.
-Rios vs Danny Garcia would be fucking sick. Garcia, even though he does move, isn't that slick of a boxer. So when Rios puts pressure, Garcia will respond and I think it could lead to a fight of the year type of battle. But again this is Top Rank vs Golden Boy lol

I agree.  I'm really looking forward to Nonito Donaire, especially if he moves up to featherweight.  It's helpful that a lot of his fights have been in California, so I'm hoping to attend them in person.  I don't know about Floyd facing Guerrero though... while he is a beltholder, he just still seems relatively unpopular, and Floyd likes to face guys with some buzz behind them to generate a successful PPV match.  I'd prefer to see him fight Canelo and then Martinez in 2013, likely in that order since Martinez has a fight scheduled for April.  Rios vs. Garcia would definitely be good, but I think Rios vs. Bradley at 140 would be a much easier fight to make.

Who cares if fighters use PEDs? Worried about the possible side effects? FFS they are taking blows to the head... Smoke a sherm stick before the fight for all I care, just put up a good one.

I wish Floyd had that perspective, haha.  My stance has always been this -- PEDs are obviously not a good thing, but if you're a better boxer, you will likely still beat them anyway.  PEDs aren't going to make up for a difference in skill.  Look at De La Hoya vs. Vargas from around ten years ago.  Vargas was later found to have PEDs in his system, yet Oscar took control of the fight and knocked his ass out anyway in what was perhaps the biggest win of his career.