Sports betting would have been hugely popular if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought. It was originally thought that the two would meet on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in online sports betting but that doesn’t seem likely anymore. Online sports betting had the Mayweather camp wanting specific drug testing which Pacquiao would not agree to.
Sports betting may end up seeing the two boxers fight eventually but for now it does not look promising. People in the Mayweather camp have accused Pacquiao of using performance-enhancing drugs and that has upset Pacquaio enough that he is considering filing a defamation lawsuit. “Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., [Mayweather] Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs,” said Pacquiao, “I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard.”
Online sports betting indicated that Pacquiao is the number one boxer in the world and the more marketable fighter so it would be a huge hit to Mayweather if the fight doesn’t come off. In fact, Pacquiao could still fight on March 13th against another fighter and be on the sports betting odds board. One of the online sports betting possibilities has Pacquiao going up against former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi. Promoter Bob Arum is actually scheduling that sports betting fight unless something changes radically in the next week or so.
The sports betting issue is that Mayweather is demanding Olympic-style drug testing. Pacquaio has not agreed to that type of testing so the sports betting fight as of now is off. We are open to any and all ideas. It is not Floyd Mayweather who wants to walk away from this fight and kill the fight. You have not heard from us once saying this fight is dead… We are trying to come up with a solution, an alternative to the drug testing.” Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said. Sports betting indicates that Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has suggested the Nevada State Athletic Commission be in charge of the testing. “If Mayweather wants the fight it will be governed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. They would be prepared to conduct drug tests, including blood and urine tests, before and after the fight,” Arum said.