McCain lobbied to mediate high-profile boxing dispute

A report emerged Friday that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was lobbied to mediate a dispute between two boxers set to fight in one of the most highly anticipated bouts in a decade. 

Manny Pacquaio has become incensed with accusations from the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. that he has taken performance enhancing drugs, putting their megafight scheduled for Mar. 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in jeopardy.

ESPN reported that HBO floated the idea to have McCain, a well-known boxing fan, mediate the drug-testing dispute. The plan was originally accepted by both camps but was later shot down by Pacquiao. 

HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg -- who has known McCain for many years -- reportedly approached both camps with the idea then attempted to contact the Arizona senator.

A spokeswoman for McCain, however, told The Hill that Greenburg never reached out to McCain personally but that he may have contacted his staff. 

Earlier this month, McCain and Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) -- another boxing enthusiast -- sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting again that he posthumously pardon boxer Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion.

Here is more from ESPN:

The notion was that McCain would have the gravitas to go with his reputation as a Washington deal-maker to be acceptable to both sides, not to mention his vast knowledge of boxing.

McCain, who boxed as an amateur at the U.S. Naval Academy, spearheaded two pieces of legislation, the Professional Boxing Safety Act in 1996 and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act in 2000.

However, Arum said that he spoke to Pacquiao, who is in the Philippines, Thursday night and that he was so angered by the drug-testing controversy that he refused the mediation and told Arum of his plans for the lawsuit.

"I have never, ever in all the years I have known Manny seen him so angry," Arum said. "No wonder he is so fierce in the ring. He was angry, bitter and really pissed off beyond everything. He said, 'I don't want you to deal with these people.' He said he's going through with the lawsuit. There is no mediation because there is no give here. Ross asked if we would agree to mediation, but we're not agreeable anymore. We're not going to let Mayweather jerk Manny's chain."

"We're not giving up on this fight," Greenburg said. "We'll just keep the lines of communication open. That's all you can do."

This story was updated on Dec. 26 at 1:20 p.m.