By REYNALD MAGALLON
Manny Pacquiao lost his legal battle against Paradigm Sports Management and was ordered to pay $5.1 million over an alleged breach of contract, after a 9-3 decision from the California jury in favor of the sports management company.
The Filipino boxing icon was in the US last week and testified as a witness in the civil lawsuit brought on by PSM before the jury deliberated and released the decision on Wednesday, May 3 (Manila time).
Los Angeles-based journalist Steve Angeles of ABS-CBN first reported the development with Pacquiao being ordered to return the $3.3 million advance PSM gave to the boxing icon while the remaining $1.8 million was for the damages.
During the hearing, Paradigm alleged Pacquiao of concealing his pre-existing agreements with TGB Promotions and that other people interfered with their efforts to secure a fight.
Pacquiao’s camp, meanwhile, said that PSM failed to live up to their commitments with fights or endorsements.
Paradigm sued Pacquiao for an alleged breach of contract when he agreed to fight Errol Spence for the WBC and IBF welterweight titles in 2021, interfering in the supposed talks of a fight between Pacquiao and Mikey Garcia, which PSM had been planning.
PSM CEO Audie Attar even sought to stop the fight but still pushed through although Pacquiao fought against Yordenis Ugas after Spence had to back out due to an injury.
Pacquiao signed with Paradigm in 2020 and was also expected to fight Connor McGregor before the plans were ultimately scrapped after the latter lost to Dustin Poirer in UFC 257.
