Pacquiao Slaps Mayweather With Defamation Suit

LAS VEGAS (CN) - Boxer Manny Pacquiao has sued fellow fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr., accusing him and others of defamation for falsely claiming he used steroids.

Pacquiao's federal lawsuit came as both boxers have been trying reach an agreement for a proposed March bout that has been stymied by Mayweather's demands that both fighters take random tests.

Named in the lawsuit are Mayweather; his father, Floyd Mayweather, Sr.; his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather,; his promotion company, Mayweather Promotions,' and boxing promoters Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya.

"Calling a professional athlete a cheater is the most serious charge one can make," the lawsuit states, "and in today's world, accusing an athlete of using performance-enhancing drugs - however baseless and lacking in evidence - is toxic."

Pacquiao seeks at least $75,000 for the alleged defamation.

He is represented by Eric Hone with Lewis Roca.

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