Arum to find another opponent for Pacquiao

New York: World champion Manny Pacquiao`s promoter Bob Arum will choose another opponent for the Filipino fighter after failing to reach a deal for the WBO welterweight title bout with American Floyd Mayweather.

Talks between Arum`s Top Rank and Mayweather`s Golden Boy promoters have stalled over the issue of random blood testing, demanded by Mayweather`s team and rejected by Pacquiao. Arum set a Monday deadline for Golden Boy to accept a "final offer" in which both sides let the Nevada State Athletic Commission make the final decision on testing. Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said that there was no question of accepting that proposal. "Random is random. We are not backing off and the ball is in their court," he told reporters.Arum said if that was the stance of the Mayweather team then he would announce another opponent for March. "If that is the case then tomorrow morning we will announce who Manny will fight on March 13 and it won`t be Floyd Mayweather," Arum told reporters. Arum has previously identified former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi as the likely replacement for Mayweather but said it would be a blow to the sport not to have the bout take place."It`s terrible. Mayweather and his people have never cared about the good of boxing and it is Manny that has brought boxing back. Is this a loss for boxing? Is this a missed opportunity? Of course it is." Following the promoter`s comments, the Mayweather camp issued a statement placing the blame for the lack of a deal on Arum and Pacquiao. "Let the record be clear: Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum are threatening to walk away from the largest fight in history," the statement said. Bureau Report