Manny Pacquiao sues Floyd Mayweather Jr., alleging defamation

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Boxer Manny Pacquiao filed a lawsuit today in federal court in Las Vegas, alleging that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father defamed him with their comments saying the Filipino star has used performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids.

Pacquiao named the Mayweathers and Mayweather’s promoters Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer as defendants.

In the suit, Pacquiao says Mayweather’s claims that Pacquiao used performance-enhancing drugs are false and that these claims are an attempt to destroy his professional reputation.

Pacquiao is asking for damages in excess of $75,000, plus punitive damages.

Pacquiao and Mayweather were expected to meet in a mega-fight on March 13, probably in Las Vegas. But in the past week the negotiations have been sullied by verbal sparring by both sides.

-- Barry Stavro