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Published January 08, 2015
By Larry Fine
NEW YORK (Reuters) - World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao believes a showdown against Floyd Mayweather Jr. will happen eventually despite hard feelings over drug-testing demands that aborted negotiations.
"I believe the fight will happen some other time," Pacquiao told reporters Wednesday. "It will happen."
Mayweather had demanded Olympic-style, random blood testing for a showdown between the two best pound-for-pound boxers in the world -- a testing protocol beyond what is required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Pacquiao said testing too close to the fight might have interrupted his training and left him weak for the bout.
"I'm honest, and a clean fighter," Pacquiao, 31, said.
The Filipino said the undefeated Mayweather's drug-testing demands unfairly cast him in a bad light as a suspected cheat.
"It's not true. He's accusing me," Pacquiao said. "I want to clear my name because I'm a very honest person.
"I'm very disappointed for what he accused me of. I'm clean. I'm not cheating. I'm a very honest fighter."
COMPROMISE OFFERED
"I'm still hoping the fight will be pushed through, maybe by summer time," he said. "It would be a good fight if it happened."
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, shared the fighter's optimism that a Mayweather fight could still be arranged.
"I think it's going to happen," Roach told reporters. "I think it's likely. Maybe Mayweather is up to doing this to get more press, I don't know."
Roach said Mayweather's camp had accepted a compromise that would allow for blood testing up to 14 days before the fight and immediately afterwards, but that Mayweather had rejected that.
"We're not going to sit around and wait for this guy," Roach said.
"Manny was really excited about that fight," said Roach. "Hopefully it will happen some day."
Pacquiao will carry a 50-3-2 record into the Cowboys Stadium bout against the 32-year-old Clottey, who is 35-3.
(Editing by Clare Fallon)
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/pacquiao-still-hopes-to-fight-mayweather