Mayweather v Pacquiao bout off says promoter

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The WBO welterweight title bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao next March will not go ahead due to the American''s demands for Olympic-style dope testing procedures, promoter Bob Arum said on Wednesday.

"As far as I''m concerned, the fight is off," Arum told Reuters in a telephone interview. "We don''t object to more extensive drug testing, even though it''s certainly not required in Nevada.

"What we''re saying is that the drug testing he is proposing is intrusive and would disturb Pacquiao''s training if it''s done within 30 days of his fight."

Pacquiao had agreed to have blood taken for testing before the initial media conference and after the fight but would not agree to have blood drawn within 30 days of the bout.

TESTING DEMANDS

Mayweather''s camp, represented by Golden Boy Promotions, has called for random blood and urine sampling prior to and after the fight as mandated by the U.S. Anti Doping Agency.

Arum suggested the testing demands by Mayweather were the American''s way of ducking the fight.

"My gut feeling is Mayweather doesn''t want to do the fight and this is his excuse. Period."

Pacquiao was to defend the World Boxing Organization title he won in November by stopping holder Miguel Cotto in the 12th round in Las Vegas for his unprecedented seventh title in seven weight classes.

The best pound-for-pound showdown between Pacquiao (50-3-2) and unbeaten Mayweather (40-0) was expected to be among boxing''s biggest revenue-producing fights.

Arum said he could not agree with the testing demands as a matter of protection for Pacquiao, who believes blood testing would weaken him that close to a bout.