Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has once again proven his resilience, not just inside the ring but also in the courtroom. Recently, Pacquiao emerged victorious over Paradigm Sports Management (PSM) in a legal battle that spanned three years. The court case, which unfolded in California, ended in Pacquiao's favor when Judge Walter Schwarm of the Superior Court of the State of California County of Orange, Central Justice Center, declared the contract between Pacquiao and Paradigm Sports void due to “illegality.” This ruling not only cleared Pacquiao of any financial obligation to the sports management company but also marked a significant victory for the boxing legend.
The legal dispute between Pacquiao and Paradigm Sports began when Paradigm Sports accused Pacquiao of breaching a contract. They sought compensation totaling $5.1 million, which included $3.3 million for breach of contract and an additional $1.8 million for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. However, Judge Schwarm’s ruling revealed a critical flaw in Paradigm Sports’ claim: the company was not licensed as a manager under California law.
During the trial, Paradigm’s CEO, Audie Attar, admitted under oath that he did not believe he had a manager’s license for boxers in California. Furthermore, he could not recall whether he had a license in 2020 and 2021. This admission significantly weakened Paradigm’s position and played a crucial role in the court’s final decision. The ruling meant that Pacquiao was not liable to compensate Paradigm Sports, effectively nullifying the previous jury decision that had ordered him to pay $5.1 million.
Despite the court victory, it’s worth noting that Pacquiao, through his team, had attempted to resolve the matter out of court multiple times. Sean Gibbons, President of MP Promotions, revealed that Pacquiao’s camp had made several offers to Paradigm Sports in hopes of settling the dispute amicably. According to Gibbons, Pacquiao offered Audie Attar $4 million and the opportunity to promote two of his fights as part of the settlement. These offers, however, were turned down, leading to the prolonged legal battle.
“We tried to settle this case many times over three years. So, we offered the guy - Audie Attar, $4 million, and we offered the chance to come on board and promote two fights. We did many things to try and settle it amicably, but Manny Pacquiao knocked the F out of Judd Bernstein and Audie Attar,” Gibbons stated in a revealing interview with World Boxing News.
Manny Pacquiao offered to settle lawsuit before stunning victory https://t.co/8OIVkZ0pKH #MannyPacquiao
— World Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) August 21, 2024
This statement not only highlights Pacquiao’s willingness to resolve disputes outside of court but also underscores his confidence in his legal standing. Ultimately, Pacquiao’s persistence paid off, and he emerged victorious without having to pay a single dollar to Paradigm Sports.
While Pacquiao’s legal battle made headlines, his actions in the boxing ring continue to capture the world’s attention. On July 28, 2024, Pacquiao faced Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo in an exhibition match at the Super Rizin 3 event held at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The three-round boxing event ended in a thrilling draw, although no official scores were recorded. Despite being 45 years old, Pacquiao’s performance in front of 48,000 fans demonstrated that he remains a major draw in the sport, with his popularity showing no signs of waning.
Pacquiao’s ambitions in boxing are far from over. He has expressed interest in fighting in the welterweight category, specifically eyeing a bout with Mario Barrios for the World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title. The potential matchup has generated significant buzz in the boxing community, with Barrios’ camp expressing genuine interest in the fight. Bob Santos, Barrios’ trainer, recently confirmed that the proposed fight is “very realistic,” setting the stage for another high-profile bout for Pacquiao.
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