LAS VEGAS – Boxing champ and Philippine congressman Manny Pacquiao arrived in the US last night, gearing up for his much-awaited match with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. But the showdown won?t be in the boxing ring. It will be in a court of law, where a judge and jury will eventually decide on a defamation lawsuit Pacquaio filed against Mayweather and his uncle Roger Mayweather.
Pacquiao?s manager, Michael Koncz, said a deposition hearing began Friday morning.
?We started the deposition at ten o? clock (Friday in US). From all indications it?s going very well,? said Koncz. ?Manny is very comfortable in there and we expect the deposition to go until late tonight.?
Pacquiao filled the lawsuit due to comments that Mayweather allegedly made in the past about him possibly being on performance-enhancing drugs.
?They (Mayweathers) made an accusation against Manny for using enhancement drugs which we never use. So it?s going to be up to the lawyers to present that to the jury and the jury to make the determination,? Koncz said.
Koncz added that next year, they will be ready to go on trial.
Mayweather will fight WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas, while Pacquiao is taking on Timothy Bradley on June 9, also in Las Vegas.
It?s unlikely that Mayweather will fight Pacquiao later in the year, as WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez is reportedly going to be next for Mayweather in late 2012 or early 2013.
Pacquaio to meet Ali, Lin-sanity
It?s not all business for Pacquaio in the coming weeks. He is scheduled to attend boxing legend Muhammad Ali?s ?Tower of Love? gala, which will help raise money for brain research at the MGM Grand, along with the veritable who?s who of boxing?Tommy Herns, Ken Norton, Evander Holyfield, Ernie Shavers, and Leon Spinks.
Meantime, arrangements are also being made for Pacquiao to meet with Taiwanese-American basketball sensation Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks.
Pacquaio may meet the Asian cager during the New York leg of his tour next week, to promote his upcoming match with Bradley.
