SARANGANI, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao said he is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr., the fighter’s father and Golden Boy Promotions.
In a statement posted Friday on his website, Pacquiao claims that his character has been damaged and tarnished by accusations he said are untrue.
“Enough is enough,” Pacquiao said in the statement. “These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy, but I think they have gone overboard.”
The proposed fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is in danger because the sides have failed to find a compromise to a dispute about blood testing. Promoter Bob Arum declared the bout dead Thursday.
Arum had set a Thursday deadline for an agreement on testing, the only issue not resolved for the planned March 13 fight. But with the Mayweather camp still insisting on using the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct the tests, Arum said there wasn’t much left to discuss.
“These people think they are doing the sport a great service. They are not,” Pacquiao added. “To Floyd, despite all these accusations, may your Christmas be merry, and I will see you in court soon too.”
Takahashi leads after short program
OSAKA, Japan — Daisuke Takahashi finished first in the men’s short program at the Japanese national figure skating championships, moving a step closer to earning a spot for the Vancouver Olympics.
Takahashi, who is making a comeback from a knee injury, landed all his jumps to record a personal-best score of 92.85 points.
Takahiko Kozuka, the 2006 world junior champion, was second with 80.54 points, and Nobunari Oda, who already secured a place in the Olympics by finishing second at the GP finals, was third with 79.60 points.
The women’s short program will be held today. Miki Ando has already earned a place in Vancouver, leaving Mao Asada, Yukari Nakano and Akiko Suzuki contesting for the final two spots.
Ovechkin, Malkin top Russian team.
Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are among the 14 NHL players on the 23-player Russian hockey team for the Vancouver Olympics.
Forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Semin, defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Andrei Markov, and goaltenders Evgeni Nabokov and Ilya Bryzgalov were also among the players selected.
Russia last won Olympic gold at the 1992 Albertville Games.
Arrest prompted dismissal
HONOLULU — A Nevada linebacker who did not play in the Hawaii Bowl after he was dismissed by the team had been arrested days earlier on suspicion of shoplifting.
Honolulu police said Andre Davis was detained this week by security at a Waikiki store before he was turned over to authorities.
The Associated Press
