Sen. Manny Pacquiao said Monday the breach of contract suit filed against him over a boxing match had no basis, adding he would countersue.
Pacquiao said the "frivolous" complaint from Paradigm Sports was meant to distract him from his Aug. 21 match with American boxer Errol Spence Jr.
Paradigm Sports' Audie Attar claimed to have exclusive rights to negotiate the Filipino boxer's next two fights. Attar said Paradigm Sports was negotiating for Pacquiao to fight American boxer Mikey Garcia and paid the Filipino boxer $3.3 million when the fight with Spence was agreed.
"It does not bother me a bit. My lawyers are on top of this lawsuit and are ready to file counter charges against Paradigm Sports," he added.
Aside from seeking monetary damages, Attar is asking the court to issue an injunction to stop the boxing match between Pacquiao and Spence. Pacquiao's camp said the fight would go on as scheduled.
Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump LLP, Pacquiao's legal counsel in the U.S., said the breach of contract suit "can and will fail for numerous reasons."
"Should this matter actually proceed beyond Friday’s filing in a court of law, Mr. Pacquiao will vigorously defend his action, assert his own claims against Paradigm Sports and seek to recover his attorney’s fees," it added.
