Mayweather set to fight Pacquiao... in court

Unbeaten US boxer Floyd Mayweather will fight Filipino Manny Pacquiao after all, although it will be a legal dispute after a federal judge denied a motion to dismiss the case on Monday.

Pacquiao filed a defamation lawsuit against Mayweather, among others, that US District Judge Larry Hicks ruled can proceed because there is sufficient evidence of malicious acts in accusing Pacquiao of being a dope cheat.

“The truth did not stop Mayweather and the others,” Pacquiao’s lawsuit contends.

“That is because they are motivated by ill will, spite, malice, revenge and envy.

“Mayweather and the others set out on a course designed to destroy Pacquiao’s career, reputation, honour and legacy and jeopardise his ability to earn the highest levels of compensation.”

Pacquiao has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) but in the 2009 lawsuit he claims that Mayweather, his father Floyd Snr and uncle Roger, promoter Oscar de la Hoya and his employee, Richard Schaefer conducted a campaign in a set of interviews to make people think he used them.

Unbeaten Mayweather and Pacquiao were in talks to stage a mega-fight between two of boxing’s biggest stars but negotiations collapsed over demands by Mayweather that both fighters have blood and urine tests up to 14 days before the bout.

Pacquiao said he would feel weakened by blood tests within 24 days of the fight and would not agree to tests any closer to a bout.

Mayweather Promotions attorney Mark Tratos said he would continue to push for dismissal of the case, saying comments at the time were made about Pacquiao’s hesitancy regarding blood tests and did not claim he was a dope cheat.

Pacquiao attorney Dan Petrocelli said his client’s career would suffer major damage if fans believed he used banned substances.

Mayweather, 34, faces a court hearing on April 28 on domestic violence charges that could send the fighter for up to 34 years in prison if convicted of all charges.