Manny Pacquiao's fight with Errol Spence Jr. has been put at risk. That's because Conor McGregor's management company is suing the Filipino boxer over a potential breach of contract.
Paradigm Sports Management have presented a lawsuit in Orange County civil court against Pacquiao, claiming that he acted against a 3.3 million dollar contract that had been signed by both parties. Watch Spence vs Pacquiao
The management firm had signed this deal at the start of 2020, on the condition that Pacquiao would have four fights broadcast live on DAZN, but his decision to fight Errol Spence Jr. in August means that he has gone against the contract.
Paradigm Sports are also claiming that Pacquiao damaged their reputation and are attempting to prevent his Las Vegas fight against Spence Jr. from taking place, however the boxing legend is ready to fight back.
"Paradigm Sports' lawsuit against me has no merit," Pacquiao said in a statement.
"I have an absolute right under the agreement with Paradigm to engage in the upcoming bout with Errol Spence.
There was a lot of opportunity to pick a — not easy fight, but a much easier fight compared to Errol Spence,” Pacquiao said of his decision to take this fight at age 42. “But I decided to pick Errol Spence because I want to give a good fight to the fans, I want a real fight. I’m a fighter and boxing is my passion.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KO) hasn’t fought since July 2019, when he won a decision over Keith Thurman to take the WBA title. He’s since been removed as WBA “super world” titleholder, replaced by Yordenis Ugas, and despite petitioning the sanctioning body to reinstate him, that’s not going to happen. Pacquiao vs Spence tickets
But even without that third alphabet belt, this is one of the biggest fights of 2021, and Pacquiao sees it as another great challenge in his obviously Hall of Fame-bound career.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges in my career,” he said. “I cannot say the biggest challenge because I have been fighting the best fighters in the world — Keith Thurman, De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto, a lot of those fighters. But one of the best, I can rate (Spence).”
The 31-year-old Spence (27-0, 21 KO) is right in his prime and considered one of the best fighters in the sport today, pound-for-pound. Though some may want to put some pressure on him to stop Pacquiao — who is older and smaller — Manny has been stopped just once in this century, when Juan Manuel Marquez scored an all-timer KO in their fourth fight back in 2012.
Spence says he won’t go hunting for the KO, though he believes he can stop Pacquiao or anyone else.
“I definitely have the ability to finish him, but for me it’s about winning the fight,” Spence said. “It’s to stay focused and win the fight. When you go out there and rush it and try to go for the knockout, I feel like from my experience, even in the amateurs, you look sloppy and something goes wrong. You look like you’re trying too hard. For me it’s to go have my fight at my pace. If the knockout comes, go for it. If not, go for the victory.” How to Watch Spence Pacquiao
Recently, former Pacquiao foe Floyd Mayweather said he has respect for both and wishes each man nothing but the best, though he will be rooting for Spence and said he’d even give him some tips on how to fight the Filipino legend — which Pacquiao says Spence doesn’t need.
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