Pacquiao promoter confirms mediation effort to stage Mayweather fight

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A Tuesday mediation meeting has been scheduled in Santa Monica to attempt to resolve the differences that are keeping the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight from happening as tentatively scheduled, March 13 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum confirmed to The Times on Sunday night.

The development was first reported by AOL Fanhouse.

Arum declined to elaborate about what mediator Daniel Weinstein, a retired federal judge, will address in the meeting, which will include representatives of Arum’s promotional company, Top Rank, and those from Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions, which is negotiating for Mayweather’s team in this mega-bout that could become the most lucrative fight in boxing history.

The sides are currently battling over the drug-testing protocol, with Mayweather’s team initially pushing for both sides to accept blood tests randomly throughout their training process and immediately after the bout. Pacquiao is reluctant to have his blood tested within 30 days of the fight, and he’s sued Mayweather and representatives for defamation for implying the Filipino star is using performance-enhancing drugs.

Mediator Weinstein has worked wonders before, stepping in when Top Rank and Golden Boy declined to promote fights together and brokering a truce that led to major bouts starting with Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera in 2007 and with Arum returning the 1992 Olympic gold medal he had been given previously by Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya.

The need to strike an agreement quickly is intense. Promoters for both sides said weeks ago when negotiations were proceeding smoothly that news conferences in New York and Los Angeles were to be conducted next week.

-- Lance Pugmire