Pacquiao sued for failure to disclose injury

Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao tries to throw a punch with his right hand despite suffering an injury in his right shoulder. (Photo by Al Bello)

Two boxing fans filed charges against Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and his handlers for nondisclosure of his shoulder injury in his megabout with American undefeated boxer Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. on May 2 (May 3 in the Philippines) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

The two fans, Staphane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran, paid to watch the highest-grossing fight in boxing’s history. But to their dismay, they were not satisfied with the promised action-packed boxing match. They then filed a lawsuit against Pacquiao in a Las Vegas district court.

The charge was defraud and demanded payment for damages to everyone who bought tickets and availed pay-per-views of the fight and those who bet and lost to Pacquiao.

Nevada boxing regulators had also started looking into the possibility of disciplinary actions on Pacquiao’s failure to disclose his right shoulder injury in the medical form filled out before the bout.

“Our job is to protect the health and safety of fighters and the integrity of the sport. We expect our fighters to be forthright… Disclosure and honest is a big thing for us,” Nevada State Athletic Commission chairman Francisco Aguilar said in an interview.

“The commission at some point will have to discuss [Pacquiao’s case]. I’ve got to run through the process with the [Nevada] Attorney General. But they do sign that document under the penalty of perjury.”

“We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances. At some point we will have some discussion. As a licensee of the commission you want to make sure fighters are giving you up-to-date information,” he added. “There is a process, and when you try to screw with the process, it’s not going to work for you.”

For Pacquiao’s defense, promoter Bob Arum earlier said that Pacquiao got the injury four weeks before the fight. Their camp stated that Pacquiao recovered days before the fight but got reinjured during the fourth round of the bout, causing him to lose against Mayweather.

After Pacquiao’s defeat, he said he thought he won the fight. Later on, the Filipino boxer admitted suffering a tear in his right shoulder. He also said his request of a painkiller injection prior the fight was denied.

Pacquio then needed to undergo a surgery for a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. There has been no specific date disclosed yet but it is expected to take place this week.

Meanwhile, Mayweather was open to the idea of a rematch with Pacquiao, saying that he will ‘fight him in a year after his surgery.’