The year 2021 has seen one after another lawsuit in boxing, but in a peculiar turn of events, eight-division world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) has been slapped with a lawsuit, from none other than Audie Attar, the manager of mixed martial arts icon Conor McGregor.
According to a report made by Lance Pugmire from The Athletic, the settlement of the upcoming welterweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and WBC and IBF champion Errol Spence Jr (27-0, 21 KOs) is the reason for the lawsuit.
Audie Attar, who manages McGregor and a number of other combat sports aces, has claimed that he was negotiating a fight between Pacquiao and four-division champion Mikey Garcia, while the Filipino pugilist was confirmed to face Spence, which is scheduled on 21st August.
Since then, Garcia has terminated all ties with Paradigm Sports Management, which is run by Attar himself. The lawsuit, filed in by Paradigm attorney Judd Burstein, states that Pacquiao’s longtime adviser Sean Gibbons and friend Winchell Camposhad pushed the 42-year-old to seal the deal with Spence’s manager Al Haymon.
“In addition to the millions of dollars in straightforward economic loss that Paradigm stands to suffer, the damage to its reputation resulting from Pacquiao’s breaches is incalculable,” Burstein wrote in the lawsuit.
“Just when Paradigm was at the cusp of establishing itself as a major player in professional boxing, Pacquiao has left its reputation as a boxing representative in tatters,” the lawsuit added.
Manny Pacquiao vs Errol Spence Jr: Another Fury vs Joshua repeat?
Manny Pacquiao was last seen in action against Keith Thurman on 20th July 2019. At that time, Pacquiao was the WBA’s “Regular” welterweight champion, while Thurman was the “Super” titleholder.
After “PacMan” defeated Thurman via split decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, he became the WBA (Super) titleholder at 147, but due to inactivity, lost his “Super” status and was named the WBA’s “Champion in recess” in January.
Now, with the WBA prez himself hinting that Pacquiao vs Spence will be a three belt unification fight, meaning Pacquiao will have his “Super” status restored before the bout, makes it one of the most anticipated fights of this year.
Unfortunately, Attar’s lawsuit can potentially deem the fight invalid, with Pacquiao forced to square off against Garcia, in a similar manner to how the 4-belt undisputed heavyweight championship clash between Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua was cancelled after Deontay Wilder won his arbitration case, forcing Fury to move on to a trilogy with Wilder.
