By Rick Reeno and Robert Morales
The news traveled fast on Wednesday. WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao made good on his promise to file a lawsuit against the Mayweathers [Floyd Jr, Floyd Sr and Roger], Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. Pacquiao filed the lawsuit in Nevada federal court on December 30. He claims the named defendants made false and defamatory statements that accused him of taking performance enhancing drugs. Pacquiao retained Daniel Petrocelli of the Los Angeles-based law firm of O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
Petrocelli told BoxingScene.com that none of the named defendants had any evidence to back up their claims, and they knew the statements were false, but still made them to spite Pacquiao and tarnish his reputation. Petrocelli will pursue millions of dollars in damages on behalf of Pacquiao [$75,000 is the minimum amount that a plaintiff has to allege in order to initiate a suit in Nevada federal court].
