Adviser: Manny Pacquiao's Still Suing Floyd Mayweather -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

"I think they're pushing Pacquiao too much -- even if he's got 'roids in his body. In my honest opinion, I believe that he's on some type of supplements. I don't think that he can beat Little Floyd with steroids in him or not. He don't have that kind of talent or that kind of skill -- whatever he has in him."

Floyd Mayweather Sr., whose son, Floyd Mayweather Jr., is an undefeated six-time champion over five weight classes, in Michigan's Grand Rapids Press Newspaper on Sept. 15.

"Steroids? Where in the hell did that come from? You know, these guys, they had to come up with a reason why they lost. They lost because [Floyd Sr.] sucks as a trainer and I had the better fighter. Well [chuckles], we have taken him a couple of times to be tested, and we haven't tested positive yet. I think he's wrong, but all Manny's on is white rice."

Manny Pacquiao's three-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach on Sept. 15, upon hearing from FanHouse of Floyd Mayweather Sr.'s accusations regarding his fighter's alleged use of steroids.


"Maybe all of them -- they're using the steroids, and not me. You know what? I don't even know what a steroid is. I've never done that."

Manny Pacquiao responding to implications -- which he first heard from FanHouse on Sept. 15 -- by Floyd Sr. that he might have used steroids.


In late December, seven-division champion Manny Pacquiao filed a lawsuit seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character naming six-time five-division titlist Floyd Mayweather. Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, as well as Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya, CEO and president, respectively, of Golden Boy Promotions, which handled Mayweather's affairs.

At the time of the filing, Pacquiao and Mayweather had been tentatively slated for March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, having agreed on a 50-50 split of the revenue, as well as eight-ounce gloves and a clash at the welterweight (147 pounds) limit rather than a catch weight.

But Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, said that the "filing of the lawsuit effectively terminates everything" that had been in place, effectively ending the negotiations. That led to subsequent victories by Pacquiao over Joshua Clottey on March 13 at The Dallas Cowboys Stadium, and Mayweather over Shane Mosley on May 1 at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Potentially the most lucrative matchup in boxing history, the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout was expected to garner a career-best of nearly $40 million for each fighter. But negotiations became increasingly contentious since they began shortly after Pacquiao's 12th-round knockout of Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14.

Now, it seems that Pacquiao and Mayweather have reached an agreement in principle to put Pacquiao's WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt on the line against Mayweather on Nov. 13, likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but with consideration for The Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

No documents have been signed, so the deal is not complete. And although concessions were made during the new negotiations since the first time around, Pacquiao's lawsuit still is in place, according to his adviser, Michael Koncz.

"The court case is not part of this negotiations. There was irreparable harm done to Manny's image, so we're going ahead with that," said Koncz. "As far as the fight and the court case, one is not contingent on the other."

Now, it seems that Pacquiao and Mayweather have reached an agreement in principle to put his Pacquiao's WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt on the line against Mayweather on Nov. 13, likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but with consideration for The Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

No documents have been signed, so the deal is not complete. And although concessions were made during the new negotiations since the first time around, Pacquiao's lawsuit still is in place, according to his adviser, Michael Koncz.

"The court case is not part of this negotiations. There was irreparable harm done to Manny's image, so we're going ahead with that," said Koncz. "As far as the fight and the court case, one is not contingent on the other."

Koncz said that that the closing documents are in the hands of the Mayweather camp and would not elaborate on specific details of the negotiations.

The documents, however, reportedly include an agreement between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions on Mayweather's demand for a random drug testing protocol and a tentative agreement on a 50-50 split of the purse.

Koncz said that Mayweather's camp has two weeks -- "whether it's July 13, or, July 15, it doesn't matter" -- to sign and return the documents indicating their acceptance of the terms.

If not, Pacquiao would go ahead with plans to face either Cotto, the newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champ, Miguel Cotto, or former welterweight king, Antonio Margarito.

As far as the lawsuit, Pacquiao has commissioned senior attorney Daniel Petrocelli, whose Los Angeles-based O'Melveny and Myers law firm has taken on the case. Petrocelli is the same man who gained a wrongful death civil conviction against O.J. Simpson in 1997.

"[The lawsuit is] based on their [defendant's] false and defamatory statements about Manny Pacquiao -- specifically their publicly stating that Pacquiao was taking steroids or other illegal drugs to enhance his performance -- knowing that there is absolutely no basis for any such assertions," Petrocelli said of told FanHouse on Dec. 30.


Floyd Mayweather Sr.: Manny Pacquiao on supplements, steroids

Floyd Mayweather Sr.: Manny Pacquiao on supplements, steroids

"These guys have no right saying what they're saying. It's knowingly false, highly injurious," said Petrocelli. "Manny has an absolutely unblemished reputation, and accomplished extraordinary achievements through hard work and preparation. He can't sit by and allow people to accuse him of cheating because they can't beat him in the ring."

Koncz said that the case "still is in the discovery phase," meaning an attorney from Petrocelli's office has begun to ask questions.

"Oscar De La Hoya has been deposed, and Richard Schaefer has also provided a deposition," said Koncz. "We're still in discovery, and there are a lot of technical motions being done."

Koncz called it "a very foolish question" to ask if Pacquiao's reputation has been affected because of the steroid accusations, pointing out that the Felipino superstar has felt the need to defend himself, publicly, on a number of occasions.

"The publicity that we have received in the media worldwide has been damaging. If Manny and I didn't think that there was damage being done, we wouldn't be filing a suit," said Koncz. "And Manny wouldn't be spending days and hours and all of this money on attorney's fees that we have been spending. The point is, they made allegations that they have no right to make."

Koncz said, for example, that Pacquiao has numerous times, had to publicly validate his amended request not to have blood drawn any closer than within 14 days of the fight -- all because of the steroid accusations.

"I would never cheat God, I would never cheat myself and I would never cheat my country and my fans," Pacquiao told FanHouse in late December, adding that, "the truth is taking blood out of my body does not seem natural to me."

Pacquiao, whose career began at 106 pounds, attributes his ability to carry his power from lower to higher weight classes to the fact that "I eat foods that build muscle," and, "I work out hard."

"Mentally, I feel it will weaken me if blood is taken from me just days before the fight," said Pacquiao. "That does not make sense to me why anyone would do that."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com