Bloody Elbow, for MMA and UFC news

"I really feel bad for the fans that have been waiting for the Pacquaio fight for so long. It's just, if I fight a fighter, I want to make sure that fighter is 100% all-pure and all-natural. He just doesn't want to take these same tests. I work too hard to take a chance of losing to a fighter that's cheating. I'm not saying that Manny Pacquaio is cheating. That just goes for any fighter." Floyd Mayweather

"The long anticipated fight between Manny Pacquiao, 51-3-2, 38 KO’s and Floyd Mayweather, JR., 41-0, 25 KO’s is a done deal with only signatures needed on the printed contract" said a very reliable inside source close to Team Mayweather who has just contacted RSR. This inside source went on to say, "Floyd is very happy that both sides could work out issues that he always felt could be talked out." Floyd is anticipating on making well over 50 million dollars with Manny making almost the same. Tentative dates being kicked around for an HBO PPV is the middle to end of November 2010 and if this does happen there is no doubt that this fight will be the biggest grossing in history.

"[I]f Manny wins the election and likes politics, this [Clottey fight] could be it. And I have no problem with that. I don't want Manny to be one of those guys who stays too long. It's better to go out on top."

Let’s remember, Pacquiao was a flyweight not all that long ago. He’s added what appears to be 40 pounds of muscle to his frame – nearly 40 percent of what had been his body weight – and is exchanging punches with guys who as recently as two years ago were considered mismatches.

If this were a baseball player, the media would be at least casually interested.

If it were a baseball player the media and fans didn’t seem to like – Barry Bonds, for example – the casual interest would go a tad further.

And if it were Mayweather claiming "superstition" or "disrespect" as hollow reasons for backing away from the biggest fight ever, the mobs would be lining the streets.

It shouldn’t make any difference that Pacquiao is popular.

And it shouldn’t matter that Floyd and his family circus are villains.

In this case, right is right.

Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao has agreed in principle to battle Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on March 13. This was confirmed by Pacquiao’s lawyer Jeng Gacal in an interview with Fightnews moments ago. Friday night, Pacquiao went on air via GMA-7’s "24 Oras" newscast and said he is willing to fight Pacquiao on the said date. "He’s been trash talking too much and I want to put a stop to it. I don’t want kids who are watching us to emulate him," said Pacquiao.

Q: If the boxing higher-ups had any sense whatsoever they would give us Pacman/Mayweather in six months. I would stop everything to have a fight night party for this event. I have not paid for a boxing event since Holyfield/Lewis in 1999 but I would spend at least $300-$500 to see this. What is the holdup?
-- Seth Johnson, Middletown, N.Y.

SG: It's going to be disappointing. Just warning you now. Floyd Mayweather Jr. could never in a million years trade punches with Manny Pacquiao. He will be on his bicycle for 12 rounds. There is no way that, at this point in his life, Mayweather wants any part of Pacquiao, a concrete-headed, indefatigable freak of nature who can finish with either hand from every angle. If Mayweather gets in the ring, he'll end up doing more laps than Steve Prefontaine did for the University of Oregon. Just keep your guard up when you're spending that $64.95.

I've thought about Mayweather for a long time now," Roach told ESPN.com from his Wild Card gym in Hollywood, Calif., on Monday. "He's the ultimate opponent. His style does pose some problems because he's very good at what he does. But after seeing Manny with Cotto, Manny showed he takes a punch well. We'll definitely knock Mayweather out. He'll break down. He can't stand up to Manny's pressure. He won't last as long as Cotto.

Manny Pacquiao Defeated Miguel Cotto via TKO In The 12th Round.

Arum called me and I told him I don't have a problem with the fight being at 145 pounds. In fact, I don't care if Cotto wants to weigh 200 pounds. I trust my fighter, so I care very little about the weight issues. I haven't talked to Manny, who will make the final decision. He is a grown man who makes his own decisions. All I can do is give my recommendation. Obviously we want to see Manny get paid more than his last fight. There's no reason to take a step back on the money, so we still have to discuss those details.

I’m so happy. On all the advertisements for the fight, they’ve been showing me on television, lying face down on the canvas. Now they’ve got a better knockout to show.