Pacman to sue Mayweather

Pacquiao files lawsuit for defamation of character

Last updated: 2nd January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Pacman to sue Mayweather

Pacquiao: Filed lawsuit against Mayweather

Also see

Manny Pacquiao seems set to take on Floyd Mayweather Jnr, although it could be in the court room rather than in the ring after the Filipino started legal proceedings against his rival.

Pacquiao and Mayweather had been due to settle their differences in a blockbuster bout on March 13 - however that looks to have fallen through due to a row over blood testing.

Pacquiao has refused to accept Mayweather's demands for Olympic-style testing as he fears having a blood test less than 30 days before the fight would 'weaken' him.

The Filipino has said he was willing to have a blood test immediately after the fight and will give urine samples throughout the build up.

However that has not stopped Mayweather's camp falsely accusing Pacquiao of having used performance-enhancing drugs.

As a result Pacman has hit back by filing a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, his father Floyd Snr and uncle Roger Mayweather. Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, part of the promotional team, have also been named in the lawsuit.

"Mr Pacquiao simply could not allow these false, reckless and malicious statements to go unanswered," Pacquiao's attorney Daniel Petrocelli told Reuters.

"He had no choice but to file this law suit to protect his good name and reputation which has been earned after years and years of hard work.

"Whether or not the fight goes forward, whoever he fights next, he's not going to sit by and let people publicly accuse him of being a cheater. There is absolutely no basis for such statements to be made about him."