Pacquiao won’t back out of Mayweather lawsuit

 

MANILA, Philippines – Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said he is determined to press his lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and 4 others, especially after the court found malice in Floyd’s allegation that the Filipino boxer used performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

“Hindi pwedeng i-atras natin (It’s unlikely that we’d back down),” said the Fighter of the Decade of his defamation suit he filed against Mayweather.

Also included in the defamation suit filed by Pacquiao in Las Vegas are Floyd’s father, Floyd Sr.; his uncle, Roger; Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) owner Oscar de la Hoya; and GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer.

“Nakita naman ng judge na napakaganda ng kaso namin (The judge saw that we have a strong case),” said Pacquiao.

US District Judge Larry Hicks ruled that Pacquiao’s case can proceed because there is sufficient evidence of malicious acts in allegations against Pacquiao “being a dope cheat”.

“The truth did not stop Mayweather and the others,” Pacquiao’s lawsuit contends. “That is because they are motivated by ill will, spite, malice, revenge and envy.”

“Mayweather and the others set out on a course designed to destroy Pacquiao’s career, reputation, honor and legacy and jeopardize his ability to earn the highest levels of compensation.”

Pacquiao has never tested positive for PEDs. In the 2009 lawsuit, he claimed that the respondents conducted a campaign in a set of interviews to make people think he used them.

“Defendants argue that Pacquiao has failed to sufficiently allege malice because defendants could not have known one way or the other whether Pacquiao had actually taken PEDs when they made the alleged defamatory statements,” Hicks wrote in the order upholding the lawsuit.

“However, the court finds that Pacquiao has sufficiently pled malice in the amended complaint.”
Pacquiao’s legal counsel Dan Petrocelli said his client’s career would suffer major damage if fans believe that he used banned substances.

“Manny has an unblemished reputation and has earned all of his achievements through hard work and his natural-born talent and to call him a cheater is something he cannot and will not tolerate,” Petrocelli said.

“None of these defendants have had any evidence to back up the assertion that he has taken performance-enhancing drugs because he didn’t.” – With reports from Dhobie de Guzman, ABS-CBN News North Luzon, and Agence France-Presse

Mayweather vs Pacquiao negotiations at a standstill

 

(Picture by Chris Farina, Top Rank)

Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor

 

Don King and Bob Arum on the verge of admitting defeat

With the news that Floyd Mayweather Jr is demanding 100 million dollars for him to fight WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquaio later this year, it seems drafting in Don King to help with talks has almost been a waste of time for all concerned.

“Money” has truly lived up to his name if his demands are true and a mega-fight with the Filipino legend looks “100 million” miles aways at the moment. Top Rank supremo Bob Arum has been quoted as saying “If Floyds gets a hundred million, then Manny would have to fight for nothing,” which was tongue in cheek, but a true statement.

The 34 year-old five-weight world champion has so much going on in his life outside of the boxing ring and couple that with the fact that he has fought twice since in almost three and a half years, then this latest report is just another declaration that Floyd doesn’t want the fight right now.

The “Pretty Boy” will need to 100% focused on boxing the “Pacman” if the fans are to get the fight that they all deserve. If it takes another year or two for a refreshed and motivated Floyd to step in the ring with Pacquaio, then he should stay away till he is ready, then come back with realistic demands.