Floyd Mayweather Jr. KO'd by Manny Pacquiao in Court
Manny Pacquiao scored a victory over Floyd Mayweather in his defamation lawsuit.
Pacquiao brought suit against Mayweather claiming that Mayweather defamed him. A court did not rule on the underlying defamation claims, but did order Mayweather to pay Pacquiao more than $113,000 to cover the legal fees of a missed deposition last year, reports Reuters.
Pacquiao accused Mayweather of falsely telling reporters and others that Pacquiao was using performance enhancing drugs. The two had been working on scheduling a fight, and as a prerequisite, Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to undergo blood testing.
Famously afraid of needles, Pacquiao refused which led to Mayweather's allegations that Pacquiao was doping.
The two fighters are perpetually waiting to schedule a fight, and unfortunately, this defamation lawsuit may be the only battle we ever see of these great -- and slowly aging -- fighters.
In his lawsuit, Pacquiao said that "calling a professional athlete a cheater is the most serious charge one can make." Pacquiao added that, "accusing an athlete of using performance-enhancing drugs -- however baseless and lacking in evidence -- is toxic," reports Reuters.
Mayweather was called to a deposition sometime between June and October last year, but he never made it. Mayweather had claimed that he was too busy training to be deposed, but Pacquiao's team found photographic evidence that proved otherwise; namely, photos of Mayweather at various nightclubs across the country dancing, drinking, and spending significant amounts of money, reports Reuters.
Pacquiao's lawyers said that Mayweather's decision to "live the luxurious lifestyle non-stop," "pour(ing) champagne for (his) friends," and "keeping the company of attractive women," was no excuse not to be deposed, reports Reuters. The court agreed and ordered Mayweather to pay the deposition costs and attorney fees. The judge, however, refused to grant Pacquiao default judgment.
Known for his great defense, Mayweather may have lost this legal round, but don't count him out just yet in this defamation lawsuit.
Related Resources:
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. must pay fees (ESPN)
- Floyd Mayweather Must Stay in Jail, Drink Tap Water, Eat Jail Food (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)
- Pacquiao-Mayweather Fight Fails, Mandela's Daughter Owes $7.5M (FindLaw's Tarnished Twenty)