LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao will give his deposition in the presence of lawyers from Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) on Wednesday as the battle for the promotional control over the much-sought after fighter enters a critical phase.
(A deposition is a formal statement for use in a court of law – Cambridge Dictiornary)
Pacquiao had to cancel his flight to Manila Monday night upon the advice of his advisers who persuaded him to give the deposition which he evntually must do, sooner or later, they said.
Pacquiao had originally been scheduled last March tomake the statement, but since he was training for an April 14 clash with Mexican Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas, he was allowed to head back to Manila without giving his deposition.
But he cannot avoid the matter now as he is not preparing for a fight. Pacquiao is on vacation with wife Jinkee and sons Michael Stephen and Emmanuel Jr. whom he brought to Florida and New York.
In the last few months, the depositions of key figures in the case, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and GBP owner Oscar De La Hoya, have been taken by lawyers from both sides.
Even Pacquiao’s Filipino lawyer, Franklin Gacal, is staying behind since he is set for deposition later in the week.
Top Rank is represented by Daniel Petrocelli, a high-profile litigator, while GBP hired the services of a pair of knockout attorneys in Burt Fields and Judd Burstein, who, actually represented Pacquiao in the case against New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad in 2005.
Pacquiao is aiming to return to action in September or October possibly against Mexican Humberto Soto. The venues being eyed are Vancouver in Canada, Macau and Las Vegas.
