The “Fight of the Century” may be over but the dance around the legal ring has just begun for Manny Pacquiao and his promoter, Top Rank. This week, two boxing fans filed a lawsuit in federal court in Nevada against the defeated fighter for failing to disclose a shoulder injury to the Nevada State Athletic Commission before the May 2 fight.
According to Reuters, Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran filed the lawsuit, which “seeks compensation under laws meant to protect consumers and asks for status as a class action on behalf of ticket buyers, pay-per-view television viewers and people who gambled on the fight.” Per CNBC, the plaintiffs seek $5 million for themselves and 100-plus ticket holders.
Per the LA Times, at the weigh-in the day before the fight, Pacquiao and Michael Koncz, his manager, indicated “no” next to the question on the commission’s medical form whether he had a shoulder injury. It was noted on the form that Pacquiao could take an anti-inflammatory injection — an injection that he was not permitted to receive before the fight. According to a training team member, he received a cortisone injection in his right arm on April 6 and rested it until it felt improved.
Again per CNBC, Daniel Petrocelli, Top Rank’s attorney, will file a motion to dismiss the “frivolous case” and expects the case to be dismissed. The LA Times notes Petrocelli’s additional comments on the lawsuit:
“It claims Pacquiao was injured [immediately] before the bout and that’s not true — he was injured [nearly a month] before the bout, was examined by doctors and cleared to fight. And he was examined by the commission right before he fought.”
What do you think: Will Pacquiao win this fight? Or, do the plaintiffs have a knockout case? We welcome your comments.
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