Bob Arum unveils ‘final counteroffer’ for Mayweather-Pacquiao bout

Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, on Sunday unveiled what he said was his “final counteroffer” to get an agreement between his boxer and tentative opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a March 13 bout that could be the most lucrative in the sport’s history.

Arum said he wants an agreement with Mayweather and his promoter, Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, by today or he’ll “finish negotiations” for a Pacquiao replacement fight against Paulie Malignaggi.

Arum’s offer is for each fighter to submit to unlimited random urinalysis, and to let the Nevada State Athletic Commission determine at its Jan. 19 meeting whether additional blood testing is required beyond Pacquiao’s current agreement to allow his blood to be tested 30 days before the bout and immediately after its conclusion.

“We will allow Golden Boy to present experts to the commission to explain why additional testing is required, and we’ll explain our position,” Arum said. “Then we’ll let the Nevada commission decide.”

The fight would take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas if it were to occur.

He added that striking an agreement on this point would allow the fighters to sign contracts -- both are expected to receive a guaranteed $25 million with pay-per-view upside -- and begin promoting the fight early next month before the commission decides the matter.

Schaefer was not immediately available for comment.

Mayweather and his camp have proposed allowing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to monitor blood tests. The head of that agency said Pacquiao’s resistance to take a blood test closer than 30 days from the fight was not acceptable for effective anti-doping procedures.

-- Lance Pugmire PRO BASKETBALL

Nuggets’ Billups to sit out two games

Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups will sit out two games to give his strained left groin time to heal.

Billups injured the groin Dec. 16 against Houston and sat out three games. The All-Star point guard returned Christmas Day at Portland but didn’t play in the second half.

The Nuggets said in an injury update report Sunday that the move was “not a setback” and the goal was to avoid a “lingering problem.”

Denver played Dallas at home Sunday and will play at Sacramento tonight. The Nuggets will then be off for the next four days, before traveling to Utah on Saturday.

Billups is averaging 17.1 points and 5.7 assists this season.

HOCKEY

Campbell leads U.S. past Switzerland

Jack Campbell made 22 saves and the United States (2-0) remained unbeaten at the world junior championships with a 3-0 victory over Switzerland (0-1) at Saskatoon, Canada.

Chris Kreider, Matt Donovan and A.J. Jenks scored for the Americans, who opened the tournament with a 7-3 victory over Slovakia on Saturday.

The Phoenix Coyotes recalled forwards Kevin Porter and Jeff Hoggan from their AHL affiliate in San Antonio and put forward Daniel Winnik on the injured list.

Winnik was injured in Phoenix’s 3-2 win over the Kings on Saturday. He has two goals and 10 assists in 39 games. The Coyotes say Winnik has an upper-body injury but did not release any details.

ETC.

Fabregas leads Arsenal to victory

Substitute Cesc Fabregas scored twice before leaving because of another hamstring injury, leading Arsenal past Aston Villa, 3-0, in the English Premier League.

The Spain midfielder had been out for two weeks because of a hamstring problem and played only 27 minutes in the second half.