Fans sue Pacquiao over injury

Los Angeles

TWO Nevada men filed a class-action lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday, seeking millions in damages, saying that he fraudulently concealed a shoulder injury before his defeat to Floyd Mayweather.

It is just the latest fallout from Mayweather's victory on Saturday in a unanimous decision, with Pacquiao saying afterwards that the shoulder complaint hampered his performance in the welterweight world title showdown.

The plaintiffs argue that by failing to go public with the injury before the bout, Pacquiao violated the Nevada Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The suit filed in a US District Court in Las Vegas names Pacquiao, his manager Michael Koncz, promotional company Top Rank and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and president Todd duBoef.

According to court documents online, the lawsuit claims that when plaintiffs Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran - who bought tickets, forked out pay per view fees or bet on the fight - the defendants "knew and had full knowledge and information that defendant Pacquiao had been seriously injured and was suffering from a torn rotator cuff".

"Defendants further know that such injury would severely affect his performance," the lawsuit says. "None of the defendants informed or apprised the public or even the Nevada Athletic Commission about the injury to defendant Pacquiao."

Pacquiao's attorney Daniel Petrocelli told The Los Angeles Times that he expects the lawsuit to be dismissed. "It claims Pacquiao was injured (immediately) before the bout and that's not true - he was injured (nearly a month) before the bout, was examined by doctors and cleared to fight," Mr Petrocelli said. "And he was examined by the commission right before he fought." AFP