Following a formal apology from Golden Boy promotions, news broke today that Manny Pacquiao has settled his defamation lawsuit with both Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer.
In a prepared statement released by Top Rank, Schaefer and De La Hoya said:
?Richard Schaefer and Oscar de la Hoya, on behalf of themselves and Golden Boy Promotions, wish to make it crystal clear that we never intended to claim that Manny Pacquiao has used or is using any performance enhancing drugs, and further state that we do not have any evidence whatsoever of such use.
?Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest fighters of all time, and we apologize if anyone construed our prior remarks as in any way claiming or even suggesting that Manny uses or has used performance enhancing drugs.?
The settling of the suit is also another important step towards Golden Boy and Top Rank cooperating more easily in the future, initially facilitated by Oscar De La Hoya’s apology to Bob Arum last week from a rehab clinic where he is currently battling substance abuse.
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While Golden Boy are off the hook however, four defendants remain in Pacquiao’s lawsuit, namely Floyd Jr., Floyd Sr. and Roger Mayweather along with Mayweather promotions.
Of the Mayweathers mentioned, two currently have other court cases pending aganst them. Roger for allegedly attacking a female boxer and Floyd Jr. for several incidents including allegedly attacking former girlfriend Josie Harris and threatening his children.
The last thing any of the above need then is another lawsuit, even if the eventual price is only time wasted in court and money wasted on legal fees.
Also, while constantly criticizing and insulting Pacquiao, most of Floyd Jr’s comments currently seem to be centered on the once disputed Olympic style testing policy that Pacquiao has since agreed to. Advertisement
As most recently evidenced by the launch of a t-shirt bearing the slogan ‘Take the Test’.
By constantly bringing this former issue up however, Mayweather makes it sound as if he is still hoping that the fight will eventually happen.
One of the obstacles to that however is the defamation lawsuit. In short then apologizing to Pacquiao formally might be the only way the fight ever happens.
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Aside from being potentially able to finally fight Pacquiao and to scrub out one of the many lawsuits currently hanging over him, Mayweather apologizing brings with it another benefit.
Fans turned off by Mayweather’s behaviour towards Pacquiao, his racial remarks towards Asians or his many other needless conflicts outside the ring likely aren’t ever going to be big fans of his.
Holding his hands up and apologizing however will win him back the respect of many, not to mention would see him set a good example to his own fans and to the sport as a whole.
The Mayweather trio apologizing to Pacquiao then would seem obvious to most, despite the bad blood between the two sides.
The reality is however that the chances of it happening are probably very slim, despite Mayweather’s constant comments alluding to wanting to fight Pacquiao.
The fact that he already has several lawsuits pending, some of which could probably be easily solved without going to court, tells it’s own story.
James Tobarth, Pitt: “Mayweather will never apologize even if Pacquiao ends up with millions from the defamation suit, he doesn’t have the common sense.
