Advertisement
Advertisement
Manny Pacquiao
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
The two men suing claim they were misled because they didn't know Pacquiao was injured. Photo: EPA

Fans sue Pacquiao for not revealing injury as Mayweather says he'll grant him a rematch

I'll fight him a year after his shoulder surgery, says American

AFP

Two Nevada men filed a class-action lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, seeking millions in damages because they say he fraudulently concealed a shoulder injury before his defeat to Floyd Mayweather.

It is just the latest fallout from Mayweather’s victory in Las Vegas on Saturday in a unanimous decision, with Pacquiao saying afterwards that the shoulder complaint hampered his performance in the welterweight world title showdown.

The news came shortly after Mayweather said he would be willing to grant Pacquiao a rematch.

Read all our Manny Pacquiao coverage here

ESPN reported that Mayweather had told journalist Stephen A. Smith in a  text message that he was ready to don gloves once again after Pacquiao recovers  from surgery to repair a rotator cuff.

“I will fight him in a year after his surgery,” Mayweather said in the text  message, according to ESPN.

Pacquiao might have to win a fight in court before that.

The plaintiffs argue that by failing to go public with the injury before the feverishly anticipated bout, the Philippine icon and his camp violated the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

The suit filed in a US District Court in Las Vegas names Pacquiao, his manager Michael Koncz, promotional company Top Rank and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and president Todd duBoef.

According to court documents available online, the lawsuit claims that when plaintiffs Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran – who bought tickets, forked out pay per view fees or bet on the fight – the defendants “knew and had full knowledge and information that defendant Pacquiao had been seriously injured and was suffering from a torn rotator cuff.”

“Defendants further know that such injury would severely affect his performance,” the lawsuit says.

“None of the defendants informed or apprised the public or even the Nevada Athletic Commission about the injury to defendant Pacquiao.”

Pacquiao attorney Daniel Petrocelli told The Los Angeles Times that he expects the lawsuit to be dismissed.

“It claims Pacquiao was injured [immediately] before the bout and that’s not true – he was injured [nearly a month] before the bout, was examined by doctors and cleared to fight,” Petrocelli said. “And he was examined by the commission right before he fought.”

Post