Manny Pacquiao has dropped his defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr. , the LA Times reports.
Pacquiao filed the lawsuit in December 2009 after Mayweather accused him of performance-enhancing drugs. Mayweather had said that Pacquiao was using “power pellets,” and other members of his family made similar comments.
Mayweather, his father Floyd Mayweather Sr., and his uncle/trainer Roger Mayweather, released a statement saying they wished “to make it clear that they never intended to claim that Manny Pacquiao has used or is using any performance-enhancing drugs.”
The statement went on to say:
“Nor are they aware of any evidence Manny Pacquiao has used performance-enhancing drugs. Manny Pacquiao is a great champion and no one should construe any of our prior remarks as claiming that Manny Pacquiao has used performance-enhancing drugs.”
A judge ordered Mayweather to pay Pacquiao $114,000 in legal fees for failing to appear in court for a deposition with Pacquiao’s lawyers.
In a news conference last week, Pacquiao said he was more than optimistic that he and Mayweather would fight in 2013. He also said he would accept 45 percent of the fight purse and would grant other concessions to Mayweather.
A source close to Pacquiao said, “Manny is happy to put this long ordeal behind him.”
Manny Pacquiao has won 54 of his 60 fights, 38 by KO. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is undefeated in all 43 of his fights, winning 26 by KO. Mayweather hasn’t fought since his May 5 match against Miguel Cotto, and Pacquiao’s last fight was against Timothy Bradley on June 10. Pacquiao lost by split decision, which was criticized by fans and media outlets.
Pacquiao’s next fight will be his fourth meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8.
