Floyd takes hit from Pacquiao

source: mb.com.ph

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — Unbeaten US fighter Floyd Mayweather might not be climbing into the ring with Filipino star Manny Pacquiao any time soon, but he has taken a hit in their ongoing legal battle.

US District Judge Larry Hicks has denied a request by Mayweather to delay a deposition in Pacquiao's defamation case against the US fighter, who Pacquiao claims defamed him by saying he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Hicks upheld a lower court order for Mayweather to give his deposition, which had been scheduled for June 17, saying Mayweather's request for a postponement was ''without merit'', having no legal basis behind it.

''Floyd Mayweather Jr. still is refusing to show up for his deposition,'' said Pacquiao attorney Daniel Petrocelli. ''He continues to defy the court's order.''

Mayweather, 41-0 with 25 knockouts, plans to end a 16-month layoff with a September 17 fight against US southpaw Victor Ortiz, the World Boxing Council welterweight champion who is 29-2-2 with 22 knockouts.

But the fight that fans have been longing for is a showdown between Pacquiao, 53-3 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, and Mayweather.

Talks between Mayweather and Pacquiao failed over Mayweather's insistence that ''Pac-Man'' take blood doping tests within three weeks of the fight, something Pacquiao did not want to do and under typical US doping rules would not have had to do.

Mayweather's rhetoric in trying to pressure Pacquiao into accepting the extra tests, according to Pacquiao, included invalid Mayweather claims that Pacquiao took performance-enhancing drugs.


source: mb.com.ph