Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 3) – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is not worried about the lawsuit filed by a sports agency seeking to stop his August 21 fight against unified World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.
“Hindi ako nababahala doon dahil wala silang basis para po i-stop yung fight and walang basis yung reklamo nila (I am not worried because they don’t have any basis to stop the fight and their complaint has no basis),” Pacquiao said in a press conference on Saturday.
Paradigm Sports Management filed the case against Pacquiao last June 27 at the Orange County Court in California for breach of contract.
The Southern California-based sports agency – headed by combat sports manager Audie Attar – is seeking $3.3 million in damages and an injunction to stop the 42-year-old Pacquiao’s fight against the 31-year-old Spence.
Despite his busy work as a senator, Pacquiao emphasized that boxing remains his passion, which is why he agreed to fight Spence.
“Isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit nandito pa po ako lumalaban dahil nami-miss ko po yung makikita ang buong sambayanang Pilipino na nagkakaisa at sumusuporta sa isang adhikain, (One of the reasons I’m still fighting is because I miss seeing the whole Filipino community united and supporting a common cause),” Pacquiao said.
The eight-division world champion Pacquiao did not predict a knockout, but expressed confidence that his strength will take him to victory against his younger opponent.
“Kung may knockout man early or later round, yan ay pasalamat tayo sa Panginoon (If I can score a knockout early or later round, we’ll just thank the Lord),” Pacquiao added.
Pacquiao last fought in July 2019 and won via split decision over Keith Thurman to bag the World Boxing Association super welterweight title.
He holds a 62-7-2 win-loss-draw record in his 26-year boxing career.
