Case not over for Manny
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 May 2023
A California jury has ruled against Manny Pacquiao in a civil lawsuit filed by Paradigm Sports Management for breach of contract and ordered payment of $1.8 million in damages plus a return of $3.3 million allegedly given to the former eight-division world boxing champion. But a lawyer from Pacquiao’s camp said yesterday the fight isn’t over and the judgment is appealable.
“Technically, the decision isn’t official as the judgment is still to be entered although it was announced anyway,” said the lawyer who requested anonymity. “The judgment will be appealed and we believe there is basis for a reversal. There are legal remedies. We’ve discussed this with Sen. Manny’s US lawyers and we’re hopeful.”
Pacquiao’s defense lawyer Bruce Cleeland said Paradigm failed to deliver on fights and endorsements while not completing a $4 million advance. Paradigm’s counsel Judd Burstein, who ironically represented Pacquiao in his suit against Murad Muhammad in 2005, said the fighter violated his contract when he fought Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
Aside from breach of contract, Paradigm claimed paying Pacquiao a sum in advance and demanded a refund. This amounted to $2 million and P49 million. But the question is whether the money came from Paradigm. Two Filipino businessmen purportedly raised the advance in a side agreement with Paradigm to share in commissions. Pacquiao’s lawyer said the fighter had no knowledge of the supposed side agreement.
Burstein said Pacquiao failed to disclose a pre-existing agreement with Los Angeles promoter Tom Brown and Paradigm couldn’t fulfill its obligations because of interference from other parties. Cleeland argued that Pacquiao did not breach his contract and had the right to terminate since obligations were not met. The jury voted 9-3 in Paradigm’s favor after listening to testimonies for several weeks.
During a recent US trip, Pacquiao testified on the witness stand for over six hours as he was asked questions by Cleeland and cross-examined by Burstein. Pacquiao signed an agreement with Paradigm in 2020 and plans were to pit him against Conor McGregor. When McGregor lost to Dustin Poiner, Paradigm attempted to bring in Mikey Garcia as an opponent. Instead, Pacquiao went on to face Ugas under a separate promoter.
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