Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao Sr. countered with a cross-complaint on Saturday (Friday in the US) against Paradigm Sports Management (PSM) headed by Audie Attar for allegedly breaching of contract, deception, and false promise, among others.
The case was filed in a Superior Court of the State of California County of Orange, Central Justice Center.
In a document sent by Pacquiao’s American publisher Fred Sternburg to BUSINESSMIRROR, Attorney Dale Kinsella wrote that PSM had deceived his client several times for not delivering the promised fight with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Conor McGregor and the eight endorsement deals within this year.
The suit also dragged the name of Pacquiao’s Filipino business manager Arnold Vegafria, stating he made a deal behind the senator’s back to get a profit out of him. It also stated that Pacquiao had no idea that Vegafria was holding a separate contractual arrangement with PSM, which would benefit him.
“Manny Pacquiao’s cross-complaint filed today reveals in detail the complete sham nature of Paradigm’s complaint,” Kinsella said in a statement sent also to the media. “We look forward to exposing Paradigm’s conduct in front of a jury and recovering both general and punitive damages.”
PSM, according to the suit, offered Pacquiao a $4 million purse advance that it has never fully paid.
UFC fighter Dustin Poirier had a contractual obligation with McGregor this year, where Poirier defeated twice the Irish star last January 26 and last July 10.
“Pacquiao’s primary motivation for signing with PSM was their purported ability to set a very lucrative ‘mega-fight’ between Pacquiao and PSM’s star client, McGregor,” the suit reads.
“PSM has done nothing for Pacquiao. PSM has swindled him and selfishly attempted to exploit Pacquiao’s name to expand its business to include professional boxers in addition to MMA fighters.”
BusinessMirror spoke with Vegafria, who claimed he was instructed by the Senator to wait first for his formal post in his personal social media accounts before granting media interviews.
“Sen. Manny advised me to wait for his statement and his social media post to correct the wrong allegations on me and to clear my name and reputation before I grant any media interview. He said he has no knowledge about that article, it might have come from PBC or Al Haymon camp. He said we have a good relationship, just don’t believe in what they say. We are both okay,” Vegafria said.
Vegafria’s group also claimed that he was just a ‘fall guy.’
Pacquiao didn’t answer calls from BusinessMirror about the issues.
PSM, the management firm that sued Pacquiao for a breach of contract last June in Orange County, also sought the California court on Saturday to stop Pacquiao from fighting with welterweight unified champion Errol Spence Jr. on August 21 under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) in Las Vegas, Nevada.